Nanci B

Thank you both!

Going to start Reverse Respiration in an hour. What’s the best way to hold down plants during the process? Thanks, Nanci I searched the forum without success.

@nabokovfan87 Thanks for the input. I will do that. I will start taking pictures tomorrow (day 2 of new lights), although the plants are covered in hair algae. The plants have been growing well. I just purchased a new algae scraper (couldn’t find the other half of it). I got a different one. From Hygger. The scrapper works fantastic. And started dosing Easy Green again. Hopefully these things will make a difference.

Hey everyone, I am working on reducing my extreme algae problem (mostly hair). I just changed/lessened my light schedule on my Fluval Plant 3.0. I have a 75 g planted tank with mostly crypts, a few swords; that’s it. Once the algae is lessened I will add stem plants. I currently have 2 sponge filters in the tank. They are both infested with algae and I think they need to be replaced. However, from what I understand, they also have the most bb in the tank. i am wondering when I should replace them. I am going to get an HOB filter and add used media to help the tank and when the algae is lessened I will add new sponge filters to the tank. . When is the best time to replace the sponge filters? TIA. Nanci

Hello everyone while I was feeding fish this morning I noticed this little green neon tetra acting oddly. I put him in a container so I can watch him and take a video. what do you think is wrong? I thought at first something had bitten him, but I don’t have anything bigger than these guys in the tank. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cvbbLZ2pGbA&noapp=1

I’m curious about the percentages of your blue light use. I have heard bad things about how it can really encourage algae growth, so I keep mine at zero. Though, I’m probably doing it wrong. 🫤

They certainly can be brats. 😱

I wouldn’t advise clipping them, just pull it out of the pot and take a good look at the roots (the thicker ones). Based on the size of your plant, you could probably tease the roots apart and have at least 3 decent sized, smaller plants. You have to be very gentle and patient, but once you have worked away a while you will see obvious divisions, where baby plants are growing off the mother plant. I think it’s better for the plant to separate them, so several plants aren’t smothering each other. I think they grow stronger and you have more plants! I use the same strategy in my regular gardens.

Have you fertilized them with root tabs? They are heavy feeders. But there are also some folks that wait on root tabs. I would also suggest a liquid fertilizer like EasyGreen and keep dosing on a regular schedule. I don’t have that much mess of plants, but mine are overwhelming my 75 gallon, just floating in the water and growing massive roots. It would be nice to see more of the fish. 😁

@DaveOno offense taken!

Thanks, I will toss it out. I am moving those fish today anyway, and that tank also has plants, air stones, and some substrate. Appreciate your answer! I need to figure out a way to keep a QT filter going without cluttering up my 75 which is my only tank.

I have two QT tanks going right now. I was able to get some used media from a friend in the form of ceramic rings but both filters—(Tetra Whisper) died on me. The media is still wet. How long until the bb dies? TIA

@DaveO I don’t even use bleach for laundry! Have none in the house. 🫤 @Guppysnail Thanks for clarifying that. I haven’t soaked wood before, only boiled it. I usually use Malaysian driftwood which is so heavy I’ve never done this before. 🤩

Ok will do in next few days. Will. Check on what wood looks like tomorrow. I think I’m about to get a friendlier acquaintance with bleach in all things aquarium sanitizing. 😉

Hi everyone, I am currently soaking a large piece of driftwood that I needed a 30 gallon trash can to place it in. I checked on it this past weekend and above the waterline there was a black slime. Smelled terrible. As I pulled out piece after piece, they were slimy. There were pieces of it floating in the water. Looked like green hair algae floating. is it some type of mold? And not the good time. Thoughts? TIA

@nabokovfan87, @Ken Burke, @Flumpweesel, @gardenman, @Guppysnail Thank you all so much! These suggestions all fall in line with what I believe. So the algae will stay! Cheers! 🪷

@Fish Folk Thanks!

Why is if different if it’s hair algae?

I have nano fish, and most of them enjoy eating algae on the walls of my tank. I usually only leave the back and one side of the tank for algae growth, but since I am battling so much algae right now and will be using the RR method, and hydrogen peroxide on any algae left after I remove as much algae as I can. should I leave any algae available for my nano fish or should I scrape off every piece I can locate? Thanks!

I have nano fish, and most of them enjoy eating algae on the walls of my tank. I usually only leave the back and one side of the tank for algae growth, but since I am battling so much algae right now and will be using the RR method, and hydrogen peroxide on any algae left after I remove as much algae as I can. should I leave any algae available for my nano fish or should I scrape off every piece I can locate? Thanks!

I had to catch approximately 25 corys. It had lots of plants but also small manzanita branches and rock. I tried to catch them, no luck. I pulled out the rocks, tried again, then the manzanita, and finally gave up and took out the driftwood. Only plants left standing at the end. Good luck. 👍🏻

If you have any females in the tank with any males the guppies will breed. The can easily over run your tank. Then you have to decide what to do with all the babies. Can you sell them back to a local store, can you sell them in a classified section or will you need to give them away. It can be great and it can become a nightmare. Just be aware.

I personally would stuff your tank with plants now before getting any fish. Planting later will just be a hassle, but certainly doable. Out of your list guppies would be my first choice. Are you planning on getting only males, or are you getting both sexes and breeding? You really want to think about that.

@Streetwise why only 50% light intensity? What type of plants do you have? I ask because before the algae my plants were growing well. I just have mostly crypts and need more stem plants. Which I have to plant, but I need to have a good energy day to do the whole process. Pull 27 crypts and several other plants out of the tank, start the RR process, work on killing the gba in the tank with hydrogen peroxide and then replant everything. And I am changing the hardscape so that needs to be done before the plants go back in. I’m kind of worried about even starting the whole process to be honest. And I also have 2 quarantine tanks, one of which is doing great has 9 threadfin Rainbowfish, and the other started with 17 green neon tetras, and I have lost one sometimes 2 every single day.

@Odd Duck that sounds interesting. My Pygmy corys and the short nose shrimp will be sad, but I am going to try it.