Java moss & Community Aquarium Questions

[Riso-chan]

Java Moss, Fish Community & Filter Questions

I have my plants listed in my sig, but there is some remaining java moss left over from when I attempted to try it. I removed the bulk of it, but there's still a little bit left creeping its way over the gravel. Is the bst way to remove it by hand or is there another way?
Another suject, of fish community ranking. If I trade in my swordtails for kuhli loaches, am I then a small fish community? And what will be the amount of waste produced by those fish?
BTW, I want to udate my filter and I was looking at the aquaclear filters. Are they any good?

 

[OrionGirl]

You can try removing it by hand, but if you don't get every speck, the java moss will return. I wouldn't worry about it much.

Ummm...It looks like a small fish community to me right now? In a 55, you could easily add 4-5 kuhli loaches without a problem, IMO. Kuhli's don't produce a whole lot of waste--I've never been able to identify any solid waste as definitivly from the kuhli's, as opposed to the bristlenose, which produce copious quantities.

I have AC's on all my tanks, and am very happy with them. I recommend going with a bag of bio-media, and then sponges for mechanical filtration. This gives you good room for bacteria, and the sponges can be completely cleaned with each water change.

 

[johnnyxxl]

aquaclears are ok, i prefere the marineland filters with the biowheel and sealed motor box. I also love the kulhi loaches and will get some as soon as one of the shops here gets them in can not figure out why none of the shops here will order them for me? Keep saying out of season?

:joe:

 

[Riso-chan]

That's kind of what I'm doing with my topfin filter, I don't even buy the cartrigdes anymore. I've just been using sponge inserts in the filter for biological filtration. I think I might get an emperor 400 with birthday money in july. You really think trading the swords in would lessen the buildup? Because my nitrates are usually high, but I just upgraded the lighting and the plants should be using some of this. They only had 30watts before, now they 80w, finally. However, I have seen a growth spurt since the added lights were installed. Should I expect the nitrates to decrease? (with 10% water changes weekly?)

 

[flyfly]

I wouldnt expect too much as far as your nitrates go. Yes the plants will use some, but not enough to tackle a nitrate problem. I would suggest larger water changes. In my 55g I push 96w which is low and gives me slow plant growth. I was doing 20%-30% water changes weekly and my nitrates were through the roof. Once I started 50% water changes, I got my nitrates down to a good level in 2 or 3 weeks. Also, if you use ferts I would recommend a larger water change too.