Now this is an odd problem - but I want a bit more algae 
I've had to move my Chinese algae eater to a new 2' x 1' x 1' tank. I've put in lots of plants, 9 cardinal tetras, north facing window but no lights (same as south facing in the northern hemisphere) so plenty of sunlight in the daylight hours. I'm adding CO2 every third day or so with Sera CO2 tablets. Have dropped in a few tabs for micronutrients and top up the macros and micros every so often also. Also, there are a few snails in the tank that came with the plants. Not a speck of algae can be seen anywhere.
The plants are fine, the fish are fine, the water is crystal clear - but I'm worried that the CAE can't get enough to eat. He doesn't seem to eat peas or zucchini or wafers. The little fellow doesn't look like he's starving and seems happy enough for the moment, but he used to have a constant string of poo in his old tank and now not much at all. He lost his mate who jumped out of the tank a couple of weeks ago - they were a real pair (again unusual I know) and I'm trying to make him as happy as possible and know he can live for many years yet.
So far I've occasionally added some brown algae from a low light tank (just moved a few pebbles across).
Is there a way to induce a little bit of algae - perhaps just that soft green algae that grows on glass - without upsetting the plants or the tank generally?
(Eventually he'll get a bigger tank, but he's still young and small so that won't happen for a few weeks or months.)
I've had to move my Chinese algae eater to a new 2' x 1' x 1' tank. I've put in lots of plants, 9 cardinal tetras, north facing window but no lights (same as south facing in the northern hemisphere) so plenty of sunlight in the daylight hours. I'm adding CO2 every third day or so with Sera CO2 tablets. Have dropped in a few tabs for micronutrients and top up the macros and micros every so often also. Also, there are a few snails in the tank that came with the plants. Not a speck of algae can be seen anywhere.
The plants are fine, the fish are fine, the water is crystal clear - but I'm worried that the CAE can't get enough to eat. He doesn't seem to eat peas or zucchini or wafers. The little fellow doesn't look like he's starving and seems happy enough for the moment, but he used to have a constant string of poo in his old tank and now not much at all. He lost his mate who jumped out of the tank a couple of weeks ago - they were a real pair (again unusual I know) and I'm trying to make him as happy as possible and know he can live for many years yet.
So far I've occasionally added some brown algae from a low light tank (just moved a few pebbles across).
Is there a way to induce a little bit of algae - perhaps just that soft green algae that grows on glass - without upsetting the plants or the tank generally?
(Eventually he'll get a bigger tank, but he's still young and small so that won't happen for a few weeks or months.)
