Live Plants - Algae Problem (slight)

[christopher]

Hello everyone,

Would appreciate some advice which is easy for a beginner to understand and put into practice. My tank has been running for about 6 weeks, the first 2 to get it settled in. On the 6th May I bought 6 black neons and three plants, names areHygrophila polysperma Rosanervig - Ludwigia repens - Anubias barteri var. nana. My problems are that after 2 water changes 30% I seem to have some green stringy stuff on my plants. My tank is not in direct sunlight, I may be feeding the fish too often usually first thing in morning and when I go to bed. I leave the fluorescent tube on during the night. According to my nitrate tests I have about 20ppm, is this ok. Should I change the plants altogether and if so, what recommendations could anybody make as to the best plants. My tank measures 24"x12"x12".

Sorry for so many questions but would be grateful for advice.

Thanks.

 

[SLC Flyfishing]

Check the planted forum. I've been experiencing the same thing and am a total newbie to the live plant world. From what I can tell it's a problem with not having CO2 injection in the tank.

Good Luck

SLC

 

[diburning]

nitrates are best at 0 buti t wont harm your fish.

The algae you see is hair algae. Do a couple of water changes to get the nitrate down. Cut down your lighting to 8 hours a day.

Don't use any algae killers because that will kill your plants and sometimes your fish.

You might want to invest in an otocinclus catfish. they are $1-2 in pet stores and they do a good job of eating algae. they are community safe and don't getl arger than 2 inches.