Hi all,
I am new here and posted this yesterday in the new world section - no answers yet. I wondered if it was better posted in the old world section, so here it is.
I have a 90L tank with 4 x julidochromis transcriptus, 2 x clown loaches, 2 x black widows and 14 x silver tips (I think that's their name - it's a "dither" fish).
They all get along fine and I mostly got the big tank because I wanted the transcriptus to breed. Well, they have done it. I spotted the fry about 1 week ago, and there are about 5 of them. They seem to be going well and are obviously growing. The transcriptus have taken over the "castle" in the middle of the tank - which is what I wanted them to do - and this is their breeding centre (the other two transcriptus just stay out of the tank and swim in other areas).
Anyway, I need to know what to do about cleaning up the tank. I have been too scared to create any major dramas with cleaning, so it's algae central. It's easy enough to deal with this on the walls of the aquarium, and the heating rod and filter probe. The filter mats are overdue for replacing too, so that should help. However my three problem areas are
(1) The aquarium "sand" on the bottom of the aquarium. It has a "mat" of algae over it. I have one of those "gravel cleaners" that I can use, but I am worried about swirling things up too much around the fry, especially near the castle.
(2) The plant just outside the front entrance of the castle. This plant is really good. I don't know what it is called but it basically just shoots up in single but dense shoots from the sand. Even better, although the seller said it doesn't grow, it has, and it is sending up new shoots around this place which is something I want to encourage. Problem is the algae grows on it and I don't know what to do.
(3) The castle itself. It is like a "Taj Mahal" shape, and it is great for the transcriptus, and they obviously like it given that they have decided to settle and breed in there. However, algae is growing over it and it looks very unattractive.
Can people please provide me with some tips on how to deal with the above?
Many thanks.
I am new here and posted this yesterday in the new world section - no answers yet. I wondered if it was better posted in the old world section, so here it is.
I have a 90L tank with 4 x julidochromis transcriptus, 2 x clown loaches, 2 x black widows and 14 x silver tips (I think that's their name - it's a "dither" fish).
They all get along fine and I mostly got the big tank because I wanted the transcriptus to breed. Well, they have done it. I spotted the fry about 1 week ago, and there are about 5 of them. They seem to be going well and are obviously growing. The transcriptus have taken over the "castle" in the middle of the tank - which is what I wanted them to do - and this is their breeding centre (the other two transcriptus just stay out of the tank and swim in other areas).
Anyway, I need to know what to do about cleaning up the tank. I have been too scared to create any major dramas with cleaning, so it's algae central. It's easy enough to deal with this on the walls of the aquarium, and the heating rod and filter probe. The filter mats are overdue for replacing too, so that should help. However my three problem areas are
(1) The aquarium "sand" on the bottom of the aquarium. It has a "mat" of algae over it. I have one of those "gravel cleaners" that I can use, but I am worried about swirling things up too much around the fry, especially near the castle.
(2) The plant just outside the front entrance of the castle. This plant is really good. I don't know what it is called but it basically just shoots up in single but dense shoots from the sand. Even better, although the seller said it doesn't grow, it has, and it is sending up new shoots around this place which is something I want to encourage. Problem is the algae grows on it and I don't know what to do.
(3) The castle itself. It is like a "Taj Mahal" shape, and it is great for the transcriptus, and they obviously like it given that they have decided to settle and breed in there. However, algae is growing over it and it looks very unattractive.
Can people please provide me with some tips on how to deal with the above?
Many thanks.
/freshaquarium.about.com/cs/characin.../blackwidow.htm
