Encouraging "nice" algae?

[Jamesy]

Hi

I recently "cured" a brief, but rather nasty, bout of cyanobacteria (came
back from holiday to find rocks covered with slime) in our Mbuna tank.

I used a single treatment of eSHa Protalon-707 and added a UV steriliser to
help prevent its return.

Now that the blue/green mess has been defeated, I'd like to encourage the
growth of a more "attractive" green algae.

/Ideally/ I'd like to retain the UV, but I realise this may not be
possible.

So, starting with a pretty much "sterile" tank, how does one go about
encouraging the growth of a specific algae???

Any ideas much appreciated!

Thanks

James

[Racf]

"Jamesy" > wrote in message
...
> Hi
>
> I recently "cured" a brief, but rather nasty, bout of cyanobacteria
(came
> back from holiday to find rocks covered with slime) in our Mbuna tank.
>
> I used a single treatment of eSHa Protalon-707 and added a UV
steriliser to
> help prevent its return.
>
> Now that the blue/green mess has been defeated, I'd like to encourage
the
> growth of a more "attractive" green algae.
>
> /Ideally/ I'd like to retain the UV, but I realise this may not be
> possible.
>
> So, starting with a pretty much "sterile" tank, how does one go about
> encouraging the growth of a specific algae???
>
> Any ideas much appreciated!
>
> Thanks
>
> James
>
>

Add some fertilizer and light and wait..... Keep the UV on...

[Jamesy]

snip

>>
>
>Add some fertilizer and light and wait..... Keep the UV on...

Hehe, as easy as that eh?

OK, what fertiliser would you recommend? I have some Leaf Zone that I use in
my community tank - would that do?

How much light? I have the standard 2x38w Juwel "Multilux" lamps in a 300
litre tank, on for 13 hours a day...more needed?

TIA

James

[Racf]

"Jamesy" > wrote in message
...
>
> snip
>
> >>
> >
> >Add some fertilizer and light and wait..... Keep the UV on...
>
> Hehe, as easy as that eh?
>
> OK, what fertiliser would you recommend? I have some Leaf Zone that I
use in
> my community tank - would that do?

yes

>
> How much light? I have the standard 2x38w Juwel "Multilux" lamps in a
300
> litre tank, on for 13 hours a day...more needed?

Direct sun would be great. 76 watts should be enough, but more is
better when it comes to algae.

>
> TIA
>
> James
>
>

[Joe Crowder]

"Racf" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Jamesy" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > snip
> >
> > >>
> > >
> > >Add some fertilizer and light and wait..... Keep the UV on...
> >
> > Hehe, as easy as that eh?
> >
> > OK, what fertiliser would you recommend? I have some Leaf Zone that I
> use in
> > my community tank - would that do?
>
> yes
>
> >
> > How much light? I have the standard 2x38w Juwel "Multilux" lamps in a
> 300
> > litre tank, on for 13 hours a day...more needed?
>
> Direct sun would be great. 76 watts should be enough, but more is
> better when it comes to algae.
>
> >
> > TIA
> >
> > James
> >

The formula that works for me is to try your hardest to eliminate Algae.
The more your scrape and futz with the lights, and pick stuff off, the
better it seems to grow....

I wouldn't worry too much about it. The algae will come back, PERIOD.
Don't do anything special, or you may end up with green water, or something
equally annoying.

Joe

[Phil]

You could always grab some rocks out and put them in tank water in an old
tank or some kind of transparant container in the yard.
They'll get covered in algae in no time if they're in direct sunlight.