growing algae

I have a 20 gallon long that is home to three gastromyzon ctenocephalus, (borneo sucker loaches) and some Madagascar rainbows. I am aware that the natural diet for the loaches is the soft algaes, (vs green spot, hair, or bba). I was told high light and almost no nutrients. I am making an overflow that goes to a 10 gallon sump where I'm growing plants with a separate light, (to take up nitrates) and will be breeding california black worms to feed my rainbows.

So any suggestions on growing soft algaes to provide a natural food source for my loaches? I have roughly 3 watts per gallon directly above the surface and I will likely be adding more, particularly if it will help the algae.

Also there are no plants in the main tank,it is entirely hardscaped.

Thanks,
Aquaforia

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Comment by LED on June 24, 2013 at 10:19pm: if you want hair algae it requires excess nutrients

if you want diatoms, get substrate that is in excess in silicates

better yet use this guide

http://www.rexgrigg.com/Algae1.html

it has the most probable cause and treatment

Comment by LED on June 24, 2013 at 10:21pm: btw why not try growing algae in a stagnate contain with water that sits in the sun. very easy to grow algae that way. get plant trimmings you dont want. throw in container of water and sit in sun. over time it will grow massive amounts of algae.

Comment by aquaforia on June 24, 2013 at 11:05pm: LED,

Thank you for the response, I was worried I would not get any hits because this was my first post. I like the idea of growing the algae in the tank so they can eat whenever they please. Sounds like I need silicates, is there a good way to introduce these? Certain rocks perhaps? I am happy to does my tank if needed, I just really like the idea of going the algae in the tech.

Comment by aquaforia on June 25, 2013 at 5:02am: After a bit of reading it sounds like diatoms come from excess silica in the aquarium. Usually there is an excess in the first couple of weeks, (hense that unitial brown algae bloom) but I am trying to find a reliable silica source. I am considering silica sand, (Like play sand. Quartz sand is incredibly insoluble and therefor out of the question. Does anyone have experience with growing diatoms in fresh or salt?

Aquaforia

Comment by LED on June 25, 2013 at 10:17pm: a reliabe silica source is oil zorb, or other brand of oil absorbant,

here is a link so you know what i mean

http://bit.ly/11M0rwo

since autozone is mostly everywhere, you should be able to buy this. its less than 8 bucks i think for 25 lbs or 33 lbs

Comment by aquaforia on June 26, 2013 at 3:16am: I found this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SODIUM-SILICATE-40-solution-32-ounces-Lab-C...

which is NaS02, an aqueous compound that contains silicon among other things, (silicon being required for diatoms). Does anyone know if the sodium will be problematic? (I am anticipating some weird PH things, and have buffers to adjust accordingly back down or up).

Aquaforia