Growing algae for decoration?

[Aquariumfish123]

Hi, I read about people that purposefully leave their lights on longer to grow some decorative algae, has anyone here heard or tried this?

 

[DragonFish71]

I do try to grow some algae to feed my ABN plecos and reticulated hillstream loaches. Also in my shrimp tank I have this pretty cottony type algae on my branches of driftwood that I let grow.

 

[venymae]

I am attempting to get some algae growth for my bn pleco and snails also. So far all I've gotten is brown diatoms haha

 

[Aquariumfish123]

I am attempting to get some algae growth for my bn pleco and snails also. So far all I've gotten is brown diatoms haha

Yeah that's all I seem to get too! Lol!

 

[Luananeko]

Try adding some more blue to your light spectrum? I get brown diatom when I start to slack on ferts on my 75 gallon planted running 6500K bulbs, but on my actinic GloTank I only get the soft green flowy algae

 

[Rare]

I grow in the middle rocks section. I have 10k, actinic purple & actinic blue. The African cichlids grazing the algae rock is a plus for them as well. I just dont let it get out of control. The lights are not fixtures above the aquarium so they sit on the rim/brace. If I move them up I know they will have less penetration in the the water from the lights and grow less. My cichlids are fed very well, so I know i have a little more nutrients in the water. I do 75% plus PWC every week either way to keep things in check. I also grow them in the sump as a refugium of sort for testing . But that will be full blown diatoms growing in there.