Biochemistry or common sense

Dear Professor

If you could please spear a few moments on this topic i would really appreciate it.

I recently started making tank decor out of a pvc pipe. I cut circles using a soldering iron then sanded it thoroughly. But the white isnt my favorite colour i want to grow algae on it but im not sure how to do so with out letting my tank become algae invested!

Please help

Regards DS DG

 

Dear DS DG,

I fear that you have got a problem here. I agree that white PVC is not the most attractive thing to put into an aquarium, but if you want to get algae to grow in this, you will also get algae to grow on everything else. So this is unfortunately not possible.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

Dear Professor,

How would one go about growing algea intentionally?

 

Dear Henk,

The easiest way to get algae to grow is to add nitrate and phosphate to the water in amounts in excess of what the plants can use up. Lights that have a peak in the spectrum of 550 nm and too little blue and red wavelengths will also stimulate algal growth.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

Dear Professor,

Absolutely fascinating and riveting stuff. As always, a wealth of information.

Kind regards,

Henk

 

Hey DS DG,I would sand the pipe a little jus to remove the shine which increases the grip.Then if you want grow the algae on the pipes maybe outside in the sun then intro into the tank.Thats 1 idea with extra work

 

Dear fishcrazy,

What about the idea of rolling the pipe in marine silicone and then in silica sand? Do you not think that it will cover the pipe rather nicely?

 

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Henk, I love your enthusiasm on this thread. And I love that idea!

 

Dear Zoom,

thank you for the compliment

Kind regards,

Henk

 

Problem is though that silicon rubber does not take on PVC, what you can do though is to use PVC glue and then add silica sand.

But your eloquancy, Henk on this thread is astounding, I must agree with Zoom, my compliments, old chap!

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

What about growing moss on the PVC?

Also, you can easily induce most types of algae by inceasing the light and limiting the CO2.

 

Hi Lauré,

You make a good suggestion about growing moss on the PVC, but it hardly covers the PVC to the extent that you do not see the white color underneath it.

If you increase the light and decrease the CO2 the algae will grow on all the plants as well, right?

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

Why not PAINT the PVC pipe (with a suitable paint) the colour of the substrate, or something similar?

 

Again paints stick to PVC very poorly and unless the paint is not toxic for fishes which most are, this could be toxic for the system.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

Hi all
Epoxy resin will stick well on the PVC and can be used to stick all sort of things to it. I sadly don't know wish type is food proof(non toxic) when hardend. To sand down the pipe befor aplying the resin is still a good idea

 

You are correct Guido, epoxy sticks and is not toxic.

I hope that we can now close this sticky thread....

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

how about not useing pvc pipe and rather clay pots or something

 

Quite correct. I was merely pointing out the simplest way to induce algae. Because adding excess N and P is not so easy. Excess N and you will most likely only get GSA on the glass and might end up poisoning the fish depending on the amount of N you add. Excess P is actually also rather simple. You will get a whole host of algae types, but most likely GDA which is probably the worst looking algae of the lot. It also has a life cycle of 3 to 4 weeks and then it dies off which means you are back to square one if you actually intend to induce algae as a form of decoration.

And limiting the areas where algae will grow is probably nearly impossible.

I have experimented with a Riccia carpet which I attached to plastic shapes covered with a hair net. It looks very nice but is very high maintenance. But perhaps this might be an idea if you have time on your hands...

 

thank you prof for your time