I've been reading a lot of post from people asking how many of this or that does it take to clean a tank. I'm not here to slam anyone or put anyone down. But when you decide to set a tank up. That's the responsibilty of the owner. You're creating the enviroment to keep and raise aquatic creatures that your in complete control of. You're now Mother Nature, and everything you put in that aquarium depends on you for it's health, food, water chemistry, filtration everything.
In nature, Mother Nature takes care of her lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, creeks, or what ever by creating natural flows, either from underground water sources, rain, snow, or a hundred of other way to keep water from stagnating, and moving. Providing food, be it some form of plant life like algae, insect life, or crustacea or other types of forage for food.
Everything has it's own part it plays in this watery enviroment. When you decide to setup this in an aquarium, Now it's up to you to control how everything works. If you're having a algae problem, don't expect fish like otocinclus affinis, gyrinocheilus aymoonieri, crossocheilus siamensis, or the many different species of plecostomus, or different species of snails to solve the problem. "IT'S YOUR PROBLEM". You're probably getting too much sunlight or artificial light in the tank causing this growth of algae. You took what Mother Nature does, and condensed it all into this small tank. Remember when this happens in nature. Everything usually goes stagnant, there's a lack of oxygen, and everything dies. You don't want this to happen in your aquarium.
That's why weekly or bi-weekly maintenance is required. Water changes, vaccuming your gravel or substrate when needed. And removing that excess algae growth. Reducing some of the plant life growing. It's all up to you. Yes, certain species do and will eat algae, and will help to keep an aquarium clean to some extent. But don't rely on this alone.
Aquariums are beautiful to have and keep. But they also take a lot of time and care to keep that way. But remember this. You're the one in complete control. You're now Mother Nature. It's up to you how everything lives, and survives.
Like I said in the beginning. This isn't meant to slam or put down anyone.
Mike
In nature, Mother Nature takes care of her lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, creeks, or what ever by creating natural flows, either from underground water sources, rain, snow, or a hundred of other way to keep water from stagnating, and moving. Providing food, be it some form of plant life like algae, insect life, or crustacea or other types of forage for food.
Everything has it's own part it plays in this watery enviroment. When you decide to setup this in an aquarium, Now it's up to you to control how everything works. If you're having a algae problem, don't expect fish like otocinclus affinis, gyrinocheilus aymoonieri, crossocheilus siamensis, or the many different species of plecostomus, or different species of snails to solve the problem. "IT'S YOUR PROBLEM". You're probably getting too much sunlight or artificial light in the tank causing this growth of algae. You took what Mother Nature does, and condensed it all into this small tank. Remember when this happens in nature. Everything usually goes stagnant, there's a lack of oxygen, and everything dies. You don't want this to happen in your aquarium.
That's why weekly or bi-weekly maintenance is required. Water changes, vaccuming your gravel or substrate when needed. And removing that excess algae growth. Reducing some of the plant life growing. It's all up to you. Yes, certain species do and will eat algae, and will help to keep an aquarium clean to some extent. But don't rely on this alone.
Aquariums are beautiful to have and keep. But they also take a lot of time and care to keep that way. But remember this. You're the one in complete control. You're now Mother Nature. It's up to you how everything lives, and survives.
Like I said in the beginning. This isn't meant to slam or put down anyone.
Mike