Promoting Algae

[markandhisfish]

taking delivery of my 1st lot of mbuna tomorrow and i want to encourage that nice bushy green algae to grow on the rocks to give them something to graze on as they would in the wild . the omly problem is that if i leave lights on longer etc etc i only ever seem to get diatom-like brown algae on rocks and a little gsa on the glass . is there a trick to actually promoting a certain type of algae?

 

[RadaR]

Hhhmm, when us planted tank folk get hairy green algae it's because of not enough CO2 in relation to the amount of lighting we are providing the plants with. Therefore, rather than duration, increase the amount of light if possible. Dose ammonia too if you have any. Ammonia+light causes algae spores to bloom and flagellate. But seeing as you're getting fish tomorrow, that's probaly not an option.
I doubt you'd see any signs of hair algae within 24hours.

 

[markandhisfish]

i might try keeping the lighting peroiod the same but adding an extra tube

 

[ATK!!!]

I could post you some (jokes)! Seriously though I managed to get mine directly from a local P@H, it just happened to be growing in their rather badly kept plant section . So maybe you could find a rather dodgy shop then they may just have some growing on their plants for you! Otherwise mine seemed to flourish a lot more when I accidentally overdosed Seachem flourish which contains micro nutrients. Good luck growing the algae!

 

[markandhisfish]

lol its typical back in the early days when i didnt want algae i had plenty of it , now i want it it wont effin grow!!