Well since I first planted my swords and moneyworts, I had a big diatom bloom. So bad that everything turned brown. After searching, I went down to the LFS and bought 4 OTO cats. One has died, but the others are going strong after day 3. There's so much brown algae that they only have about 35% of it clean. What's cool is they started with the plants and now the plants seem to be thriving. I measured my phosphates before I bought them because IR ead on here silicates and phosphates can cause this. WOWWW, the phosphates reading go off the chart above 10. I went and bought some phosphate absorber and added to the canister. Still after day 3, it's reading above 10. The water turns almost black when I start to shake the test tube. 10 is blue on my chart. What's a nother way of getting rid of this stuff? Should I get an RO/DI unit at home and do more water changes or is there another way besides going to the LFS and buying the water. Anyone know where any RO/DI units are that can make about 5 gallons a weeks? Thanks all, and I'll post some pics here in the next day or so.
One other thing, is one of my swords are really pushing itself out of the substrate showing a lot of roots. That's the pic I really want to post. I brushed some gravel around it and the next day the plant seemed higher out of the substrate. Is this normal?
Also, what's a good fish for 2.5 gal I bought my little girl last week. I'd imagine I Can only add a few fish. I used my tank water so it didn't have to cycle, but forgot to add bacteria. She lost her first fish and dropped a few tears. I told her we'd go back tomorrow and get her another one.
Is DIY CO2 even worth it on a 45 gallon tank? Malkore has seen pics of it, should I even bother? It's cylinder shaped and about 28 inches deep.
thanks to all!
Dale K.
One other thing, is one of my swords are really pushing itself out of the substrate showing a lot of roots. That's the pic I really want to post. I brushed some gravel around it and the next day the plant seemed higher out of the substrate. Is this normal?
Also, what's a good fish for 2.5 gal I bought my little girl last week. I'd imagine I Can only add a few fish. I used my tank water so it didn't have to cycle, but forgot to add bacteria. She lost her first fish and dropped a few tears. I told her we'd go back tomorrow and get her another one.
Is DIY CO2 even worth it on a 45 gallon tank? Malkore has seen pics of it, should I even bother? It's cylinder shaped and about 28 inches deep.
thanks to all!
Dale K.