I have a 200L tank w/ 2 angels (1big and 1 smaller) 2 bottom feeders, 9 neons and a red-tailed shark. Everybody seems happy in the tank, just one little problem. I have chosen to go the plastic plant route for now, but there is always this brown, sometimes really dark brown agea type growth on the plants. It has at one point gotten out of control and had to throw away all the plants and get new ones and now these have the growth starting again. I have attempted to control this with some Algol and other chem. warfare to no avail. Is there something else I should be looking at? thanks for the help. BTW I have flourescent lighting on for 5 hrs in morning and another 5 in the afternoon with a 2 hr nap time at mid day and they are off all night. I regiously clean the gravel every week with a vacuum and at least a 10% water change. All readings from test kits show all chemicals within normal limits.
Some questions
- Thread starter nicmartim
- Start date
Just get an algae eater and they will get rid of those brown algae for you.
But they wont be able to get rid of green crusty algae though.
So I'd say get a bristlenose catfish
But they wont be able to get rid of green crusty algae though.
So I'd say get a bristlenose catfish
Roland
worlds last gunslinger
You could try planting real plants as they will compete with the algae for nutrients in the water, pegging the algae back. 'java moss' in particular is said to release its own algae fighting chemicals.
What about adding an Indian Algae eater (gyrinocheilus aymonieri) or even better a Pleco of some kind? They would certainly help reduce aglae... but, along with the anti algae chemicals you have added, they would just relieve the symptoms, not tackle the problem.
You could take a water sample to your local pet shop and ask for a broad range test on it, as it must be something in the water....
What about adding an Indian Algae eater (gyrinocheilus aymonieri) or even better a Pleco of some kind? They would certainly help reduce aglae... but, along with the anti algae chemicals you have added, they would just relieve the symptoms, not tackle the problem.
You could take a water sample to your local pet shop and ask for a broad range test on it, as it must be something in the water....
Will the two bottom feeders not eat this type of algea? I also have noticed that my shark tends to eat more algea than food. Is this particular algea not tasty enough?
As a possibly related side note, I also am curious about a white covering on the insides of my hoses that lead to and from the filter. This "coating" comes off when the hoses are squeezed and on the intake side of my canister filter the gunk is just sucked into the filter and collected by the filter media, but the output hose also has this stuff and when this hose is squeezed the white flakes flow carelessly into my aquarium. Is this part of my biological filtering? It seems absolutely harmless but just a cosmetic concern. Thanks again for the help and I will begin the search for a superior algea eater.
As a possibly related side note, I also am curious about a white covering on the insides of my hoses that lead to and from the filter. This "coating" comes off when the hoses are squeezed and on the intake side of my canister filter the gunk is just sucked into the filter and collected by the filter media, but the output hose also has this stuff and when this hose is squeezed the white flakes flow carelessly into my aquarium. Is this part of my biological filtering? It seems absolutely harmless but just a cosmetic concern. Thanks again for the help and I will begin the search for a superior algea eater.
I just did a little research and found out that my "bottom feeders" that I have are plecos. They do a great job of keeping my decorations and rocks and what-not clean, just not the plants.