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Question about algae!

966 views 1 reply 2 participants last post by  lilnaugrim 
#1 ·
I have been trying to find a way to promote algae growth everything I read about is either how to get rid of it how to control it but there seems to be nothing on how to promote algae growth.

I have a 55 gallon fish tank that is around 3 months old. I naturally cycled the tank in the following manner. I bought 5 feeder goldfish and inserted them in fresh de-chlorinated water. I did all the usual things water changes and what not the water went clear after a week or 2 and then I waited another 4 weeks during that time 4 of the goldfish died.
I expected them all to die to be honest breaking a tank in naturally is hard on fish in any case I added 40 lbs of river rocks that I treated through boiling water to kill any intruders. I added some plants and other decorations including driftwood to help control the hard-water and in case I choose to get a clown pleco, I removed the goldfish added a heater and started buying fish, just recently I added 2 angel fish and plan to add more each month as I get paid.
I would like to get a pleco for my tank but algae is not growing anywhere and I would like to add a Hillstream Loache or Clown pleco and I don't want to buy algae tabs to supplement their diets so I would like to promote at least some algae growth.
Can anyone recommend ways to do this?
P.S. The tank was a gift and it had no lights or cover I was able to improvise in the following way. I found some old windows that fit perfectly as a cover I found a 2 foot fluorescent light and I have one large LCD light on one side and will be adding another in the next month just waiting for it's arrival the LCD lights contain blue lights and has day and night mode day mode is both white and blue lights night are just blue lights and the blue lights should help promote plant growth.
I was thinking that maybe I should take out the florescent bulb for something like a miracle grow or just a higher wattage bulb to help promote natural algae growth.
If anyone has any suggestions on what I Can do differently that would be great.
O and I tested the water and everything is within proper limits except of course the fact that where we are has very hard water and I don't know how to help that at all except fro adding loads of driftwood or by buying water and I'm not buying water we cant afford that we are stretching or meager budget and can just! afford the extra costs for the tank like fish food.
My filter is a submersible filter and doesn't use any carbon or ammonia media just uses a sponge like media, I think that all the information now thanks for your time!
 
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#2 ·
It would be easier if you had CFL lights instead of LED, the compact Fluorescent Lights, you can get little clamps from home depot or lowes: http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-75-Watt-Incandescent-Clamp-Light-HD-200PDQ/205139241

And then at Wal-Mart they have cheap mini CFL 13W Daylight lights in packages of three for like 3 bucks. Simple and cheap, cheap to run too. But that will give you more lighting, make sure it says DAYLIGHT and that it is 6,500K. On the back of the box, most of the time they give a little Kelvin scale that will tell you what the bulb is rated at in terms of color. Daylight will give you the soft algae you need.

And actually, Clown Plecos are more of meat eaters anyway so you'll want frozen bloodworms or live blackworms or some sort of worm that he can eat. Most plecos actually need veggies and they won't touch algae that much. They prefer veggies and lots of driftwood to rasp on and eat. Cucumber, Zuchinni, Squash, etc. anything like that will be good raw or blanched.
 
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