Hair Algae Strikes Back (Cladophora)

27 06 2007

Hair Alage (Cladophora) Growing On Moss

Sadly just after my Vesicularia sp. “Christmas“ (“Christmas Tree Moss”) got going, so did the hair algae growing on it. I have been trying to keep it under control, but it is winning the battle at present.

After a bit of digging around for info, I haven’t really come up with any obvious cause, other than it may be a lack of nutrients – as I have been only adding a very small amount of ferts. This kind of makes sense as the fast growing Echinodorus Amazonicus (“Amazon Sword”) is also showing signs of a lack of nutrients.

Suggestions for removal extend from pulling it out with a toothbrush/comb ( what I have been trying so far) to taking the whole lot out and bleaching it. That is a last resort as it wont be a simple case of taking the whole piece of drift wood out that it is attached too, as a large amount of that wood is buried in the substrate.

What I am going to attempt is a real heavy session with toothbrush and comb – then introduce some Amano Shrimp (which were on the plan anyway – and are known to munch on this stuff) and start adding more ferts… so it could get worse! 😦





Day 56 – Water Change

23 06 2007

Planted Nature Aquarium - Water Change Week 8 Day 56

Week 8 – 2 Months to the day since I set up the tank!

This week I had to undertake some serious trimming of the Echinodorus Tenellus (“Pygmy Chain Sword”), as they were growing far too long and not giving me the “plain” look that I was after on the left side of the tank. I had let them grow out for a while to make sure they were well rooted, but this week it was time for a cut.

As every week, all the plants have grown further and appear healthy, EXCEPT the Echinodorus Amazonicus (“Amazon Sword”) which is starting to look decidedly unhealthy. Up until now this had been the fastest grower and never looked anything other than tip top, but now the leaves are browning and getting holed. This may be due to the fact that all the nutrients are being used in the tank, so I have started adding some liquid fertilizer. The liquid fertilizer I am using is Ferka Aquatilizer and I shall start out with 1 pump a day.

The Riccia is now looking pretty healthy and green again – but since cutting it back 3 weeks ago I am now seeing a constant stream of bits floating out and generally littering the tank. I am unsure as to what to do with the Riccia as I fear it will not grow back if I cut it again and in any case there is too much of it to be cutting every week or two. On top of that the blades of it that float around the tank are a real nuisance to keep cleaning out, they get well stuck in the Dwarf Hairgrass.

You may also just be able to see that the algae growing on the Vesicularia sp. “Christmas“ (“Christmas Tree Moss”) is becoming a bigger problem – I will need to investigate what to do about this, as the moss underneath is getting smothered.





Better The Dwarf Puffer You Know…

21 06 2007

When I first received back my Carinotetraodon travancoricus (“Dwarf Puffer”) from the fish pusher, I noticed that it was not the same fish that I had given to him – along with the Otocinclus, which sadly passed away. I had grown quite attached to my previous Carinotetraodon travancoricus (“Dwarf Puffer”) so had planned to swap the one given to me for the previous one. After speaking with the fish pusher he said that he had my old Puffer so it wouldn’t be a problem.

But now that the new one is settled in I think I will hang on to him/her. At first it seemed a little inactive and I liked the way my previous one paraded around the tank and took no nonsense. Now though, this new one has settled in and is just as bullish, so seems a shame to uproot him/her again.

Oh, and he/she is certainly doing their job – not a hint of snails anywhere now. Cool little snail eating animal!





New Tank Diatom

19 06 2007

Diatoms, AKA Brown Algae Growing on Rock

Well it had to happen. I don’t think many tanks make it past the first couple of months without and outbreak of diatoms – AKA Brown Algae. This bacterial growth covers rocks, substrate and most anything really with a brown dusty slime. You can see in the photo that the rock that was only one week ago pretty light and clean is now growing brown diatoms.

Usually this stuff goes away after the tank settles down a bit more – if it persists too long I will see if there is anything more dubious going on.





