How to Grow Agar Agar

Agar agar is a gel-like substance extracted from the cells of red seaweed. Agar agar is commonly used in canning meat, fish and poultry. It is also used in dentistry, medicines and cosmetics. It is sometimes used as a thickening agent for desserts, salad dressings and ice cream. To effectively grow agar agar, you must first grow red seaweed.

Things You'll Need

• Aquarium
• Rock

Instructions

1. Mix the salt and water in a spare aquarium or large drum. Get the temperature of the water to 81 degrees. Add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of salt per gallon of water. Stir the water and allow it to sit for 24 to 36 hours.

2. Fill your aquarium with salt water and place the large rock into the aquarium.

3. Raise the temperature in the aquarium to at least 72 degrees. Most large and healthy seaweed plants grow in warm water. In ideal conditions, a red seaweed plant grows to more than 115 feet long.

4. Lower your seaweed into the tank and allow it to attach itself to the rock. Seaweed does not have roots. It filters ingredients out of the water in order to grow. Although, some of the leaves of the seaweed appear to be roots on the rock, they are there to stabilize the plant.

5. Add liquid fertilizer to the water to allow the seaweed to grow and to give the seaweed nutrients. When the seaweed is young, it is a green color. When it is fully grown, it becomes a dark, reddish purple.

Tips & Warnings

• Add saltwater fish to the tank if desired.

• Red seaweed is found most often around New Zealand, which is known for it's unpolluted land and water.

Resources

• Read the qualities and uses for various types of seaweeds.