Reel McKoi said the following on 12/25/2007 11:17 PM:

"AquariumFatasies" wrote in message
...

The so called devils algae or black algae normally only covers plant
leaves or filter media..........it is usually a very dark green or
black in color algae. HP method I described in other pst wil kill this
stuff but the key is keeping it gone and thats gonna take good water
parameters, proper lights and sufficieint current flow.

* This is another issue. I have to add more current. I thought of that
also. All I have are the Aquaclears at one end of these 55g tanks. I
need to replace the air-pump and stones. I also have powerheads but
they always get clogged with plant debris in these tanks so I removed
them. They're not made to go on tubes so I can't hook sponges on them.

One thing you can do for filters is what I did in my tank. I had 2 power
heads that didn't have the pieces on the bottom for the "tube" (for an
undergravel filter) on them. I found two rocks that had holes in them
(you can find them at the Pet Stores), made the holes large enough for
the filters I wanted to use, put the filter in the rock, then used zip
ties to fasten the powerhead to the rock. Then I put four small rocks
under the corners to "raise" it off the gravel. To date, I have not had
any problems with them. Having the large rock up off the bottom allows
the water flow from the bottom instead of creating a "dead zone" around
the base of the rock. Then I put the rocks where I couldn't see them
(behind plants).

The biggest problem I had was fooling with them to get the situated to
get the flow pattern that I wanted.

--
Randy
Chance Favors The Prepared Mind