Southerrrngirrl

I still have my algae problem, but I have $$ now so am off to the LFS to check out new lightbulbs and see if I can get this Flourish stuff AND as someone suggested, get a phosphate test kit. I then should be closer to solving the problem right??

How long has your tank been going for? I have a fish book that says that cardinals should be added to a new aquarium 10-12 weeks after first setting it up, this allows the bacteria to get established.

manual haven't read the whole topic so no idea if this has been done before but... blonde or brunette

What exactly is the deal with letting your female have one litter before desexing?? I've heard people say this before but they've never given me a good reason as to why.

I say go with Cardinals. They are great and IMO sooooo much nicer and brighter than neons. I've had my little group of six for nearly a year now, no deaths.. *touches wood* they look great when they school though Any chance of slowly building up the school, that way you'd be able to spread the cost of the cardinals over a period of time?

Yeah thats why I've been hesitating, cos I've wanted them for quite some time.. but my first experience with gouramis was a not so successful one. But, I think I will go ahead and get some, as I feel I am more experienced now, and more responsible with my tank and they way I maintain it too so hopefully I'll do better this time!

I have no idea. You'd have to wait for a gourami expert on that one. I've never had honey gouramis before. I'm just researching into them at the moment cos I saw a few of them at the LFS last week and thought they were pretty cool. Only gouramis I've ever had were 1 blue dwarf neon and 1 red dwarf neon.. they both died soon after purchase, so I really don't have a lot of experience with gouramis.

I was reading about honey gouramis the other day here http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_honey.php, and someone has described exactly what you have, so it sounds like its just a normal colouration developing

Thanks for the replies. I will prune the dead leaves, the tall plants are gonna be a bit funny looking though, I assume it will grow more leaves to replace the ones I cut off?? That tall plant I have, don't know what its called, is doing extremely well otherwise. I bought 1 bunch of it from the LFS and have had to cut it several times, and planted the cuttings in other locations in the tank, and I see it needs chopped off at the top again. Guess I must be doing something right!

It sounds like Dwarf Neon Gouramis to me. I had two of these, briefly. Mine used to hang out middle-top of the tank. I think they died from either poor water quality or stress. I've read they don't like being with active fish? I had mine in with platys, tetras and a rainbow shark. I'd class tetras and platys as active fish.

Ok so I'll increase lights another 2 hours. Water changes I generally do about 3-4 buckets once a week so thats about 40 litres I don't have co2, but have a plant fertiliser. I used to use Leaf Zone, but ran out and the LFS didn't have anymore so I've been using Plant Gro Nitrates are about 10ppm or less and I don't know about phosphates, as I don't have a test kit for that. Yet. Here's some photos: Thanks guys!

Well I've increased the hours of light to 8 hours a day. Haven't yet sorted the bulbs out (been waiting for pay day), but this algae seems to be getting worse. I've noticed more small bits of blackbeard growing on the gravel, and the brown algae appears to be making holes in the leaves? This is bugging the hell out of me now. I just want a nice clean looking tank with healthy looking plants!! Perhaps I should post a photo of it?

Is this the kind of thing that sprays every few minutes or whatever?? Does it smell at all?? We always get lots of flies in our house.. sure, 2 of the cats are always happy to have a flying snack but.. they tire after a while...

Sharn, I think it only took 1-2 drops

I have the test kit for the kh & gh, it didn't take many drops of the solution to make the water change, which means its soft right?, my ph is probably 7.0+ though.. I guess my water is the exception then? I haven't experienced any crashes or swings.. not since we moved anyway.

Ohh.. that may also explain why my plants didn't grow so well back then. That and a combination of just shoving the bunch in to the gravel... I have an algae problem at the moment... so high phosphates can also cause algae breakouts?? Should I be testing for phosphates too?? The buffering capacity relates to the water hardness doesn't it? I believe my water is really soft so.. what does that mean? Ugh so much to learn!!

Yeah I agree with what the others said. I used to use Proper PH 7.0 when I got my first tank (cos the LFS told me to, and I didn't know any better) and I couldn't work out why my fish were ALWAYS dying. Now that I'm a little more educated, I don't use ph altering products and haven't had a fish death for.. probably nearly a year. *touches wood*

Awww.. so curious to know what its about but I'm so not wanting to look at that link I just know its going to be sad. Not a good look crying at work. I almost cry when I see cats lying on the side of the road.

Yeah I try not to put any chemicals in my tank if I can avoid it. I've found with regular water changes, it seems to be clearing, its nowhere near as bad as it was so, hopefully it will be ok soon.

Wow, Merlin is gorgeous Rozski!! I love those blue eyes!

I have a rainbow shark, he appears to eat algae off the leaves, gravel and the glass. I wouldn't say he's very effective though.. I still have a ton of it growing haha! My loaches and corys don't appear to eat it though.

Hahaha I love your cats name. I don't know why but human names on cats are just cool...hehe

Awww thats so cute!! Whats his/her name? We have 3 Willow Yoda Murphy

Its not just clown loaches that do it, Zebra Loaches do it too!

Not bad, what kind of rocks have you got in the back of the tank??