Moina and Daphnia are deadly enemies to a good green water culture, so I usually keep some fish in any water I want for Euglena or Chlorella species. They eat the larger filter-feeders that deplete the green water. Even Rotifers and Paramecia need to be kept out for best growth. Here, I have used Owens Suckers, but feeder goldfish or some cold-water SAAs work well, too.
Plants compete for the nitrates they need to grow, so don't have any in a green water culture. You want high nitrates to get good greening.
I feed a complete houseplant fertilizer, like "Miracle Grow" that is high in nitrogen compounds, so the water has an unhealthy amount of urea and ammonium right after fertilizing. I wait a few days for it to mostly be converted to NO3 before using it as baby-fish food. Nitrates (below about 300 ppm) are quite harmless, but urea, ammonia, and nitrites are another matter.
My best green-water has far higher density than that shown in the pictures. You would have difficulty seeing the shadow of a finger inserted an inch in from the wall of the container. Partial direct sun and bright shade for most of the day seems to work best for me, too.
Wright
01 760 872-3995
805 Valley West Circle
Bishop, CA 93514 USA
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