Various Questions

[TheZoo]

I know there is alot of debate about alot of stuff in the aquarium world. So, I'd like some opinions on a few things. Also a few questions...

If one has an undegravel filter in place as well as a hang-on-back or internal filter in the tank, is it safe to leave the UGF there?

If i have some of those ammonia removing cartridges in my ugf tubes, should I leave them there?

When vacuuming gravel, how do you maneuver around your plants/decorations?

Rinsing filter media in old tank water - weekly?

For my filter, should I get a mechanical method only cartrige and chuck my carbon/mech. filter cartridge?

What is this brown, spotty, hard to get off algae and what likes to eat it?

[fishpoor]

Yes its safe to run a ugf with another type of filter, In all my tanks I run at least 2 filters. You can't have too much filtration. I would leave the amonia removers in place, why not? I don't rinse out my cartridges until the flow is affected. I only "clean" one filter at a time, and am on well water, so I use water from the tap , not only to clean the filters, but to do water changes as well. In my power filters i use charcoal and change 50% water weekly. A lot of people feel that both are unneccessary, but I like the added "cushion" they both give my fish. I have a reverse flow ugf in one of my 50 gallon tanks, on that tank I also have a magnum 350, and recently added a penguin 160. Its the dirtiest tank I own. I really don't know why, except maybe it has no horsefaced loaches or other "burrowing" fish in it. Sorry about the aside. Anyway, good luck.

[Rbishop]

As above...

On the vacuuming, for me it was just patience, though most my tanks are lightly aquascaped, with large open swimming areas. I also have three different diameters of tubes. Using the smaller one helps on the small tanks or might help you around your decorations.

[TheZoo]

Another question:

I have some brownish, spot shaped algae growing on some of my plant leaves and ornaments. The guppies nibble on this occasionally. I wipe the inside of the glass when I do my water changes, so ther isnt much there but would be if I didnt wipe it. There is also a slight greenish tint to the water when viewed from the side of the aquarium. Do i have a light issue? I would prefer that there was less of this algae, but dont hate it. Is there anything (like a shrimp?) that would enjoy eating this?

edited to add: I just noticed that there is also a green, mossy algae growing on top of the brown. I think this is what the guppies are eating.