My first plants, a little nervious

[Fangirl]

I have had my tanks for a few years now, and I have continually been fighting a medium level of blue-green algae. It seems to coat everything. I cut down on feedings and light, but it didn't go away. Soooo... on the advice of folks here, I bought my first plants. They are nothing "fancy", just some from Petsmart. Right away, it seems like my 29 gallon had much clearer water and the fish maybe a bit more frisky. Also, the algae on the fake decorations seems to be dying off. Is this common? I am encouraged, but cautiously optimistic. So far, I have done nothing to the plants but bury their roots/bases in the gravel substrate.

My biggest concern is how to do gravel vacs around the plants without uprooting them. Will the plants eat a lot of the buried waste and cut down on the need for intensive gravel vacs?

Any advice or insights for a newbie at plants is much appreciated.

 

[excuzzzeme]

Plant absorb CO2 and many nutrients that are in the water column. Yes, your tank may be cleaner and yes, the fish may be friskier as plants add O2 as well. In the absence of plants I add air to help the water off-gas better.

 

[The Zigman]

BGA ia not really algae, it will not really go away with typical algea treatments...
It is a Cyano bacteria.. It will cover your plants, and eventuly it can kill the plants, Most of my vals almost died...

I have a post in the forum.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=152547
Look at it and compare my algae with yours...If it is BGA, then you need to treat it with an antibiotic like Maracyn... But be very careful as too much can damage your bio filter.. I used 1/2 dose for 2 days and mine is nearly gone.

Plants and normal algae compete for many of the same nutrients, so if you have a lot of plants in the tank, they can "starve out" the algae... At times you can see live plants Pearling, as they release tiny O2 bubbles into the water... This is when you know everything is working right!

 

[chesterthehero]

this is how things should be one member learning from others and passing the knowledge along. listen to zigman.

 

[Fangirl]

Thanks for the link and advice. My algae doesn't really come off in sheets, so I don't think it will act like Kudzu and smother everything in it's path.

Looking around on the web, it looks more like my algae is a more common "green surface"? algae. The mollies munch on it a bit when they can get a hold of it.

 

[jones57742]

Right away, it seems like my 29 gallon had much clearer water and the fish maybe a bit more frisky. Also, the algae on the fake decorations seems to be dying off. Is this common? I am encouraged, but cautiously optimistic. So far, I have done nothing to the plants but bury their roots/bases in the gravel substrate.

Fg:

As Zig indicated the algae which you have is not as described since the plants are helping so quickly.

You might consider dosing with Flourish and Flourish Excel.

My biggest concern is how to do gravel vacs around the plants without uprooting them.

Just work around them as best you can without disturbing the root structure.

Will the plants eat a lot of the buried waste and cut down on the need for intensive gravel vacs?

Not really much at all.

The cleanup crew for the waste on as well as buried in the substrate are Malaysian Trumpet Snails (aka Malaysian Live Bearers).

TR

 

[Fangirl]

I looked around a bit online at Malaysian Trumpet Snails. They are pretty cool looking.

Like many plant-newbies, I am concerned about buying anything that will munch on my new plants and/or invade and take over my tank.

Also, would my Killifish eat the snails? They have voracious appetites.

 

[jones57742]

I looked around a bit online at Malaysian Trumpet Snails. They are pretty cool looking.

Like many plant-newbies, I am concerned about buying anything that will munch on my new plants and/or invade and take over my tank.

Also, would my Killifish eat the snails? They have voracious appetites.

WRT to Killifish I do not know.

As per posts in another thread they will not take over unless you are significantly overfeeding.

They will not munch on your plants.

TR