how to grow algae?

[aquandrew]

so my hillstream loach pretty much cleared my tank of algae and i now have to supplement foods. i have an empty 5 gallon tank and some smooth river pebbles that i want to put in direct sunlight to grow some algae for him to eat. i will be setting up a 29 gallon river tank soon and moving the male Sewellia Lineolata and adding two females with some white cloud minnows. first i want to have a good source of algae for them to all graze off of. my question is whats the best way to start algae growth in the 5 besides putting it next to the window? and what if it grows a type of algae that the loach doesn't eat? will i have to run a filter on this tank or will the algae grow in stagnant water? weird huh most people are asking how to get rid of algae

 

[Moggy]

Just leave your aquarium lights on a little longer and algae will start to grow. My plec cleared my tank so i leave the lights on 1 hour longer. It seems to make a little more grow before he munches it. Also try some cucumber on a kebab stick.