joeinlondon
Member
- Joined
- 19 Sep 2008
- Messages
- 31
Now a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but I was reading Walstead's book last night and thought that some sort of allelopathy may be affecting my cardinals, as I can't think of what else it might be.
I have noticed in the evening, about two hours before the lights are due to turn off, one of the large ones, or one or both of the two newest (and smallest) additions begin swimming up against the glass, as if trying to get out. Obviously something is affecting these individuals, and they are unhappy. At other times normal, fairly placid behaviour is observed, with the usual sparring and chasing.
The tank is 67L, substrate 2-4mm gravel with laterite, 25w powerglo for 8 hours daily, Tetra internal filter at about 400lph.
Water is pure RO, 15L changed a week.
Additives: easycarbo @ 2ml/day and TPN+ @ 2ml/day
Moderate planting.
Ammonia and nitrite consistenly zero, nitrate 10ppm, pH stable at 7.
I am also having staghorn algae issues (Type II on James' article [overfeeding]), and last night a bit of surface scum, but my main concern is that something is bothering the tetras.
Are my water changes too small, and the resultant build-up what is affecting them? Before I switched to TPN+ I was using Colombo Flora Grow, and probably overdosed it, so perhaps it might be some residual traces of copper which I have read about on this forum - I don't know. The shrimp in the tank seem okay, if a little shy and unindustrious.
Any input would be much appreciated.
Thanks as ever
Joe
I have noticed in the evening, about two hours before the lights are due to turn off, one of the large ones, or one or both of the two newest (and smallest) additions begin swimming up against the glass, as if trying to get out. Obviously something is affecting these individuals, and they are unhappy. At other times normal, fairly placid behaviour is observed, with the usual sparring and chasing.
The tank is 67L, substrate 2-4mm gravel with laterite, 25w powerglo for 8 hours daily, Tetra internal filter at about 400lph.
Water is pure RO, 15L changed a week.
Additives: easycarbo @ 2ml/day and TPN+ @ 2ml/day
Moderate planting.
Ammonia and nitrite consistenly zero, nitrate 10ppm, pH stable at 7.
I am also having staghorn algae issues (Type II on James' article [overfeeding]), and last night a bit of surface scum, but my main concern is that something is bothering the tetras.
Are my water changes too small, and the resultant build-up what is affecting them? Before I switched to TPN+ I was using Colombo Flora Grow, and probably overdosed it, so perhaps it might be some residual traces of copper which I have read about on this forum - I don't know. The shrimp in the tank seem okay, if a little shy and unindustrious.
Any input would be much appreciated.
Thanks as ever
Joe