Xmas Moss Not Looking Good

So for a really long time, I've had a problem of hair algae growing in my Christmas moss. It got so bad that I just decided to pull as much of it out as I could. I tried not to take the moss out with it, but it's so entangled that I had a little trouble. Now I've taken out the majority of it so I could see the moss, but I don't know if the moss has had any negative impact on the moss. It's looking kind of yellow and not as much of a green. I think the yellow parts, which are still prominent at the top, are part of the hair algae. As you can see, the hair algae really got entangled with the moss, and now it looks worse. I'm considering letting the hair algae grow again because at least it looked better and had more volume. I originally wanted the Christmas moss to grow in without the algae, but I don't know if that's going to happen at this point.

 

What light and fertilizers do you have? Tank size/stocking?

 

What light and fertilizers do you have? Tank size/stocking?

The lights are the LED ones that came with the tank. 10 gallon neocaridina shrimp tank. I use seachem flourish (I used some this morning) and root tabs, but I didn't use the root tabs on the moss of course.

 

How long are the lights on for? 6-8 hours should be plenty.

I recommend some Amano shrimp and trying to increase the water flow through the moss portion.

 

How long are the lights on for? 6-8 hours should be plenty.

I recommend some Amano shrimp and trying to increase the water flow through the moss portion.

It's on for about 8 hours. Are you sure amanos can go with the neocaridinas?

 

It's on for about 8 hours. Are you sure amanos can go with the neocaridinas?

I keep Amanos with Neos all the time, no issues. I ensure the Amanos are fed meat once a week (just some protein to supplement their diet, usually bloodworm, brine shrimp or even a crushed baby snail) and they do their job cleaning up algae and detritus. As long as there is plenty of space and biofilm you should have no issue keeping an Amano per 3 gallons.

 

I have 5 amanos in a 20 gallon long shrimp tank. If you want them to work on the algae, don't feed the tank. They will eat algae as a last resort. Once they clean up the algae, then you can feed them other foods.

Repashy on a stick. Java moss on the right, xmas moss on the left (barely in the pic)

 

I don't usually show pic tanks because I think my aquascape is really ugly lol. But this is what the setup looks look atm (idk why the lighting looks really weird). I keep the biofilm on the tank because I know the neos really enjoy it. I also don't mind because these shrimp are primarily for breeding for profit. If I got two amanos, would they be eating the biofilm and the algae? Amanos are pretty expensive, but I may be able to find some

 

View attachment 500345 I don't usually show pic tanks because I think my aquascape is really ugly lol. But this is what the setup looks look atm (idk why the lighting looks really weird). I keep the biofilm on the tank because I know the neos really enjoy it. I also don't mind because these shrimp are primarily for breeding for profit. If I got two amanos, would they be eating the biofilm and the algae? Amanos are pretty expensive, but I may be able to find some

Amanos eat biofilm and algae, yes.

I don't know about expensive, most places they're $3-4 each.

 

Amanos eat biofilm and algae, yes.

I don't know about expensive, most places they're $3-4 each.

Online it's like $25 for 5. I'll keep looking around though.

 

I got my 5 amanos from PetCo for $4 or $5 ea.

How often do you do water changes? How much? How often do you use Flourish?

Algae will soak up excess nutrients in the water. I do about 25% water changes every week. I use RO remineralized with Equilibrium to 200 TDS. I was dosing ferts (Flourish and Trace) once a week but just started using DIY dry ferts so I'll probably start every other day or so but I have a decent amount of plants in my shrimp tank.

 

I got my 5 amanos from PetCo for $4 or $5 ea.

How often do you do water changes? How much? How often do you use Flourish?

Algae will soak up excess nutrients in the water. I do about 25% water changes every week. I use RO remineralized with Equilibrium to 200 TDS. I was dosing ferts (Flourish and Trace) once a week but just started using DIY dry ferts so I'll probably start every other day or so but I have a decent amount of plants in my shrimp tank.

I do about 20% every other week. Today is a water change day. I was just about to do it.
Should I do more than 20% for this water change?

EDIT: Also since it's a shrimp tank I don't usually siphon the sand. Should I try it?

 

20% is fine but you should do it weekly since you're using ferts.

I had a lot of cholla wood in my tank and it would break down and leave a ton of mulm so I tried to clean most of it up but otherwise, I don't really touch the substrate. Most of the waste will go into the gravel, break down and feed my plants.

 

I have 5 amanos in a 20 gallon long shrimp tank. If you want them to work on the algae, don't feed the tank. They will eat algae as a last resort. Once they clean up the algae, then you can feed them other foods.

Repashy on a stick. Java moss on the right, xmas moss on the left (barely in the pic)
View attachment 500336

Good looking tank Darkone

 

Amanos are far better algae eaters than cherry shrimp, but it looks like everything else is in check. The algae is doing super well because it's so high up, close to the light. Amanos will eat it, and once its gone be sure to clean any organics/detritus that accumulates on the moss.

 

20% is fine but you should do it weekly since you're using ferts.

I had a lot of cholla wood in my tank and it would break down and leave a ton of mulm so I tried to clean most of it up but otherwise, I don't really touch the substrate. Most of the waste will go into the gravel, break down and feed my plants.

Ok thanks!

 

Amanos are far better algae eaters than cherry shrimp, but it looks like everything else is in check. The algae is doing super well because it's so high up, close to the light. Amanos will eat it, and once its gone be sure to clean any organics/detritus that accumulates on the moss.

Thank you! I’ll try to get 2 or 3 in the upcoming weeks.