What kind of deficiency is this?

**raynoryeo** · 12th Jun 2014, 15:01

Recently I've experienced quite a couple of greenwater attacks. The tank is 1month old. However the HC that I've tried out seem to be suffering.

Anyone knows what kind of deficiency is this?

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In addition, I observe a great growth in population of these tiny little WHITE BUGS that are crawling everywhere around the tank (internal). Any methods to remove them entirely... They seem like pests to me.

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**solidbrik** · 12th Jun 2014, 16:44

Some of my plants look like that too..thought it's just normal melting. ..so its a deficiency?

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**Urban Aquaria** · 12th Jun 2014, 16:56

Originally Posted by raynoryeo

In addition, I observe a great growth in population of these tiny little WHITE BUGS that are crawling everywhere around the tank (internal). Any methods to remove them entirely... They seem like pests to me.

Those should be copepods, they live in all tanks and are part of the tank's ecosystem (especially in planted tanks), they are completely harmless... usually small fishes will hunt and eat them up to keep their population under control, so consider it as free live food for your fishes.

**raynoryeo** · 12th Jun 2014, 17:28

Hi UrbanAquaria! When you mention small fishes, would the Otocinclus or the SAE be counted as small as well? I believe tetras do consume such bugs as well right?

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**jasonwoo** · 12th Jun 2014, 17:35

Bro Raynoryeo, SAE can grow up to 15 cm. If your tank is small, they may not be happy.

**raynoryeo** · 12th Jun 2014, 18:19

How bout yamato shrimps?

Ok I'll take note of that Jason!

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**Urban Aquaria** · 13th Jun 2014, 02:27

Originally Posted by raynoryeo

Hi UrbanAquaria! When you mention small fishes, would the Otocinclus or the SAE be counted as small as well? I believe tetras do consume such bugs as well right?

I've not observed Otocinclus or SAE actually eating copepods, maybe they might accidentally hoover one or two up while grazing on algae, but certainly not enough to make a difference. Copepods jump around very fast so can easily avoid those fishes as they bumble around.

Small fishes like tetras and boraras will eat the copepods, the smaller the fishes the more effective (ie. those less than 2cm length), they will actively hunt and ambush the critters, especially if they are only fed once every few days (helps keep them hungry and willing to constantly hunt for live food)... i did notice that the larger ones tend to just ignore the tiny copepods though, maybe too much work and not filling enough, they would rather wait for commercial food to be served daily.

Originally Posted by raynoryeo

How bout yamato shrimps?

Quite unlikely that yamato shrimps can catch copepods, they are just not as fast and nimble enough.

**raynoryeo** · 13th Jun 2014, 08:20

Thanks UrbanAquaria! Will definitely introduce livestock really soon.

However does anyone have any idea why the HC would turn out that way? Would it be lacking any nutritions or any other factors?

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**|squee|** · 13th Jun 2014, 09:12

Probably NPK-related or calcium? What do you dose as fertilisers?

**raynoryeo** · 13th Jun 2014, 10:24

I use to dose 25ml of Kh2Po4 LUSHGRO Premix ferts
And probably 5drops of LUSHGRO MICRO

Now I'm changing it to dosing macro and micro on alternate days. Currently using AMAZONIA. Hence my micro regime previously

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