Day 49 – Water Change

16 06 2007

Again, no photo this week – there really is nothing new to see. Everything continues to grow well and the Riccia seems to be growing back and looking more green again – but, as I thought, it is going to be quite long again soon! The only trimming this week is the usual culling of runners from the Echinodorus Tenellus (“Pygmy Chain Sword”) and Echinodorus Amazonicus (“Amazon Sword”).

My staghorn algae (I believe) problem on the Vesicularia sp. “Christmas“ (“Christmas Tree Moss”) may be making a return – except it seems tougher this time, more course. I need to keep an eye on that as finally the Moss is growing well and looking good. At the moment the algae is not that noticeable.

Next week I should have time to do the photo, and I am sure there will be noticeable growth as it will have been 3 weeks between photos.





Water Chemistry #7

14 06 2007

This week’s water tests were exceptional – in that I didn’t do any!

As the standard tests for ph, KH, GH, Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate have remained constant for the last few weeks, and I haven’t changed the conditions in any way, I think I can move to a less regular testing routine – say once a month.

I may perform some ad hoc tests if I think necessary, otherwise standard tests will be monthly.





Riccia – After The Trimming

12 06 2007

Riccia Fluitans After Trimming

It has been a few days since I cut back the Riccia quite a bit and it is still looking quite yellow. It does appear to be growing again, but I think it may have been a better idea to cut it really short, as now I think it will need to grow quite long again before the yellow appearance is gone. Trouble with that is that if I let it grow too long it is likely to die even more underneath and may either float up or not grown back after the next trim.

Ah the trials and tribulations of Riccia eh.





Day 42 – Water Change

9 06 2007

So, week 6 and most things seem to be going well, apart from the yellow Riccia as posted a few days ago.

I carried out the usual water change, not much to report – the stem plants had reached surface again, so they were cut back. Everything else seems to be growing OK, with the Hemianthus Callitrichoides (“Cuba”) really starting to spread horizintally now. I have to keep cutting off runners from the  Echinodorus Tenellus (“Pygmy Chain Sword”) and  Echinodorus Amazonicus (“Amazon Sword”) otherwise they really would like to dominate the tank!

No photo this week, partly as there is not a lot new to see, except the stem plants are shorter again!





Water Chemistry #6

7 06 2007

Results from week 6’s chemistry tests (found by clicking the “Water Tests” link at the top of the page) show very little change on the last 3 weeks. GH is back up to its normal level and I suspect last week’s drop was just a question of tolerance on the test.

All this is to be expected now – but I can rest easy that the bio-filtration is working as it should. This was the first full week that a number of fish had been in there, and it is obviously dealing fine with that.

The upshot is that I can add more fish. In fact I have been overly cautious in adding fish at staged intervals, but I am in no rush.

The Hemigrammus bleheri (“Rummy Nose Tetra”) are sitting waiting at the fish pusher’s to be re-united with their buddies.





Paracheirodon axelrodi (“Cardinal Tetra”)

6 06 2007

Photo of Faded Paracheirodon axelrodi (”Cardinal Tetra”)

With the demise of the Otto yesterday, I have been taking a closer look at the health of the other fish in the tank.

The Crossocheilus siamensis (“Siamese Algae Eater”) are looking very healthy, highly active and have been since shortly after introducing them to the tank.

The Paracheirodon axelrodi (“Cardinal Tetra”) however do not appear to be 100% happy. It is quite normal that, during the period when the lights are off, Paracheirodon axelrodi (“Cardinal Tetra”) always lose most of their colour and it is a similar case when they are nervous or agitated by something. Usually their red bellies lose a lot of their red colour in these cases but I have noticed that, even when not agitated, this is the case with my current Paracheirodon axelrodi (“Cardinal Tetra”), as the photo above shows.

The red colour is greatly diminished much of the time, even after a long period of light and when they have not been disturbed in any way (it takes quite some patience of not moving to get these photos).

I am hoping that this is just due to them not being fully settled into the tank, as it has only been one week. I will keep an eye on that too.