On Mon, 17 Feb 2003 19:03:37 -0600, "Craig Brye"
wrote:

I'm guessing this is your problem. The nitrates should be between 5-10 ppm,
but you say yours is below 20. Is it closer to 0 or closer to 20, are you
able to tell with your test kit? I'm fairly new at this, but I've done a
ton of research on plants in the last 1 1/2 years and have come to gain a
lot of information. I'm guessing your plants are starving for trace
elements and this leaves the algae to take over (feeding off of high
nitrates and possibly phosphates).

Just because plants pearl doesn't mean they're doing good. I've seen algae
problems happen a lot even though plants are pearling. Some of the best
growth and tank conditions I had occurred with only minor pearling.


Ok you guys help the newbie out. What is pearling??

WF