All I can grow is blue green algae

[Keeb]

I've been trying to grow algae rocks for my Hillies in a 3 gal tank with air stone and filter still running, sitting in window. All I can get to grow is blue green algae which I don't want to expose my 50gal river tank to. I seeded the algae growing tank with some rocks with brown algae on them. I'm going to nuke the 3 gal and start over. How do I get nice green algae like Martin grows? What am I doing wrong?

Keeb

[TammyLiz]

I have done pretty well getting a lot of "nice green algae" in a betta bowl next to a window when I neglected the water change for a while. And thats the key: the waste. Ammonia feeds algae. Not much will happen if you don't have anything feeding the algae.

As far as Martin's algae--did you hear about his "secret ingredient"?

[chefkeith]

Algae needs nutrients, especially iron. Martin has a good source. Maybe he'll let you buy some.

[Keeb]

I did indeed add some of Martin's secret ingredient. I also added some Nutrafin Plant gro. There is nothing but rocks in the tank so I do know if the tank will cycle except for ammonia from the secret ingredient. I thought algae liked good water to thrive as opposed to poor water quality so I do regular water changes and top up nutrients. I guess I'll just nuke it and start again.

Keeb

[Setsuna]

Dare I ask... What is Martin's secret ingredient?

[Blue]

Dare I ask... What is Martin's secret ingredient?

I'm interested to hear that. Wasn't that pee?:?

Fertilizer would be good right? Added a few splashes of Hydroponic fertilizer that Momfish has used for years in planted tanks.....and a secret ingredient.

While back in England, I had a planted tank with no fish and with Momfish's encouragement via phone from Canada I tried an experiment based on a story she heard from the kid's Summer Camp. At the camp, all the girls used to swim in a small bay in the lake. It had luxuriant aquatic plant growth. One of the ladies in charge gets all "eco" on the girls and works out that if a certain percentage of them pee in the water while swimming, in a given time they are excreting a 50 gallon drum-full. So she places a blanket ban on peeing in the lake.
The plant growth died back drastically......go figure.

So my plant experiment worked quite well. I guess you could call it self-propelled Figured that it ought to work on algae, so using my self dispensing equipment I filled half a mug and threw that in. If you ever come round my place decline offers of tea or coffee

[worton]

Hey,

If I remember rightly pee was a fool's day joke ;).

Regards.

[Keeb]

I hope it wasn't a fool's day joke because I took it seriously and there was no mention in that thread of it being a fool's day joke. It made sense to me because it would supply ammonia. Martin could you confirm this please?

Keeb

[shari2]

No, the algae farm wasn't the joke. The spawning hillies was, though.
And yes, the nasty secret ingredient was exactly what you think it was.

[mikev]

Blue-green algae -- is it filmlike, covering the glass and stones?

Then, it is actually not an algae, but cyanobacteria. It is easy to kill with antibiotics, and once it is killed, normal algae will have a chance to develop.

[Keeb]

Yes it is Cyanbacteria, however I'm going to nuke the tank rather than use antibiotics, and hope for better luck next time.

Keeb

[mistergreen]

yeah, don't mess with antibiotics too much. People over use it.

Algae need the same nutrients as plants.. so, If you have aquarium ferts or garden ferts just put in a cap full.. Or put in a handful of topsoil. Or do both.

Pee is a good source of nitrogen (ammonia), that's all. And it's a pretty sterile liquid. But you also need Potassium, Phosphorus, & trace elements.

BGA thrive because the other algae can't thrive due to the water lacking nitrogen mostly.

[Blue]

I hope it wasn't a fool's day joke because I took it seriously and there was no mention in that thread of it being a fool's day joke. It made sense to me because it would supply ammonia. Martin could you confirm this please?

Keeb

I had taken this one seriously too.

[worton]

Hey,

looks like I did not remember it rightly ;))).

Regards.