Inducing Algae Growth?

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mukundam123

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 6, 2008
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Sunderland
Hello!

I've heard that mbuna's are grazers, and feed on algae growing on the rocks. Just wondering how I can encourage it to grow, as I don't think I have much on there! I have put some water in a bottle, and have left it out in the sun for a good few months now, and theres some algae in there...is it safe to put some of this (scrape it out) in there to try and seed algae growth?

Also, do mbunas eat snails? I've got plently of snails in a bucket outside (all of which I took out from the tank a few months back). any good as food?

Thanks
 
Algae needs not only sunlight but also water born nutrients for foods. These foods are generally in the form of nitrates and phosphates. The problem is letting your tank get enough of these chemicals built up to support the algae long term is not good for the fish. Algae tabs are a good supplement and algae can be cultivated under the right conditions.

As for snails... I don't believe that there are any snail specific feeders in the mbuna class of fish. They do pick them up in the wild as they feed on the algae cover. These snails are often very tiny and easily digestible. Most if not all African cichlids just don't have the tools to crush a snail shell or suck it out of the shell. I wouldn't bother trying to feed them to the fish.

Keeper
 
My mbuna hammered all the snails I used for cycling my tank.
 
Increasing the light intensity in the tank and feeding the tank plant supplements could also work as well insted of waiting for phosphates and nitrates to build up. In my exp algae has always been a temporary thing and it always dies off so good luck.
 
Wondering why you would want algae in your tank?? Isn't the idea to have a crystal clear tank without algae everywear?? Just wondering
 
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