Need Algea to grow!

fishgate · 12/15/2011, 07:18 PM

I think my snails are starving. I have lost 2 or 3 I think. I can't seem to get any algae to grow. The tank is about 4 months old. No fish yet. FOWLR. 2 shrimps, 4 hermits and maybe 4-6 snails. Some I can't finds anymore. Levels are all nominal. Nitrates are low. Do I need to skip water changes and get some nitrates going for the algae? I have my seed live rock that is covered with Coraline but none of it wants to spread. I had my diatom bloom about 3-4 weeks ago and it receded in about a week.

How do you get algae to grow!

BTW: Forgot to mention - I have 4XT5 39watts with 10ks and actinic on 10 hours a day.

mjhall85 · 12/15/2011, 07:23 PM

Algae grows cause of high phosphate level's. Algae grows for many of reasons but the main one is high phosphates

SushiGirl · 12/15/2011, 07:23 PM

Just buy sheet algae and attach it to a rock with a rubberband.

Jakester59 · 12/15/2011, 07:26 PM

I agree with sushigirl but if you really want it on glass just leave your lights on a couple of days and ta-da algae enough for a hundred snails

sporto0 · 12/15/2011, 07:31 PM

LOL, this may be a first! Believe me, you don't wan't to grow nuisance algae on purpose. When you put livestock in & begin feeding, you will then be posting on how to get rid of "this hair algae", I suggest you do as Sushi girl has said, clip some seaweed in there or phantom feed the tank very sparingly. Most snails can live on the film algae that grows quickly on the glass, leave your lights on a little longer each day. Good luck & honestly don't try to grow algae, you'll be sorry if you do.

12/15/2011, 07:18 PM	#1
fishgate Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Damascus, MD Posts: 3,340	Need Algea to grow! I think my snails are starving. I have lost 2 or 3 I think. I can't seem to get any algae to grow. The tank is about 4 months old. No fish yet. FOWLR. 2 shrimps, 4 hermits and maybe 4-6 snails. Some I can't finds anymore. Levels are all nominal. Nitrates are low. Do I need to skip water changes and get some nitrates going for the algae? I have my seed live rock that is covered with Coraline but none of it wants to spread. I had my diatom bloom about 3-4 weeks ago and it receded in about a week. How do you get algae to grow! BTW: Forgot to mention - I have 4XT5 39watts with 10ks and actinic on 10 hours a day.

12/15/2011, 07:23 PM	#3
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	Just buy sheet algae and attach it to a rock with a rubberband. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

12/15/2011, 07:26 PM	#4
Jakester59 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: central valley Posts: 33	I agree with sushigirl but if you really want it on glass just leave your lights on a couple of days and ta-da algae enough for a hundred snails __________________ 90g, 250mh ati t5s x4,30g sump, 2 750 koralias and a 425, hermits, snails, 3 rbta, sailfin tang, mated pair of black clowns, coral beauty, lyretail anthias, strawberry dottyback, softies, stonies Current Tank Info: 90g with 30g sump outer orbit t5s and halides reefkeeper II custom stand

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12/15/2011, 07:23 PM	#2
mjhall85 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Phoenix,AZ Posts: 535	Algae grows cause of high phosphate level's. Algae grows for many of reasons but the main one is high phosphates

12/15/2011, 07:31 PM	#5
sporto0 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Posts: 2,924	LOL, this may be a first! Believe me, you don't wan't to grow nuisance algae on purpose. When you put livestock in & begin feeding, you will then be posting on how to get rid of "this hair algae", I suggest you do as Sushi girl has said, clip some seaweed in there or phantom feed the tank very sparingly. Most snails can live on the film algae that grows quickly on the glass, leave your lights on a little longer each day. Good luck & honestly don't try to grow algae, you'll be sorry if you do.