biggest thread on this website
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I "think" that's Blackbeard/Black Brush Algae. If it is BBA then read this:
Understanding Black Brush Algae - Algae - Aquatic Plant Central
Paraphrase: You get it by an imbalance in your CO2, then it just sort of stays. Mollys or American/Florida Flag Fish have been known to eat it, but using a syringe with Excel (The fertilizer, not the MS Office program) directly on the BBA is supposed to be the best method.
Understanding Black Brush Algae - Algae - Aquatic Plant Central
Paraphrase: You get it by an imbalance in your CO2, then it just sort of stays. Mollys or American/Florida Flag Fish have been known to eat it, but using a syringe with Excel (The fertilizer, not the MS Office program) directly on the BBA is supposed to be the best method.
Algae took over since there was an imbalance in fertilzer/light. Excel is an 'Excel-lent' way to feed the plants come carbon. Algae can't use it. If you can get aquatic plants growing well enough, they will outcompete the aglae.
What plant is that in the picture? It doesn't look aquatic.
What plant is that in the picture? It doesn't look aquatic.
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Thanks! I just got done with a water change and forgot to wipe off the glass. 
Usually it's cleaner than that.
In general, yes. However, some females can be just as aggressive as males (I've had a few). They can also be kept as a sorority (multiple females) in a species-only tank (recommended minimum size is 15gals) or in a community.
I've never heard the attacking platies thing. I have two platies in my 55gal with my two female bettas and I've had as many as 10 platies (including juveniles) with my female bettas and I've never had a problem. However, with guppies, I had one female that latched onto one of my male delta tail guppies' tail and would not let go.
Usually it's cleaner than that.In general, yes. However, some females can be just as aggressive as males (I've had a few). They can also be kept as a sorority (multiple females) in a species-only tank (recommended minimum size is 15gals) or in a community.
I've never heard the attacking platies thing. I have two platies in my 55gal with my two female bettas and I've had as many as 10 platies (including juveniles) with my female bettas and I've never had a problem. However, with guppies, I had one female that latched onto one of my male delta tail guppies' tail and would not let go.
Huh? It is BOTH 'not aquatic' and 'mondo grass.'
Mondo grass is not an aquatic plant, it is a land plant that can tolorate living underwater for a short time. It grows on the 'margin' meaning that it grows alongside streams/rivers/ponds/lakes. During most of the year, it is growing in the air. When the rainy season hits, it may be flooded for a short time as the water in the stream/river/pond/lake it grows near rises. While it is flooded, it lives off the stored food reserves in the roots. Once the reserves are used up, the plant decays. It cannot take in nutrients while submerged under water.
The mondo grass is likely decaying since its not aquatic. The decaying plant is feeding the algae, which will spread to other plants too. You can see the tip of the mondo grass has turned black showing that it is decaying. Each stem of grass will get shorter and shorter as the decay spreads.
I believe you'll get ahead of the fight with the algae if you take out the non-aquatic mondo grass.
Just my 2cents
OC
Mondo grass is not an aquatic plant, it is a land plant that can tolorate living underwater for a short time. It grows on the 'margin' meaning that it grows alongside streams/rivers/ponds/lakes. During most of the year, it is growing in the air. When the rainy season hits, it may be flooded for a short time as the water in the stream/river/pond/lake it grows near rises. While it is flooded, it lives off the stored food reserves in the roots. Once the reserves are used up, the plant decays. It cannot take in nutrients while submerged under water.
The mondo grass is likely decaying since its not aquatic. The decaying plant is feeding the algae, which will spread to other plants too. You can see the tip of the mondo grass has turned black showing that it is decaying. Each stem of grass will get shorter and shorter as the decay spreads.
I believe you'll get ahead of the fight with the algae if you take out the non-aquatic mondo grass.
Just my 2cents
OC
I actually saw my big female hifin platy and Esme, my little dark blue girl with the red fins, have a stand-off the other day. The platy won. There was no fighting, they just sat there staring at each other until one backed down. Esme turned tail and hid behind Caius, the angel. I have such weird fish!
There was no fighting, they just sat there staring at each other until one backed down. Esme turned tail and hid behind Caius, the angel. I have such weird fish!
Randomly helping perpetuate this thread...
If I have get a planted five gallon w/a betta, nerite, and 4 red cherry shrimp, will the shrimp fry ever threaten to overload the tank?
I'll probably cover the filter intake to slow the flow for the betta, and the betta should nom some, but could excess survivors cause trouble?
If I have get a planted five gallon w/a betta, nerite, and 4 red cherry shrimp, will the shrimp fry ever threaten to overload the tank?
I'll probably cover the filter intake to slow the flow for the betta, and the betta should nom some, but could excess survivors cause trouble?
I'll perpetuate this shrimp talk!
I'm slowly putting together some sort of South/Central American biotope tank together in my 40 gallon. I think I'm going to do java moss and java fern though, so its not really a biotope, but oh well. I'd like to keep some sort of shrimp maybe, but I'm not sure if there are any from that part of the world, or if they'll just get demolished by the GBR I plan on getting. If they aren't just going to get killed, what kind should I get, or am I going to have to bend the rules like I did for the plants if I really want a shrimp?
I'm slowly putting together some sort of South/Central American biotope tank together in my 40 gallon. I think I'm going to do java moss and java fern though, so its not really a biotope, but oh well. I'd like to keep some sort of shrimp maybe, but I'm not sure if there are any from that part of the world, or if they'll just get demolished by the GBR I plan on getting. If they aren't just going to get killed, what kind should I get, or am I going to have to bend the rules like I did for the plants if I really want a shrimp?
well since you already have those plants you cant call it a biotope. so you can get w/e shrimp you want lol.
if you do go with shrimp, since theres a cichlid in there make sure you get some sort of floating plant like hornwort or anacharis and grow a lot of it on the surface. then get your shrimp and theyll be able to efficiently hide from the predators in a large clump of that floating plant. thats how my cherry shrimp escaped being eaten by my goldfish.
if you do go with shrimp, since theres a cichlid in there make sure you get some sort of floating plant like hornwort or anacharis and grow a lot of it on the surface. then get your shrimp and theyll be able to efficiently hide from the predators in a large clump of that floating plant. thats how my cherry shrimp escaped being eaten by my goldfish.