newish with questions

kyle3

AC Members
Mar 17, 2005
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Minneapolis, MN
i've had my tank set up since december and have questions about it.
i have an undergravel filter with 1-1.5 inches of gravel is this too much, too little, or just right?
I have a 5 gallon tank with florecent lighting, 2 plants: water wysteria and another that starts with L, the inhabitants are one male guppy, one wag platy, one spotted cory cat, and a yellow apple snail

i am beginning to wonder if i might have one too many creatures and wonder what to do about the algae in the filter tubes as well as the algae that grows on the leaves of one of my plants.
 
In a small tank, I'd say it's a little on the heavy size--you end up sacrificing water volume for gravel. While the bio-load sounds pretty light, the problem is that all the fish prefer to be in social groups, and you don't have the space to add more. If possible, I'd move up to a 20, and then add a few more platy's, at least 2 more cories, and possible a few more male guppies (only males, no females!).
 
That's why I suggested going with a bigger tank--the small tank is overcrowded now, adding more fish won't work.
 
I'd invest in a bigger tank and add more fish to the ones you have. A 10 or a 20 at least would be good.
 
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