10g Planted Tank Journal - 5/2 - Small Update

[n3ont3tra]

It's not too bad today... but my mouth is swelled up so much it looks funny.

The only plant my lfs sells is amazon swords. I have 7 in my 30g but they aren't looking too good. I have less than one wpg of light though, so I don't blame them. I'm going to put as many as I can in the 10g and then when I upgrade the lighting for the 30g I"ll put them back.

 

[atmmachine816]

O well that's a worse lfs than mine. looks like you have lots of time to wait then.

Your swelling should go down by the third day, my mouth didn't swell do much because they gave me a bunch of medicine including steroids . I'm assuming you have braces, if you do you get to look forward to them pulling on them every visit

atm

 

[n3ont3tra]

Well, there's 5 fish or pet stores in my area. The first is one of the best, very knowlegeable staff, lots of variety, fair prices. Another one has some of the rarer fish (alligator garrs, piranhas, koi, zebra plecs. The third has the usual, neons, guppies, platies. The fourth has a lot of different kinds of tetras and goldfish, and good prices. That's where I'll be going to get fish this time. The last place is horrible, the fish are always dead or sick and high prices.

I got an email saying the nutrafin system is out of stock.

 

[atmmachine816]

Makes sense.

atm

 

[n3ont3tra]

I'm buying another one from Petsmart.com for $30, , otherwise I won't be able to get one before I get plants.

 

[atmmachine816]

I'm buying another one from Petsmart.com for $30, , otherwise I won't be able to get one before I get plants.

Nutrafin Kit? You should be glad you can buy them by you, closet one by me is over an hour away and my parents won't drive me.

atm

 

[n3ont3tra]

I got it online.

 

[n3ont3tra]

Ok, I have a problem. There's a lot of stuff in the tank. I think it's algae. It's grey, and it's on the rock. I run my hand over lightly and it all comes off, but my filter doesn't suck it up too well, and it's too small to net. I haven't even turned the light on at all. It's kind of like dust, just a little bigger. I can't get any pictures because my camera doesn't pick it up. What's the problem?

 

[atmmachine816]

Best to check the algae guide in tropical chit chat, I don't know what it is.

atm

 

[n3ont3tra]

Brown algae AKA Diatoms
Description
This type of algae is actually a diatom. Diatoms often form a soft brown clump and are often seen in new, immature, set ups. Diatoms are usually a result of lack of light or an excess of silicates (which they need to multiply).

Possible cure
Increasing the light levels, by adding more light of keeping existing light on for longer, will usually make it disappear. Diatoms can be easily removed by wiping the glass or decorations. I have heard that in America there is a silicate absorbing filter media available, but I have not seen it anywhere on the net.

I think that's it. I'm not going to turn the lights on though, cause then I'll get more algae that's tougher to get rid of. I'll wait till I get plants.

 

[atmmachine816]

What type of lighting do you have, is it possible to move some plants from your 29 to this tank to take up the nutrients and only have one light on so you don't have a lot?

atm

 

[n3ont3tra]

In the 10g? 1 20w flourescent... well, I think it's flourescent. It's purple-ish.

 

[atmmachine816]

O well if you getting algae try putting some plants from your 29 in there like anarchi or hornwort if you have any to absorb the extra nutrients, could leave them floating to block the light some too and leave the light on just a little.

atm

 

[n3ont3tra]

I don't even have the light on in the 10g. It does get sunlight, though. I'm not really worried about it, cause it's really easy to get off, it's a lot better than any other type of algae, so I'll just let it be untill I need it gone.

 

[mattb]

I wouldnt worry about you diatom algea, you can get rid of the worst by hand and with four ottos they will soon make short work of the rest!