how can you encourage green algae?

[k2snowboards88]

I want some green algae in my tank so my fish can graze. Is there any way to encourage it?

 

[FrAnK3333]

direct sun light and lots of light

 

[Gourami Lover88]

You dont want green algae in your tank. But what I do for my fish is get a aquarium safe rock and put in in a jar with some water where it can get direct sunlight,once it gets a nice colony I place it in my tanks for the fish to graze. But you shoud use a new batch of water each time you want a new colony.

 

[k2snowboards88]

You dont want green algae in your tank. But what I do for my fish is get a aquarium safe rock and put in in a jar with some water where it can get direct sunlight,once it gets a nice colony I place it in my tanks for the fish to graze. But you shoud use a new batch of water each time you want a new colony.

If i don't want green algae, then what kind do i want? Should i put the rock in a sealed jar, or an open one? Should i use tank water in the jar? Please explain that a little more. Thanks

 

[gaya]

You dont want green algae in your tank. But what I do for my fish is get a aquarium safe rock and put in in a jar with some water where it can get direct sunlight,once it gets a nice colony I place it in my tanks for the fish to graze. But you shoud use a new batch of water each time you want a new colony.

That's a great idea! Maybe I can get some of my fishes to stop eating my plants!!!

 

[fishdudein]

You dont want green algae in your tank.

Why not???

Nothing wrong with algae, in fact most fish benefit from having some algae in the tank. You won't find fish living in the wild in water that won't support algae: it's a very natural condition. Algae actually helps promote good water conditions, much like the theory that keeping live plants in a tank makes the water better.

Algae that takes a tank over is another matter, though. This is usually caused by a build-up of nutrients (also known as "over-feeding") or not doing your regular partial water changes....both of which can be easily corrected. Worse yet is pea soup type "green water" algae, this can be very dangerous and you can kill everything in your tank if the algae in the water starts to die off. Immediate large scale water changes and increased filtration are necessary if you have green water.

I personally try to make sure that there is always some algae growing in my tanks. I clean only the front glass on a regular basis, the sides and back only get cleaned if algae growth becomes excessive there. My fish appreciate it.

 

[fufanu360]

) thats an awsome idea... except i already have red algea growing... is this a good sign to a newer developed tank? sorry but its jsut a simple yes or no

 

[Teelie]

Red is normally a saltwater variety, do you mean brown algae which is not algae either but diatoms?

 

[fufanu360]

its like a redish brown, its on my rocks... slimmy and slippery

 

[fishdudein]

No.

Red (brown) algae, sometimes called slime algae, is actually cyanobacteria. This "algae" doesn't even actually need light to grow (unlike true algae, if you keep the tank darkened, it won't die off).

You need to get as much of this out of your tank as you can, really watch how much you are feeding afterwards. I would also recommend increased filtration and/or additional powerheads to increase the circulation of water. Cyano tends to favor "dead areas" with not a lot of water movement.

 

[Teelie]

Most algae is not algae at all. But it's easier than using numerous different names that few people recognize. Anyhow, brown algae isn't that bad either though it is more unsightly than green algae, it's easier to remove too.

 

[fishdudein]

There are many fish that will munch on the green algae, good healthy stuff. Haven't found a fish yet that would touch the brown stuff though.

Although there is nothing "wrong" with brown algae (your fish won't suffer from it), once you get it under control you will begin to see more of the green algae taking over. Then, through carefully controlling the amount of nutrients in the tank, the amount of light the tank receives, and keeping a few fish that will eat the "green" variety, you will be encouraging the growth of green algae in a way that will be beneficial to the aquarium but not unsightly.

 

[Discomafia]

Co2 playes an important part too if you want to get rid of algae.

 

[Teelie]

My Red Tailed Black Shark seems to love the brown algae diatoms.

 

[k2snowboards88]

Thanks for all the info on algea. What are the nutrients that green algea lives off of. I'd like to get some algea before my red fin shark gets to be really agressive. He's fine now, but i've heard that later in live they get more agressive. I"ve also heard that if the shark keeps busy grazing on algea then it will be more distracted from the other fish. I also think the clown loaches could benefit from having algea to eat.