Hey,
I stared a low tech tank some months back and it's been doing fairly well until a little recently.
I have lots of light in my tank and historically combating algae growth has been difficult, however it was suggested that I get some form of barrier to prevent to much light getting into the tank.
I could have gone the material barrier, but instead choose the recommended 'Water Lettuce'. I am mightily impressed with it as it looks great on the top of the tank (when I open the lid) but also adds a whole other dimension to the tank when it's roots hang down.
A few things I have noticed that are worrying me a little.
1. Most of my snails seem to live up the top now, in the lettuce. I think this might be because of the food that sticks to them when I feed the fish.
2. Where I have allowed it to 'overgrow' it has blocked out nearly all the light and I have lost all of my moss and some of my other 'light demanding plants'
3. I was wondering what impact this 'water column' feeder have on the other non-rooted plants in the tank. Things like Mosses and Anubis in particular. I was told that they are a fantastic source of plants to keep algae down, due to their ability to restrict nutrients available to the algae. My concern is that they are so effective at using nutrients that they may impact on the growth of other plants that feed on off the water column.
Regards
Le
I stared a low tech tank some months back and it's been doing fairly well until a little recently.
I have lots of light in my tank and historically combating algae growth has been difficult, however it was suggested that I get some form of barrier to prevent to much light getting into the tank.
I could have gone the material barrier, but instead choose the recommended 'Water Lettuce'. I am mightily impressed with it as it looks great on the top of the tank (when I open the lid) but also adds a whole other dimension to the tank when it's roots hang down.
A few things I have noticed that are worrying me a little.
1. Most of my snails seem to live up the top now, in the lettuce. I think this might be because of the food that sticks to them when I feed the fish.
2. Where I have allowed it to 'overgrow' it has blocked out nearly all the light and I have lost all of my moss and some of my other 'light demanding plants'
3. I was wondering what impact this 'water column' feeder have on the other non-rooted plants in the tank. Things like Mosses and Anubis in particular. I was told that they are a fantastic source of plants to keep algae down, due to their ability to restrict nutrients available to the algae. My concern is that they are so effective at using nutrients that they may impact on the growth of other plants that feed on off the water column.
Regards
Le