Loaches Online Forum

This was very interesting. Will have to try it out.

Eeew, but a wonderful idea! I tried to get a bunch of algae to grow in a tank to fuel my snail farm. I loaded it with garden fertilizers but it took forever, and is mostly green water...Now I know .

You can always try it with the asparagus

I wonder if eating beets would have any nutritional effect on the algae produced...red and purple stuff is supposed to be good for you .

really cool idea....

So to get this straite

I get my take outside with aretion put some pee and some water in it.
then get some algea from lfs (i have 8 plecos in a 55 one being about 14 inches long one 8 inches the rest 4 inches) put it in and leave it? how much urine? my tanks a 2.5 gal. should i run my undergavel filter? what type of ferts should i use?

With your Hillies constantly grazing on your genetic material is there any chance of a hybrid bearing your resemblance should you get some fry??

Question about the algae you have grown, does the algae stick to the rock quite well or it's easy to scrap off by touch? I was able to grow some algae with your method however the algae is really soft and it flakes off the rock when I touch it. Not sure if my algae is safe, is there anyway to test this?

Round rocks vs flats/slate/tiles:
I'd think that the tiles would provide better surface area, thus would be generally more productive.
Light would be an issue though..... Try a big, flat tupperware box outside with slates over the bottom (?).
I guess in that circumstance the rounded rocks would actually provide better surface area per light exposed area. I've just busted my own idea.
Please ignore out-loud though experiment
:)
A

OMG! A 5 year old thread revived!

Haven't done this for a few years now due to having moved and no longer having the West facing penthouse balcony.

The algae grown was soft and easily rubbed off the growing surface.

Flat pieces of slates angled toward the sun worked best.

Martin.