So I have 55 gallon freshwater tank. My plants are all low maintenance. I have Java fern, anubias and crypts. Those plants are doing well. I never see any already growing. I do have some ramshorn snails and a rubbernose pleco. The pleco does eat from the glass but it always looks clean. I feed algea wafers buy the pleco would rather eat regular sinking omega pellets. The only fish I see eating the algae wafers are my Angel fish. I'm not complaining because everyone is healthy but I just don't get why Algea isn't growing. I leave the light on 8-10 hours a day. My nitrates are at 5 and I have 0 ammonia. I do 10 gallon water changes every other day. I'm not sure I'm even looking to "correct" the situation, I'm just kind of stumped on why I have no algae.
My Plants are flourishing but I never have algae
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Yes, be careful what you wish for...
I wonder how / if the frequent WCs influence the algae situation. I have one tank that tests 0 for nitrates. I still do a 50% weekly water change. Algae feels very much at home in this tank however.
I wonder how / if the frequent WCs influence the algae situation. I have one tank that tests 0 for nitrates. I still do a 50% weekly water change. Algae feels very much at home in this tank however.
That crossed my mind. It's easier for me to 10 gallons every other day than a big one once a week though. The volume of water winds up being about the same. I don't know, maybe there is more water flow way I do it. I've read that can effect algae. I do have 2 hang on back filters. An Aqua-tech 30-60 gallon and an Aqua clear 30 gallon. The flow is a little strong coming from the aqua-tech but the fish seam to like it. I don't use any liquid fertilizer because I have low tech plants. I do use some flourish tablets for the crypts though. I guess I leave things be.
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For me the answer to algae has been to get the plants growing well and carbon seems to be the limiting factor. Supply enough carbon and I'm good. If you can do it another way that's great.
Also, its easy to underestimate how much algae plecos can eat and how clean they can make their environment. I swapped out one pleco in my 400 litre and even 100 Bristlenose Catfish didn't do the same job though I could see algae in their tummies.
Also, its easy to underestimate how much algae plecos can eat and how clean they can make their environment. I swapped out one pleco in my 400 litre and even 100 Bristlenose Catfish didn't do the same job though I could see algae in their tummies.
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