Geezer From The Freezer wrote in message ...
I'd suggested scrubbing the algae off, doing a water change, then adding some
plants. Elodea
does well, and I've heard hornwort will suck up those nitrates pretty well.

I will be dropping by my LFS (the Big Al's out in the west end of
Ottawa) to pick their brains. By calling around, I have been
recommended Otto cats (sp??), which will need a piece of wood (for
what I am not sure). I will also ask them about plants, and how
difficult it would be to throw one in my current set-up seeing as how
I have no dirt, only aquarium gravel.

On another note. Snails will sometimes float on the water surface, I saw one of
mine
swimming in the middle of the tank, it was quite extraordinary seeing him using
his
internal body (pumping in and out) to move!

Mine never really swam. He would really motor across the bottom or
sides. It was amusing watching him pick up a piece of gravel, suck it
clean, and then spit it out again. It was when he sat in the exact
same position for a week, and then floated for a while (occasionally
getting stuck to the filter in-take) that I thought he was dead.

marcel