['Black' Algae Help?]

Thanks all...Perhaps it is brown algae, I've had bba before and it was hairy and grew on the edges of leaves, as stated. I increased my water changes, changed my light and cleaned my filters to get rid of it.

Maybe it is brown algae that only grows on the anubias  and java ferns.It is hard and impossible to rub off or remove!

The lazy, greedy Panda garas/ amanos  prefer to eat fish food and really don't do much to eat algae! What a disappointment!

I do not want to use chemicals, so I will purchase some ottos again, although I have trouble keeping them alive. Any other recommendations for hardy fish that will eat this ugly algae? Nerite snails leave ugly white eggs everywhere, so I don't care for them.

Is 6 hours of  lighting enough for plants? I have green spot algae on the glass sides.

['Black' Algae Help?]

55 gallon, well established tank.Lighting: 'Edge' light -6 hrs daily. 5 squirts of Easy Green weekly.  Weekly water changes including gravel vac on weekends....I  replace some water mid week.Bunch plants  do ok. Only the Anubias and Java Fern has black spots which do not rub off!  I realize it is due to their slow growth. My water is hard although I have a thriving school of cardinal tetras.   I have 4 Panda garas and 2 amano shrimp  that apparently don't like the black algae. I am looking for a way to get rid of the black spots. Will ottos eat black algae?  What can I do to get rid of it? Thanks All!

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[Female Ember Tetra laden with eggs or is this Bloat or something else?]

I have  well-established 55 gallon with a stable school of cardinal/ember phantom/glowlight/bloodfin tetras for over a year.

I feed twice a day( Extreme krill flake in the morn, frozen food...1 small cube... in the evening) because the cardinals seem to eat slower than the other fish.If I don't feed twice daily, I notice that the cardinals have 'sunken bellies'. Ember tetras are pigs, often out-competing other fish for food!

Lately, my female embers have all 'plumped up', one looks like a 'pregnant female guppy', she is so full.

Am I perhaps overfeeding or is it bloat? Are the females egg laden and ready to spawn? Or is this some 'tetra disease'?

Please look at the center fish(ember female)in the pics. All the other fish seem just fine! Even the heavy females swim/eat fine and are active pigs!

Thanks

[Are Rummy nose tetras for beginners?]

I would say that Rummy nose tetras are not for beginners...I would suggest Glowlight tetras. They are very resilient.

[Water changing mood]

I saw George Farmer use a water pump attached to a hose in a Youtube video once! I must revisit that...

3 hours ago, Tanked said:

Water changes haven't bothered me as much since I started using my fish cart.  The cart is still in it's early design stage, but it includes a switched power strip and a water pump so I don't have to lift 5 gallon buckets over my head.

I need to do that too!  Tanked...Please  show a pic of your  cart for ideas!

[Water changing mood]

When  water change day arrives, (sat or sun) I regret it...Sometimes it is hard to be motivated although you know it is necessary...But once I start, it inspires me to get creative...rearranging/improving my scape, trimming plants, etc. During water changes, I must listen to Aquarium Coop Youtube streams and others...making water changes very enjoyable and educational(great background noise for water changes). Before I know it, I'm done with a 'fun' activity! And there is that satisfaction knowing that your tank is well-maintained and  'looking good' when finished! I'm glad I only have 1 large tank plus a 5 gallon quarantine to tend. A fish room would be too much work for me!

[Yellow nano community fish?]

I wanted a yellowish, shoaling fish to contrast with my cardinal/red phantoms/ember tetras. My LFS suggested golden white cloud minnows!  I love them..although they stay near the top region of the tank. It is stunning when all the fish shoal in various colors among the plants! 

[Plants outside your aquarium?]

My plant collection gets me through the winter! The plants receive aquarium water after every water change...a  great companionship!

 

[Is RockWool Okay?]

Is it  ok to just leave potted plants in rock wool? For years I was told to remove the plants immediately and repot/plant  in substrate...but now  I noticed that Cory from Aquarium Coop leaves plants in rock wool when they are placed in his Easy Planters!

I think rock wool is easy to work with and if the plants have been originally started in it, shouldn't it be just fine for permanent growth?

Thanks All