how can i get more algae to grow for my pleco?
i see some people with peices of granite in the tank, does algae grow on this easily?
i see some people with peices of granite in the tank, does algae grow on this easily?
growing algae
- Thread starter Nicksplosion
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What Wildfya said - there are better things you can feed your pleco.
They are generally omnivores and will eat pretty much anything, including algae, but some chunks of vege and algae tablets will feed them much better.
But if you do want to grow some extra algae, get some spare rocks and put them in a jar of old tank water on your window sill. After a couple of weeks they will be covered with algae and you can swap them with stones from your tank. With enough rocks and jars you can keep a steady supply without turning your tank green.
It's more something that you would do with small algae eaters like Hillstream loaches and brisltlenose plecos though. A large common or sailfin will much prefer a big fat chunk of zuchini.
Ian
They are generally omnivores and will eat pretty much anything, including algae, but some chunks of vege and algae tablets will feed them much better.
But if you do want to grow some extra algae, get some spare rocks and put them in a jar of old tank water on your window sill. After a couple of weeks they will be covered with algae and you can swap them with stones from your tank. With enough rocks and jars you can keep a steady supply without turning your tank green.
It's more something that you would do with small algae eaters like Hillstream loaches and brisltlenose plecos though. A large common or sailfin will much prefer a big fat chunk of zuchini.
Ian
Ianab;1907065; said:What Wildfya said - there are better things you can feed your pleco.
They are generally omnivores and will eat pretty much anything, including algae, but some chunks of vege and algae tablets will feed them much better.
But if you do want to grow some extra algae, get some spare rocks and put them in a jar of old tank water on your window sill. After a couple of weeks they will be covered with algae and you can swap them with stones from your tank. With enough rocks and jars you can keep a steady supply without turning your tank green.
It's more something that you would do with small algae eaters like Hillstream loaches and brisltlenose plecos though. A large common or sailfin will much prefer a big fat chunk of zuchini.
Ian
That's a good idea. Not that I need more algae. But yeah, don't bring the sun (or lights) to the tank. Bring the rocks to the sun.
Simple and free. And doesn't upset the light cycle of the whole system.
I love basic logic like that. Too bad I sometimes miss the obvious myself.
thanks guys
i read the diet thing and am now feeding him some zuchini and other vegtables.
i was just worried because he doesnt eat the algae wafers but he does eat the algae at night.
how can you prepare cucumbers and brochali for the pleco?
he does eat shrimp pellets i throw in for my crafish, is this ok?
thanks for your help!
i read the diet thing and am now feeding him some zuchini and other vegtables.
i was just worried because he doesnt eat the algae wafers but he does eat the algae at night.
how can you prepare cucumbers and brochali for the pleco?
he does eat shrimp pellets i throw in for my crafish, is this ok?
thanks for your help!
Cucumber and brocoli, same as zuchini, just throw a piece in with something to weigh it down. Mushroom is good too.
A few shrimp pellets are fine, common and Pterygoplichthys species are omnivores. They should be fed mostly vege based food, but some higher protien stuff is good for them too. Mine get a few catfish chips and even whole shrimps as well as the vege stuff.
If the tank has plenty of algae your pleco may prefer that over the dried stuff. One of my goldspots lived on nothing but algae for 4 months, and grew from 2 to 4", so it wasn't underfed. When they are small, algae may be all they need. But as they get bigger then they need the extra food.
Ian
A few shrimp pellets are fine, common and Pterygoplichthys species are omnivores. They should be fed mostly vege based food, but some higher protien stuff is good for them too. Mine get a few catfish chips and even whole shrimps as well as the vege stuff.
If the tank has plenty of algae your pleco may prefer that over the dried stuff. One of my goldspots lived on nothing but algae for 4 months, and grew from 2 to 4", so it wasn't underfed. When they are small, algae may be all they need. But as they get bigger then they need the extra food.
Ian
cucumber isn't particularly nutritional in comparison to some of the others on the dietry thread. And like Ian has mentioned you can just put a tray of rocks in water in direct sunlight and you have algae rocks, I have done that before for Ancistrus and Chaetostoma species (for only a part of their diet), but usually I don't have much problem growing it in tanks anyway 
You never mentioned what species you have (or if you did I missed it)... A plecos diet depends on the species.
You never mentioned what species you have (or if you did I missed it)... A plecos diet depends on the species.