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snoopy65

snoopy65

I am Sam aka Snoopy65
Aug 24, 2008
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Where the ducks walk on the fish, PA
I have started to dabble with plants. The low light low tech lightly to medium planted tanks are the ones for me. At least thus far. I will tell you what I have and then tell you my problems and questions.

55 Gal - 1 wpg -- I have Severums in this tank and don't think any other plants will survive with them.

Hornwort (floating and held down with weights)
Anubias Petite
Anubias Coffefolia
Java Fern

30 Gal - 1 wpg -- Angels, Rams, green and albino aenus, ramshorn, MTS

Hornwort (floating and held down with weights)
Java Fern
Lace Java Fern
Christmas Moss
Silk Broad Leaf Plants

5 Gal Hex - Not sure of lighting -- Male Betta, Ramshorns, SLIME ALGAE

Anubias Petite
Java Moss
Java Fern (plantlets)
Lace Java Fern (plantlets)

10 Gal - - 1wpg, but gets 2 hours morning sun -- P Alleni Cray

Hornwort Floating

65 Gal Hex (26" accross in any direction and 29" high)- In the process of resealing - Want to have it planted and am looking for suggestions. The hood on it is All Glass with reflectors and 3 15W 8500 T8 bulbs.

I have frogbit and a couple other plants (can't remember what), will update post,coming from BK and will distribute to tanks.

What do I do about the 5 gal hex algae? What plants can I add to the tanks I already have? And what would you do for plants on my 65 gal hex.
 
small tanks are notoriously hard to keep stable. i would venture a guess into you have an excess of nutrients and probably not enough current.

try a larger filter (use your old filter media to seed the new stuff). and feed less. slime algae i think is blue green algae which is not algae at all, but cyanobacteria. if the infection is bad enough you need to treat it with antibiotics (think erythromyacin).
 
I can't switch the filter. It is one of those all in one hex tanks where the filter is built in to the back half of the hood and the light is built into the other half of the hood. Plus anything stronger and I think my betta won't like it much. I am not sure it isn't enough current though as the output will let my ramshorns (3/8") go zooming around in the water if they get in front of it.
 
Try a 3-4 day complete black out to get rid of cyano. Do a big water change ~50% & try to remove as much slime as possible. Cover the tank completely with dark trash bags. No light, no peeking or feeding. After 3 or 4 days do another large water change. If that doesn't get it you can dose erythromyacin but I don't like to do antibiotics casually.

In low light most crypts are nice & there are some anubias with different, bigger leaves. Stem plants are not for low light for the most part but you could try some in your hex, hygro or rotala maybe.

I also have floating Indian fern, ceratopteris cornuta (sp?), the fish love the shading & pick at food & microorganisms but it's a bit big without control in my 10g Q tank. You betta would like it I think.
 
I think he'll be fine, if you move him some of the cyanobacteria may move with him, then back to the main tank.

What are you params in that tank? Low nitrogen & little water movement are recipes for cyano, like jenn said. Maybe an airstone & frequent smallish water changes will help keep it from coming back. Some bettas enjoy some current...
 
I was just checking my 5 gal hex owners manual. It comes with a 15w incadesant bulb which gives me 3 wpg. What do I need to do different with this tank than I am doing with my 1 wpg tanks. This is the only tank I have algae issues with so I am assuming it has to do with the light. Thanks in advance!
 
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