How to grow algae?

[fishkeeper4244]

i have never had algae. i know how much of a pain it can be but i have a pleco i want to make sure he eats and i think it looks cool. can somebody tell me what the best conditions for algae is. my pleco has zuchinni, a lot of excess fish food (too much i am hoping if i dont feed my fish they will eat it all), celery (which is growing very nicely in my tank), and a mini carrot all available to him.

 

[TheFishJunky]

high phosphates and nitrates and just never turn the light off.You'll have more algae than you can deal with.Or the Pleco will anyway.

 

[Pepito]

You could feed him algae wafers~

It could be that he's eating it as it grows, so you don't see any? I know my pleco is finding and eating algae before I can see it because it grows in certain places he can't reach. One place being inside my clear filter tube, making it look gross.

Nitrates + light make algae.

 

[fishkeeper4244]

i also want it for the natural-looking aspect. what are phosphates?

 

[MyFishEatYourFish]

if the tank isn't very new then i would say hes eating it as it grows.
celery grows underwater?

 

[MyFishEatYourFish]

i also want it for the natural-looking aspect. what are phosphates?

phosphates are a nutrient that builds up like nitrates.

 

[aclockworkorange]

Invest in a T5HO (or any other really bright light), leave it on all the time, add fertz and over feed, don't add co2 = algae farm.

 

[Zaminpirlo]

move your tank near a window for sunlight, lots of sunlight will make it grow.

 

[Juxtaroberto]

Phosphate is a phosphorus atom bonded to four oxygen atoms. It's a nutrient source for plants.

The zucchini and carrots are enough. Maybe add some bell peppers to the diet, and something dark and leafy, like watercress. With algae, there's always the danger of a die-off that will release a bunch of nitrates back into the water.

 

[Pandamania]

Seems to grow quickly in my planted tanks when I give the fish algae tabs and the tank is heated, at least 74*. [But I have stopped giving my fish algae tabs, they seemed to get ick within a day, after eating them.]