Plants and algae

[marcos]

hi
I have a 70 liter tank with 3 plants in it. lights r on 8 hrs per day
and temp is at a constant 20 degrees c or 70 fahrenheit. should i add
more plants to compete with the algae that always threaten to cover
the plants? And also, are algicides recommended? dr solo, ur advice..
john

[Happy'Cam'per]

"marcos" > wrote in message
om...
> hi
> I have a 70 liter tank with 3 plants in it. lights r on 8 hrs per day
> and temp is at a constant 20 degrees c or 70 fahrenheit. should i add
> more plants to compete with the algae that always threaten to cover
> the plants? And also, are algicides recommended? dr solo, ur advice..
> john

I am certainly not Dr. Solo but I like plants and have my 2c to add...

Don't add algaecides whatsoever, this will certainly not do the plants any
good at all. What type of plants do you have, how much light over the tank,
what type and quantity of fish do you have. Do you know the hardness of your
water? Why are you keeping such a low temp? I'll try and help if you can
supply more info. I await your reply...
--
**So long, and thanks for all the fish!**

[Lilly]

More plants will outcompete the algae. Fast growers like Hygro, Val
and water sprite are great. Eight hours isn't really enough for plants
to be happy, try for closer to 10-12 hours. If it is a problem, get a
timer and you never have to turn it on or off. CO2 can help the
plants, if the water is well buffered so the pH doesn't crash. A good
substrate (most people use very small gravel and laterite) helps too.

The best places for plant info are;

The Krib, http://www.thekrib.com No active list but tons of
information available in articles or by searching the site.

Aquatic Plants Discussion Group,
http://fins.actwin.com/aquatic-plants/ You can subscribe or just
search the archives.

Or you can go to http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&group=rec.aquaria.freshwater.plants
and post. I hear there are some plant gurus there.

Lilly

"Happy'Cam'per" > wrote in message >...
> I am certainly not Dr. Solo but I like plants and have my 2c to add...
>
> Don't add algaecides whatsoever, this will certainly not do the plants any
> good at all. What type of plants do you have, how much light over the tank,
> what type and quantity of fish do you have. Do you know the hardness of your
> water? Why are you keeping such a low temp? I'll try and help if you can
> supply more info. I await your reply...

[marcos]

"Happy'Cam'per" > wrote in message >...

> I am certainly not Dr. Solo but I like plants and have my 2c to add...
>
> Don't add algaecides whatsoever, this will certainly not do the plants any
> good at all. What type of plants do you have, how much light over the tank,
> what type and quantity of fish do you have. Do you know the hardness of your
> water? Why are you keeping such a low temp? I'll try and help if you can
> supply more info. I await your reply...

So I've wasted my money on algaecides then but anyway i bought them
nearly a year ago. I have 3 plants: 2 r supposed 2b tropical and 1
coldwater - java fern. lights on 8 hrs a day. 3 twin-tailed goldfish
in a 70 liter tank (don't no exact measurements). dunno about the
water hardness. pH is 7-7.5, temp 20c. why am I keeping such a low
temp?? cos ive always known GF 2b coldwater fish. so shud i plug in my
tank heater then n what temp? ok thnx
john

[Lilly]

John,

Algae killers only address the symptom and don't get to the heart of
the problem.

Do you know any of the other important water chemistry numbers like
ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, general hardness (gH) and alkalinity (kH)?
My guess is that with a pH in the low 7s if your alkalinity (kH) is
low, there is little CO2 there for the higher plants, so the algae get
the upper hand. If you have stock lighting, a single flourescent tube
is pretty much standard issue, it may not be enough light for the
plants to thrive. If you're low on light and CO2 that explains why the
plants aren't doing well.

You may also need to step up water changing and maintain the filter so
that nitrates are reduced.

Lilly

(marcos) wrote in message news:

> So I've wasted my money on algaecides then but anyway i bought them
> nearly a year ago. I have 3 plants: 2 r supposed 2b tropical and 1
> coldwater - java fern. lights on 8 hrs a day. 3 twin-tailed goldfish
> in a 70 liter tank (don't no exact measurements). dunno about the
> water hardness. pH is 7-7.5, temp 20c. why am I keeping such a low
> temp?? cos ive always known GF 2b coldwater fish. so shud i plug in my
> tank heater then n what temp? ok thnx
> john