Thanks for all the advice on my mismatched fish. Now for another puzzle. Although I've got the algae problem on the glass and tank floor under control, the leaves of my plants are growing fuzz. They don't look clean and sharp like some of the pictures I've seen posted. Plants in my pond have fuzz growing on them, but it doesn't present the same aesthetic problem as in the tank. Plus the tank is smaller (100 plus gallon) than the pond and I'm afraid of it spiralling out of control when I'm not looking. It seems to be growing on the top of the leaves, where most of the photosynthesis goes on. Not enough light, too little CO2?
Plus, 15 years or so ago, when I last dabbled in fish, we never changed 25-50% of the water, at any time. Neither did my mom, from whom I got my interest in fish. Too much crap in tap water. My last house had ancient copper pipes. My fish kept dying until I discovered why and started using distilled water. Also not so good, I suppose; no trace elements. But plants, fish and gravel put enough traces in there soon enough.
And what's this CO2 stuff all about? Is that if you have a planted aquarium, dedicated more to plants than fish? I thought that a ratio of plants to fish should balance each other out?
Very strange. What did I get myself into.
Plus, 15 years or so ago, when I last dabbled in fish, we never changed 25-50% of the water, at any time. Neither did my mom, from whom I got my interest in fish. Too much crap in tap water. My last house had ancient copper pipes. My fish kept dying until I discovered why and started using distilled water. Also not so good, I suppose; no trace elements. But plants, fish and gravel put enough traces in there soon enough.
And what's this CO2 stuff all about? Is that if you have a planted aquarium, dedicated more to plants than fish? I thought that a ratio of plants to fish should balance each other out?
Very strange. What did I get myself into.
