[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: [APD] Blackbeard algae control
Stuart,
Thanks for your suggestion on controlling blackbeard algae. I have the same
problem?i.e., reviving neglected tank, trying to rid it of out-of-control
blackbeard algae.
By overdosing Seachem Excel, can you be more specific? How much, how often
per volume?
Thank you.
Neil Anderson
From: <aquatic-plants-request at actwin_com>
Reply-To: <aquatic-plants at actwin_com>
Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2011 12:00:02 -0500
To: <aquatic-plants at actwin_com>
Subject: Aquatic-Plants Digest, Vol 92, Issue 4
Send Aquatic-Plants mailing list submissions to
aquatic-plants at actwin_com
To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
http://mailman.actwin.com/mailman/listinfo/aquatic-plants
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
aquatic-plants-request at actwin_com
You can reach the person managing the list at
aquatic-plants-owner at actwin_com
When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of Aquatic-Plants digest..."
Today's Topics:
1. Reviving a neglected tank (Bob Baron)
2. Re: Reviving a neglected tank (Stuart Halliday)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2011 15:14:34 -0600
From: Bob Baron <zxcvbob at charter_net>
Subject: [APD] Reviving a neglected tank
To: aquatic-plants at actwin_com
I haven't posted much since The Great Unpleasantness a few years ago.
I have a 20 gallon tall cold-water aquarium that I'm trying to bring
back to life. It has been neglected for about a year; no fish, no water
changes, no CO2, but lots of light (what could get thru the algae on
top.) The bottom is sand.
I scraped all the algae off the glass and skimmed it off the top and
vacuumed the bottom (doing about a 50% water change in the process) and
topped it up. Then waited for it to settle so I could see what I had.
There's maybe 4 or 5 small anubias, some of them very small, and quite a
bit of java fern (all of it has turned loose from the rocks) and some
kind of narrow-leaf Vallisneria that I don't really like.
Now that the light can get through and with the water changes, the
plants have started growing and the algae film is sloughing off the
leaves and I continue to clean it out, and I've hooked up a small
hang-on-the-back filter. Soon it might be ready for some fish.
Surprisingly, I haven't had an attack of green water yet (the city
injects phosphate into the water supply.) Now a few questions cuz I'm
very rusty at this.
1. The java fern and the anub's need to be anchored, but not actually
have their rhizomes under the sand, right? In the past I've just
tied them to small rocks with string or used Super Glue to keep
them on the bottom.
2. Is there a way to get the vals to grow into nice-sized bunches
rather than use all their energy running? I remember that the
stuff totally takes over if you let it, but it never really fills
out. I would rip it all out, but I need something fast-growing to
act as a nutrient sponge for a while.
3. Would rosy barbs be a good choice for an attractive hardy fish
that will help control algae at least a little? I'd like to keep
the water temperature in the mid to upper 60's in the winter and
low 70's in summer.
Thanks, and best regards,
Bob
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2011 15:08:02 +0000
From: Stuart Halliday <stuart at mytriops_com>
Subject: Re: [APD] Reviving a neglected tank
To: aquatic plants digest <aquatic-plants at actwin_com>
On 26/11/2011 21:14, Bob Baron wrote:
> I haven't posted much since The Great Unpleasantness a few years ago.
> I have a 20 gallon tall cold-water aquarium that I'm trying to bring
> back to life. It has been neglected for about a year; no fish, no water
> changes, no CO2, but lots of light (what could get thru the algae on
> top.) The bottom is sand.
>
> I scraped all the algae off the glass and skimmed it off the top and
> vacuumed the bottom (doing about a 50% water change in the process) and
> topped it up. Then waited for it to settle so I could see what I had.
> There's maybe 4 or 5 small anubias, some of them very small, and quite a
> bit of java fern (all of it has turned loose from the rocks) and some
> kind of narrow-leaf Vallisneria that I don't really like.
>
> Now that the light can get through and with the water changes, the
> plants have started growing and the algae film is sloughing off the
> leaves and I continue to clean it out, and I've hooked up a small
> hang-on-the-back filter. Soon it might be ready for some fish.
> Surprisingly, I haven't had an attack of green water yet (the city
> injects phosphate into the water supply.)
That's because it needs nitrogen to grow not phosphate. :)
> 1. The java fern and the anub's need to be anchored, but not actually
> have their rhizomes under the sand, right? In the past I've just
> tied them to small rocks with string or used Super Glue to keep
> them on the bottom.
Right.
> 2. Is there a way to get the vals to grow into nice-sized bunches
> rather than use all their energy running?
It's what it does...
> I remember that the
> stuff totally takes over if you let it, but it never really fills
> out. I would rip it all out, but I need something fast-growing to
> act as a nutrient sponge for a while.
Your substrate will be laced with bad bacteria and once you stirred it
up it'll be all over the tank. Best add a waste control bacteria bottle.
That'll remove any leftover poo and fish food to lower ammonia levels
and kill off any bad bacteria that may infect your fish.
(Lowers aquarium maintenance too.)
http://www.theaquariumwiki.com/index.php?title=Commercial_Bacteria
> 3. Would rosy barbs be a good choice for an attractive hardy fish
> that will help control algae at least a little? I'd like to keep
> the water temperature in the mid to upper 60's in the winter and
> low 70's in summer.
When you want to add fish, buy a bottle of nitrifying bacteria like One
and Only or SafeStart, Stability. Put it it. Then add your fish the same
day. That'll get your tank cycled in less than 5 days.
If you want fish to eat any algae, don't feed them a couple of days a
week. :)
--
Stuart Halliday
http://mytriops.com/
200 Million years in the making...
------------------------------
_______________________________________________
Aquatic-Plants mailing list
Aquatic-Plants at actwin_com
http://mailman.actwin.com/mailman/listinfo/aquatic-plants
End of Aquatic-Plants Digest, Vol 92, Issue 4
*********************************************
_______________________________________________
Aquatic-Plants mailing list
Aquatic-Plants at actwin_com
http://mailman.actwin.com/mailman/listinfo/aquatic-plants