
Hi,
Need advise on the above, I am encountering brown algae problem, will too much fishes cause this problem.
Currently 2 FT tank with about 10 Cardina tetra, 2 ballon Ram, 6 Rummy Nose, 3 Beta, 4 glass Catfish, 2 otto, 2 red eye tetra, 5 zebra.
CO2 cannister + 4 x 26W T5 lightings. 8 -10 hours lightings a day.
Feeding 2 time a day.
Thank you.
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try feeding once a day
It will. Because the balance is off. The system cannot handle the NH4 and NH3. Therefore, algae will spike and go into feeding frenzy. Once this happen, you need to go in and remove the algae manually. No amount of shrimps, water change and filter wash will get rid of algae if you do not remove the existing algae already in the system.
colin | The Wilderness and Forest | FTS






You can have more fish assuming you have enough plants that are doing well to balance the extra bioload.

The key word is TOO MANY!
I'd keep the 'worker' fish and perhaps the cardinals that will form a school.
The red eye tetra, betta and balloon rams are the odd ones IMO.
You can if you dare to fail - Stan Chung
I have much more fishes than that (cories and loaches) but they are all doing well and breeding in my low-tech tanks because I have a high plant-mass inside. It is all about keeping the balance - for all the fish you put in, you need to have more plants to absorb their waste products.
Corydoras - Sterbai, Leopard, Bronze, Albino, Pepper, Similis, Pygmaeus, Habrosus, Hastatus, Tail-Spot
Loaches - Clown, Red-Tailed Squirrel, Yoyo, Zodiac, Crimson, Banded/Spotted Kuhli, Zebra, Blue Botia, Kubotai
Others - L181, C/S/GAEs, Otos, Dwarf/Thai/Honey Gouramis, Spotted/Smiling Cat, Shark Cat, Percula Clown (SW), Cinnamon Anemonefish (SW)...
Happy Shrimps - CRS, Sakura/RCS, Malayan, Yamato, Green Shrimps, Dancing Shrimp (SW)



Or, change water every 2-3 days. Your tank not so big. Do like what I do, I ask my wife and my maid to use the fish tank water to water the potted plants then top up with fresh water. That way about 5% water change everyday.

If you have enough plant mass, you should not have an algae problem. In this case, you may not have enough plants, or you may have added them too late after the algae started blooming. Like what barmby mentioned, once the algae takes a hold in your tank you will have to remove them manually. For my first few experiences I had to tear down the algae-infested tanks entirely, sterilised the hardware and restart.
Last edited by seanskye; 1st Sep 2009 at 16:08. Reason: misquoted (sorry!)
Corydoras - Sterbai, Leopard, Bronze, Albino, Pepper, Similis, Pygmaeus, Habrosus, Hastatus, Tail-Spot
Loaches - Clown, Red-Tailed Squirrel, Yoyo, Zodiac, Crimson, Banded/Spotted Kuhli, Zebra, Blue Botia, Kubotai
Others - L181, C/S/GAEs, Otos, Dwarf/Thai/Honey Gouramis, Spotted/Smiling Cat, Shark Cat, Percula Clown (SW), Cinnamon Anemonefish (SW)...
Happy Shrimps - CRS, Sakura/RCS, Malayan, Yamato, Green Shrimps, Dancing Shrimp (SW)

From start..Plant heavily and not plant little hoping that it will overgrown with lush greenery ONE DAY- it'll never comeBtw, i didnt recommend tearing down the tank and rescape. Different algae has different methods to counter them. Not yamatoes or blah blah..everytime there is alage
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colin | The Wilderness and Forest | FTS

I have torn down the entire tank, did a total clean up of the filter and tank. And rescape the wholetank, will shop for some new plants for those that I discarded. Recycling the tank now.
Back breaking started at 10 last night and complete at 11 am this morning. Let's hope I don't have to do it again.

Corydoras - Sterbai, Leopard, Bronze, Albino, Pepper, Similis, Pygmaeus, Habrosus, Hastatus, Tail-Spot
Loaches - Clown, Red-Tailed Squirrel, Yoyo, Zodiac, Crimson, Banded/Spotted Kuhli, Zebra, Blue Botia, Kubotai
Others - L181, C/S/GAEs, Otos, Dwarf/Thai/Honey Gouramis, Spotted/Smiling Cat, Shark Cat, Percula Clown (SW), Cinnamon Anemonefish (SW)...
Happy Shrimps - CRS, Sakura/RCS, Malayan, Yamato, Green Shrimps, Dancing Shrimp (SW)





Picture, please!





If you have strong bio mechanical filtration, it shouldn' be too much of a problem.
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