Re: Algae Balls

[Brown_D at pcfnotes1_wustl.edu]

I have seen quite a few posts about algae balls, and they seem to be quite
desirable, unlike the tank equivalent of dust bunnies (that accumulate in
unswept/unvacuumed areas like under beds or couches).  The posted pictures
were quite cool.  Is it a particular species of algae that forms these?
Can you train any algae to do this?   And more to the point, are they like
a whole tankful of super-duper algae-busting stem plants--taking up all the
excess nutrients so that you don't get algae ANYWHERE ELSE in the tank?  If
so, I want some....!

Diane Brown