Is it safe to use algae in a display without it spreading?

Question

i like algae becuase it makes an aquarium look more natural. it only becomes a problem when it turns the water into "soup". i want to use some hair-like algea i found growing on some small pebbles in connecticut. it was growing in a fast flowing stream. it looks like this...

http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dalgae%26js%3D1%26ni%3D20%26ei%3Dutf-8%26y%3DSearch%26fr%3Dsfp%26xargs%3D0%26pstart%3D1%26b%3D641&w=500&h=375&imgurl=static.flickr.com%2F3231%2F2592896151_36424719ee.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fgripspix%2F2592896151%2F&size=210.2kB&name=algae+0&p=algae&type=JPG&oid=c292219df2c94640&fusr=gripspix&t*t=algae+0&hurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fgripspix%2F&no=641&tt=221,712&sigr=11h3l54in&sigi=11gfv1ljl&sigb=13fe9t9lj&sigh=116nebe0e

i want it to stay somewhat confined to the rock it's on. is this possible? if so, how?? trim it??

thanks!

Answer 1

i think you can. though it would look nasty but you can use a plant called  java moss it kind looks like grassy and mossy algae. also algae may raise your nitrate and pH levels if theres too much of it so thats why people clean their tanks to get rid of algae.

Answer 2

I've seen that growing in a nearby stream. To be honest, it appeared quite discusting to me, though of course, different people have different tastes. You could try, but I don't think it will work, and it could do some serious damage to your fish. It could be carrying diseases, alter the pH,  it could be carrying micro-organisms and/or unwated creatures such as shrimp, etc. Also, Coming from an fast-flowing stream into a tank with little wate rflow probably won't sit to well with it. As for it spreading in your tank, i'm not sure.

Good luck :)