HELP!!! Algae present in new planted tank!

[kingpin]

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On 7/9/2002 8:03:48 AM

roy, can let me know where you get SAE cos there seem to be a shortage at the moment. Let me know how big they are, thanx.

BTW, Malayan shrimp should be in the hundreds, don't worry []
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Choy,

Got some about 4-5cm SAEs from C328 2 days ago. Difficult to find those small ones.

[bawater]

thank vinz, only thing. i dun dose wif any kind of fert, solid or gas. All come from Discus(that's how i planned it in the start) i got a pic but its old,since then added more plants & 3 more discus.Got to take updated pics soon(hopefully this week).i run nothing except lights & an internal filter & a water change every 14days.Everthing is provided for & processed by the tank, maybe algae helping too.

Actually roy,the setup's been running 4yrs(the tank is almost 7yrs old)with 1 FL tube i dun have that much plants(just recently installed the second tube), just some relatively low lighting plants.
Not a fully planted setup, more of an amazonian biotope.
wif 2 pairs of corys(hitting 3yrs old)a china mountain shrimp & some neons(about 30ish). Had 100 malayan shrimps in before,gone within 2mths(probably the discus)now i just use 2 feeder shrimps to clean up uneaten foods.Oh ya hatchet also have, started with 5, 1 commited suicide & other 3 die of natural causes. 1 left nearly 2yrs old.

[roy]

bawater, you change water every 14 days? Are the discus happy about this arrangement?

Recently, I've added some juvenile discus in my planted tank. I like discus but absolutely will not keep discus in bare tank and practise daily water change. I took the plunge into discus in planted tank because many people have done. However, still a little apprehensive about the condition of the juveniles though because read somewhere it's okay to have adult discus in planted tank but not juveniles.

Any advise for a novice planted tank and discus keeper?

Cheers,
Roy

[Simon]

roy, once a week is good enuff for a planted tank, daily change is bad for our tanks... jus make sure u dun overfeed and increase No2

for those looking for super small SAE, tiong bahru has supplies for 2-3cm selling at $0.50

[bawater]

thank simon, will keep an eye out & make a trip, & again trial by error.
a bit apprehensive on most cause they seem to like discus mucus.

roy, mine not a fully planted aquaria- sort of semi ish. Find the hydojetting of discus tend to blow up riccia or any shallow planted plants- have to plant deep rooted plants. Even with java moss it keeps getting blown around.
Some of the stargrass i got from juggler seem to be doing well, maybe cause they sent their roots out already.But still have to replant the rest of the plants periodicly when i come home & see them floating.
i use normal river gravel mixed wif some beach sand & a handful sprinkle of crush coral. abt 2"deep mixture.
Actually- 2 of the discus i bought at only 50cents size $5 from redhill market yrs ago, since then grown up in tank to abt 9cm across. Never had any doubts about keeping them in slightly planted tanks except for the fact that i won't inject Co2 wif discus in it.
Actually, everything revolves ard them. My cycle is- fish=waste/co2/ammonia >waste settles into substrate to produce fert for plants/ co2 used up by plants/ammonia is converted to nirite then nitrates by bacteria then used up by plants- plants trimmed & final product of the elements removed(nitrates/ammonia/waste converted to plant matter). Trimmings are not wasted, then transferred to other thanks- Even LH/betta tank i also use some plantings.
Have tried running the 4ft(4xdiscus,60 neons,4xcorys,some shrimps,plec,sae,4xhatchets)wif just a powerhead before for 4mths-very stable but i changed 50%water every 7days. All u have to do is look after the water quality & the fishes will look after themselves.I dun medicate at all,not even anti-chlorine.

Rummy nose is a good intank water quality meter, when their colour changes u know somethin is wrong.

[roy]

Simon, bawater, thanks!

Don't want to have spike in No2 so not feeding much after you were shocked by my 3 feeding a day routine []

I do agree with discus sending plants floating. That's the reason why I removed my riccia few days ago. Riccia is too much of a hassle imho. I don't find it naturally and tends to trap all sorts of things under the netting and in the "leafs".

Btw, any of you folks use peat moss in your discus planted tank? I put some crushed coral chips in one of my canister last week. Thinking of putting a little peat moss to bring down the pH. Advisable?

Cheers,
Roy

[roy]

Btw, for those looking for SAEs. Other than Tiong Bahru, they are also available in Mei Ling/Queenstown wet market. A little big though - about 2 inches.

Roy

[Simon]

roy, my tefe green only re-arrange the plants but never pull them out.. peat moss? unless u dun mind the darkening effect in yr tank.. i can try Dennerle TR7 blackwater extract

[hwchoy]

how does the rummy nose change colour with water quality? thanx.

[roy]

Simon, how could your tefe re-arrange your plants without up-rooting? Tefe Copperfield? []

Anyway, bought sera peat moss granules. Yet to put in filter yet. Tired of working on the tank - taking a break for the next couple days. Just feed and enjoy the view []

Btw, I'm also interested in finding out the answer to choy's question? Saw your rummy nose and they look GOOD! Now tempted in getting them instead of cardinals.

Roy

[Simon]

they just push the leaves of my ozelot ard.. or till they r happy with it.. very amusing to see