How to Grow & Harvest Your Own Algae

Wash out the aquarium with water and 1 tsp. of bleach. Rinse it thoroughly and let it air dry. The container must be completely clean to avoid contamination or the growth of competing organisms.

Fill the aquarium with sea water. You can purchase this at any saltwater fish store. The sea water is bottled and safe to use. It has been purified so no other organisms are growing in it. Do not take water from the ocean as it is full of competing life forms.

Put the tubing on the aerator and run the end into the saltwater. Plug in the aerator. You should see bubbles. The bubbles cycle the water to move nutrients around and help dispose of wastes.

Pour in your algae strain and mix it with the saltwater. Add the algae nutrients at the rate the packaging indicates. Cover the entire aquarium with plastic. Enclose the tubing as well to prevent the introduction of alien objects.

Set up a grow light at least 1 foot above the tank. Put a timer on it and set the timer for 12 hours on and 12 off. Keep the room the tank is in at a temperature of at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Algae growth is fast.

Harvest the algae when it covers the entire surface of the water. Use an aquarium skimmer or fish net to scoop the algae out of the water. Store it in plastic bags. Use it while fresh. You can add more nutrient to the water and the residual algae will recolonize and fill the tank again.