I think my plants are doing quite well for the most part. I feel they could
do better (bushier). I also am still fighting some type of black algae, but
it doesn't seem to be growing too fast. I have 2wpg in a 55g tank. I am
using DIY CO2 (can't afford better right now, and actually enjoy using the
DIY).

I believe it was Dave P. who suggested warming the DIY mix. I am going to
try that today I hope. I have not been able to get something to warm it
until today.

My questions are these: I too have been thinking about ordering some SAE's
and Amano Shrimp from aquariumfish.net. Probably 5 SAE's and 7 Amanos.
Also an Ancistrus, mostly because my mom really wants a pleco in the tank.
Will the SAE's grow and stop eating algae, and hogging food? Will there be
special problems/things to know about the Amano shrimp? I have read that
they will escape the tank if possible.

The thing I don't understand about CO2 is, I was told by Phyl at TAP that I
wouldn't necessarily even need CO2 at all. But after I put the plants in,
my pH shot up to above 8.0 from a normal 7.0. If I have a "low-moderate"
amount of light, do I need CO2 in the 25ppm range? Or is stability of the
CO2 level more important? I may be able to get a CO2 system in the next
couple of months, and will if I have to.

thanks a lot,

bob

Will the SAE's grow and stop eating algae, and hogging food?

A lot of people claim they stop eating algae as they get older, but that hasn't
been my experience. Even when they are babies, they still like fish food if
they can get it. It doesn't keep them from grazing on algae. My SAEs are huge
now. They do eat fish food, but they don't hog it. No more than any other
fish, anyway. :-) And between feedings, they are constantly grazing on
thread-like algaes. They will take care of your black algae, though it might
take awhile. (They prefer tender new growth, so they may not eat the stuff
that's already established. But they will keep new algae from growing in.)

Will there be
special problems/things to know about the Amano shrimp? I have read that
they will escape the tank if possible.

I haven't had any problem with them. I do add a couple of drops of Kent Marine
Iodine to the tank for them, with each water change. I have no idea if this is
necessary, but it's necessary for ghost shrimp, so I do it for Amanos, too.

The thing I don't understand about CO2 is, I was told by Phyl at TAP that I
wouldn't necessarily even need CO2 at all. But after I put the plants in,
my pH shot up to above 8.0 from a normal 7.0.

I remember that. That was weird. I didn't have a problem with 2.24 wpg over
my non-injected tank. The only thing I can figure is that you really had a lot
of plants, or it was just because the bulbs were brand new. (New PCFs produce
much brighter light for the first few hours of use. Generally, this lasts only
for a week or two, as we use them.) Or maybe you didn't have enough surface
agitation.

If I have a "low-moderate"
amount of light, do I need CO2 in the 25ppm range? Or is stability of the
CO2 level more important?

I think any CO2 helps. Though conventional wisdom has it that CO2 should be up
around 20ppm, the data someone posted here suggested the biggest benefit comes
from boosting CO2 only a little -- to 7 or 8 ppm. More is better, but if
that's all you can get, it's still worth doing.


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

Thanks very much Leigh. This gives me some good info to work with. I have
ordered the SAE's and Amanos, and hope they will arrive Friday.

I did put in quite a few plants all at once.

I did some work in the tank yesterday, getting out the algae-infested
leaves. There are more to get out, and I may wind up doing some drastic
pruning and hope those particular plants will re-grow. There is not that
much algae left, but it cannot be removed from fine-leaved plants (like the
Foxtail which I really love).

BTW, I was very much helped by the recent thread on pruning techniques.
Thanks to all the helpful ppl here!

bob


"LeighMo" wrote in message
...
Will the SAE's grow and stop eating algae, and hogging food?

A lot of people claim they stop eating algae as they get older, but that
hasn't
been my experience. Even when they are babies, they still like fish food
if
they can get it. It doesn't keep them from grazing on algae. My SAEs are
huge
now. They do eat fish food, but they don't hog it. No more than any
other
fish, anyway. :-) And between feedings, they are constantly grazing on
thread-like algaes. They will take care of your black algae, though it
might
take awhile. (They prefer tender new growth, so they may not eat the
stuff
that's already established. But they will keep new algae from growing
in.)

Will there be
special problems/things to know about the Amano shrimp? I have read that
they will escape the tank if possible.

I haven't had any problem with them. I do add a couple of drops of Kent
Marine
Iodine to the tank for them, with each water change. I have no idea if
this is
necessary, but it's necessary for ghost shrimp, so I do it for Amanos,
too.

The thing I don't understand about CO2 is, I was told by Phyl at TAP that
I
wouldn't necessarily even need CO2 at all. But after I put the plants
in,
my pH shot up to above 8.0 from a normal 7.0.

I remember that. That was weird. I didn't have a problem with 2.24 wpg
over
my non-injected tank. The only thing I can figure is that you really had
a lot
of plants, or it was just because the bulbs were brand new. (New PCFs
produce
much brighter light for the first few hours of use. Generally, this lasts
only
for a week or two, as we use them.) Or maybe you didn't have enough
surface
agitation.

If I have a "low-moderate"
amount of light, do I need CO2 in the 25ppm range? Or is stability of
the
CO2 level more important?

I think any CO2 helps. Though conventional wisdom has it that CO2 should
be up
around 20ppm, the data someone posted here suggested the biggest benefit
comes
from boosting CO2 only a little -- to 7 or 8 ppm. More is better, but if
that's all you can get, it's still worth doing.


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

Thanks very much Leigh. This gives me some good info to work with. I have
ordered the SAE's and Amanos, and hope they will arrive Friday.

You'll love them. They're so cute, especially when they're little. :-)

And don't have a heart attack if you see what looks like a dead shrimp in the
tank after a few days. My Amano shrimp molted shortly after I put them in the
tank. The first time I saw a discarded exoskeleton, I thought it was a dead
shrimp. Ghost shrimp usually eat the shed exoskeleton, but Amano shrimp often
leave theirs lying around to give the tank keeper a coronary...

I did some work in the tank yesterday, getting out the algae-infested
leaves. There are more to get out, and I may wind up doing some drastic
pruning and hope those particular plants will re-grow. There is not that
much algae left, but it cannot be removed from fine-leaved plants (like the
Foxtail which I really love).

If the SAEs don't take care of it, remove the affected parts of the plant. It
will grow back, and the SAEs will keep new algae from growing on them.

Good luck with the critters, and let us know how it works out!



Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/