businesslamb
New Member
I have a Juwel Rio 125 that has been up and running for almost two years now planted with vallis and Crypts and fish as per sig. Over the last few months I have suffered from increasing problems with blue green algae and plant growth is beginning to suffer as a result. I tried the blackout method which knocked it back but it came back fairly quickly as the underlying conditions where unchanged. I have decided to do a more thorough clean out and remodel and replant to try and sort out the problem. What do people think is the best way to go about this. My two options are
1. Run a couple of sponge filters in the main tank for a fortnight then transfer filters and fish to a couple of 20L quarantine/hospital tanks I have. Strip down the main tank , replant and put the filters and fish back.
2. Do the cleaning (gravel vacuuming, décor cleaning, rearrangement and replanting) whilst leaving the fish in situ.
Both approaches seem to me involve stressing the fish somewhat but option 2 seems less so and is less likely to result in an ammonia/ nitrite spike but I am open to suggestions.
Current stats are Ammonia and nitrite undetectable Nitrate 20-30ppm pH 7-7.5 GH 240mg/L(13Degrees), KH 200mg/L (about what the tapwater round here is)
Cheers
Businesslamb
1. Run a couple of sponge filters in the main tank for a fortnight then transfer filters and fish to a couple of 20L quarantine/hospital tanks I have. Strip down the main tank , replant and put the filters and fish back.
2. Do the cleaning (gravel vacuuming, décor cleaning, rearrangement and replanting) whilst leaving the fish in situ.
Both approaches seem to me involve stressing the fish somewhat but option 2 seems less so and is less likely to result in an ammonia/ nitrite spike but I am open to suggestions.
Current stats are Ammonia and nitrite undetectable Nitrate 20-30ppm pH 7-7.5 GH 240mg/L(13Degrees), KH 200mg/L (about what the tapwater round here is)
Cheers
Businesslamb
