Well I think the last time I posted I was declaring war on my brown algea problem. I blacked out the tank for 72 hours and it stemmed the tide for a few days at best. Since then I've been abit busy and what not but today I got arround to phase two of the war. I've read here (always the best advice IMHO) that adding plants will up the competition for the nutrients that algea needs to grow. Back when I had pea gravel as my substrait I had afew plants in my tank ,(four small swords not sure what kind), that I tossed once I setup the tank that replaced it (36G in my sig). Mainly due to the moon sand being so light and unplantable. So first off I want to replace the moon sand with Florite. Can I do this without tearing down my tank? Any tips are welcome I'm thinking I'll need to scoop out as much of the moon sand as I can then replace it with the florite.
Now tonight I went out and bought 5 new fish at Petco my favorite LFS and decided to go down to Petsmart and get some florite and afew camboba(sp?) for my 36G. Picked up afew new decoration peices for the tank as well from petco. When I got home I cleaned the 36 REALLY well after my ~40% weekly water change. Then I started rincing the florite. I can't believe how much dust/clay this stuff had on it. The water looked like chocolate milk. So long story short I made afew pits in the moon sand and put in enough of the florite to put the plants in. The water got pretty cloudy but it's mostly cleared now.
Almost forgot I added a new penguin 200 on top of the old style 170 I have. Both are running atm I was told I should up the filtration abit last time so that's done now as well
. With mostly stream fish they seem to enjoy the new current in the tank so that's working out well.
Now for the important questions.
1. The plants have no roots? Uhm will they grow from a clipping like this or did I get hosed? Looks like they cut them I didn't realize untill I got home not that asking in the store would have been much help.
2. If I remember right camboba are good in a low light tank correct? Again the store was NO help I was racking my brain trying to remember everything I've read here.
3. I had no choice but to leave the lead clips on them for now is that going to hurt my fish? I'm hoping it's only there short term. maybe a week max.
As far as the new fish 3 otto's got added to the 36 and 2 spotted cories were moved into the bettas 10G tank.
-Neo Sithlord
Now tonight I went out and bought 5 new fish at Petco my favorite LFS and decided to go down to Petsmart and get some florite and afew camboba(sp?) for my 36G. Picked up afew new decoration peices for the tank as well from petco. When I got home I cleaned the 36 REALLY well after my ~40% weekly water change. Then I started rincing the florite. I can't believe how much dust/clay this stuff had on it. The water looked like chocolate milk. So long story short I made afew pits in the moon sand and put in enough of the florite to put the plants in. The water got pretty cloudy but it's mostly cleared now.
Almost forgot I added a new penguin 200 on top of the old style 170 I have. Both are running atm I was told I should up the filtration abit last time so that's done now as well
. With mostly stream fish they seem to enjoy the new current in the tank so that's working out well. Now for the important questions.
1. The plants have no roots? Uhm will they grow from a clipping like this or did I get hosed? Looks like they cut them I didn't realize untill I got home not that asking in the store would have been much help.
2. If I remember right camboba are good in a low light tank correct? Again the store was NO help I was racking my brain trying to remember everything I've read here.
3. I had no choice but to leave the lead clips on them for now is that going to hurt my fish? I'm hoping it's only there short term. maybe a week max.
As far as the new fish 3 otto's got added to the 36 and 2 spotted cories were moved into the bettas 10G tank.
-Neo Sithlord
