Growing algae for food

[kb46]

Can anyone give me some tips on growing algae for my hillstream loach (gastromyzon sp.)? I have had a few rocks in cups of old tank water on the window sill for a week but there's hardly a slimy feel to them yet, let alone any sign of green.

Should I just be a bit more patient or are there some things I can do to speed things along?

Kylie

PS What other greens would he like to eat? and how should I prepare them?

[clownloachfan]

I dont know how warm it is where you are at but i did the same thing. I grew it for my otos and plecos. I had the container outside. I always had a fresh coat of green on the rocks in about a week. This depended on weather. If it was a really cloudy week, growth was slow. If it was a sunny week, in which the rocks were in the sun for the whole day, growth was explosive. Does the window get alot of sun?

[kb46]

I don' t want to put it outside because I'm concerned about mosquito spraying. Perhaps sealing the cup with glad wrap would work?

The window I chose is the only one out of reach of inquisitive toddler fingers. They do get a lot of light but direct sun hits them only a couple of hours late afternoon. Might try moving them to the sunniest end.