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[Rorie]

Hmm... larger shrimp could be good. Although a huge shoal of cories would look cool. In the region of 15 or so... I imagine you could still get away with some larger shrimp even with more cories. Although you'd have to be careful with what can go at the higher temps discus like. Don't know enough about shrimp to know which might be alright with that and which won't.

You might be able to do 2 more discus and maybe another 20-25 cardinals?

Looking back at that picture (didn't notice it before) it looks like BGA on the carpet/glass at the front. In which case it's not very surprising they're ignoring it because it's toxic. Nothing eats BGA. The only way you can get rid is 1. increase nitrates, 2. increase flow, 3. ensure filter and substrate are meticulously clean so as to keep ammonia to a minimum. I had BGA for ages and it's a complete pita to get rid of!

My water is only at 28 degrees, so most things are ok in there with that. Why do you say larger shrimp? because of my discus? I have seen a lot of set ups with cherry shrimp and discus, so i was thinking about that.... You think 15 corys, a load of shrimp (as they will multiply....) 4 rams and a 6" plec will be ok in my tank?

As for the algae, 1. how do i increase nitrates? Does this not harm the fish?! 2. cant increase my flow now as i have discus, BUT, 2 days ago i was running 3000l/h filtration over 2 filters and 6000l/h pump....so it was close to a washing machine in there haha 3. my ammonia is always zero... my filters are cleaned once a month. So i dont know what i can do?!! Would appreciate your help there though!

To be honest, there is not much of it now - just one patch! I am thinking i may just pull up the grass its on and ditch it. Then maybe it wont come back as it does not seem to have spread

 

[coldcazzie]

My water is only at 28 degrees, so most things are ok in there with that. Why do you say larger shrimp? because of my discus? I have seen a lot of set ups with cherry shrimp and discus, so i was thinking about that.... You think 15 corys, a load of shrimp (as they will multiply....) 4 rams and a 6" plec will be ok in my tank?

Then go for cherry shrimp! No one can tell you what you'll like! What kind of plec would you be looking at? Honeslty I dont know, I'm really crap at stocking ideas/threads!

As for the algae, 1. how do i increase nitrates? Does this not harm the fish?! 2. cant increase my flow now as i have discus, BUT, 2 days ago i was running 3000l/h filtration over 2 filters and 6000l/h pump....so it was close to a washing machine in there haha 3. my ammonia is always zero... my filters are cleaned once a month. So i dont know what i can do?!! Would appreciate your help there though!

To be honest, there is not much of it now - just one patch! I am thinking i may just pull up the grass its on and ditch it. Then maybe it wont come back as it does not seem to have spread

You increase nitrates by dosing them into the water column. Check out the sections on dosing in the PARC thread in the planted forum. Your plants will like it too and nitrates are not as bad you think. Your fish will be fine. I don't mean you have loads of ammonia. Trace ammonia won't show up on a test, unless you have a top notch laboratory in your cellar! It will read as 0. But small ammonia spikes that are easily met by your filter bacteria are still enough to cause algae to grow. And by increase your current, I don't mean everywhere, I mean directly at that point. I always thought "what could increasing current really do?" but then I changes my spray bar from a short one to a long one. It now stretches all across the back of the tank, the water comes forwards and then down the front of the tank, then backwards along the substrate. And within 2 days of making the change the growth of the BGA was almost completely gone. The amount that built up over the past month is the same amount that was building up over 2 days previously. If you've a powerhead you could try aiming it directly at that spot. It might work, it might not. Pulling up the grass completely would also help, maybe with the additional circulation as an added extra on top? Make sure it doesn't want to come back.

 

[Rorie]

hmm.... the pump is a no no as it would not go down well with my discus! 6000l/h is a lot haha!

I too increased the length of my spray bar. Its interesting that you say that though, as my spray bar is currently 2/3 the length of my tank, and the growth starts just after the spray bar! But i used to have really good circulation which confuses me! I cant increase my spray bar anymore though as its already really low power! I have an idea though which i will try!

Will also have a look at adding Nitrates too if this does not work!

Thank you

 

[coldcazzie]

Yes it is, but you could get a smaller one. There are pumps which are just 900-1000l/h, which would be a bit better. You could position it at the top left of the tank, aiming down towards the bottom? Although, you might end up with a big bare hole if the substrate moves...