aquascaping with algae

[Monster Fish]

In order to grow a specific algae, you need to introduce it into the tank. You can't just make bba or clado appear out of nowhere. Also most algaes will smother your plants.

[fplata]

If you have commercially grown plants you more than likely have some sort of algae spores in your tank already, you just need to create an imbalance of your system

[Monster Fish]

That's true I guess. Though most of the time you will get the type of algae you don't want.

[fplata]

Lol, I never want any algae. The OP will only do this one time, now there are some cool macro algaes that will create a cool escape, but they need to be collected and grown like plants. I actually think this is a bad idea, but I want to see pictures

[Acro]

Have you seen this?
This guy is scaping with Algae.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...77#post2096377

[auban]

Originally Posted by fplata

Lol, I never want any algae. The OP will only do this one time, now there are some cool macro algaes that will create a cool escape, but they need to be collected and grown like plants. I actually think this is a bad idea, but I want to see pictures

i think ill be doing this more than once... the results of my first test were better than i thought they would be. the next thing i am going to try is setting up a tank with ONLY algae in it. ill probably try creating a farm look, with long thin rows of algae along the bottom and some farm decorations around it. i think a tractor and a barn would work. with the algae, i may be able to use it in ways i couldnt with a normal plant.

Originally Posted by brainwavepc.com

I'm sure it could be done, but the problem is limiting that algae to only the areas you want it, it will soon take over everything and you will regret it.

im not finding this to be the case. if i let the clippings float freely, i do end up with little clumps of algae from time to time, but it doesnt take over like i thought it would. if i see a small ball of algae forming, i can just tug on a strand and the whole piece comes off. whatever species this algae is, its tough. it feels like wool.

Originally Posted by fplata

High light/low co2 will get you all the algae you want also limit dosing one of your macros and stop water changes.

most algae probably wouldnt grow in my tank, but this stuff does. i have a couple DIY yeast reactors and 6 48inch t5s on it, which run 24/7. i had three DIY bottles, but three was enough to gas my shrimp so i pulled one. there is very little algae to speak of, even after three weeks. in my other tanks that i have tested the algae in, it grows about an inch every 4-5 days. the substrate is cow manure and kitty litter, so i imagine that if i let up on the CO2 the algae will gain the upper hand.

so far, the tank looks good.


and so does the algae:


when i decided to try it, i had already envisioned how i wanted it to work. i wanted it to be easy to scape with and i didnt want it to take over my tank. i tried growing several types out before i stumbled on a way to make the type of scapeable algae i wanted.

so far so good. i have my thumbs crossed that it will behave how i want it to behave when i devote a tank entirely to it.

[auban]

well, i figure i might as well show you all the algae grow out tank. i have figured out that if i flip the algae mat over every few days it forms it forms a more uniform, tightly knit sheet. it also causes it to form layers which can be separated. if i peel one layer away from the other, i can put them side by side and double the size of the mat in relatively short time. it shouldn't be hard to keep growing the algae mats.

a frontal view of the small 5 gallon tank i grow it in:


over head view of the mat:


this pic is just to show how i have used it so far. i cut it with a pair of scissors into a thin strip. you can also see the layers in the strip.

[Acro]

That is really NEAT!
Thank you for posting the pictures, explaining it was good, but the visual always does it for me.
High five to you for experimenting!

[james1542]

Hahaha I love it! Some day people will be buying black brush mats for $10 a square inch, I never thought dudes would pay money for skinny jeans but I was wrong.

All kidding aside the clado matt + tree look awesome!

[auban]

im not sure if i would ever sell this stuff. the thought of someone paying me money for something that could potentially cause them an incredible headache just doesn't sit right with me. at least not until i KNOW how its going to act in most situations.

that said, if i ever do sell it, i will first send free samples to people who want to try it to make sure it works as intended in OTHER peoples tanks.

if i sell it to somebody and i give them bad advice on how to grow it, or fail to warn them of the potential risks involved with adding it to their tanks, i wouldnt be much better than a snake oil vendor. if i ever do sell it, it will come with strong warnings of what COULD go wrong as well as the best advice i can give(which would have to be based on more experience than i have with it).

of course, freebies wouldn't hurt my sense of morality. warnings and common sense would still apply though.

i still have a lot of tests to run this algae through. its still at the very early stages of what i have planned.

[Acro]

^Well said.

I would be interested to see how it does in a "normal" tank instead of this craziness. lol http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...53#post2102153

You have some interesting experiments.

[roadmaster]

One of the most Awsome tank's I have ever seen, was saltwater planted tank that Tom Barr created with use of macro algae.

[auban]

Originally Posted by roadmaster

One of the most Awsome tank's I have ever seen, was saltwater planted tank that Tom Barr created with use of macro algae.

I don't know who Tom Barr is, but I was in north Carolina several years ago and saw a salt tank with lots of different macros. that's when the wheels in my head started turning. I tried to create a freshwater equivilent using algae, but I could find nothing but ways to get rid of algae and nothing on culturing it for aquascaping. at least not in the way I want to use it. I found plenty of threads where people expressed interest, but nothing involving a method to make it work. the closest thing I could find were mostly happy accidents. I want to see a freshwater tank that showcases the potential of our various algaes, many of which can be quite stunning.

I don't have the patience to wait until somebody creates a niche in the hobby for others like me. I decided to get the whole thing started. this is just the first step. after I get this algae figured out, I will move on to a different type. one by one, I plan to "crack the code" on different kinds of algae. it will probably take me years.

[auban]

setting up a ten gallon with driftwood and algae. pics coming soon.

[auban]

every time i trim it, it looks more and more like a marimo ball. to keep the trimmings from taking over, i start a siphon going into a 5 gallon bucket and use scissors to trim it. i hold the siphon tube close to the scissors and all the algae trimmings get sucked right up. i then pour the water through a fine fish net and back into the tank.