[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Hairgrass carpet a mess
I've been growing in a carpet of Dwarf Hairgrass (Eleocharis acicularis)
for several months. The carpet is nicely established, and I've been
relatively successful getting it to go where I want.
But it's a mess. Mulm collects in it, making it look like a dirty carpet.
Small bits of algae crop up in different areas.
I have a lot of bottom feeders in the 72 gallon tank: 8 cories, 4
ancistrus, 3 SAE, 5+ ottos, 3 loaches. They poke and explore through the
grass, but don't disturb it very often. It's not food that's collecting
down there-it's fish poop and plant detritus.
I don't vacuum my gravel (Flourite), but lately I've been lightly sucking
the junk out of the hairgrass without disturbing the gravel. This is made
easier because the hairgrass roots hold the gravel down. But it's still a
mess. Without the hairgrass, the Flourite looks pretty good-the mulm sinks
in or gets sucked up by the filter.
I've also tried various circulation patterns with the filter. I am
considering buying a larger cannister filter to get stronger water flow
along the bottom-it's almost stagnant at the bottom now-all the circulation
is at the mid levels. My idea was to put the intake way down low, and
direct the outflow down low from the other end. I suppose I could achieve
the same with a power head.
What do other people with thick carpets do?
Thanks!