Fish: Re: [tropical fish club] Algae

I grow both anubias and java fern in hard water here and they do great. The anubias is a little slower growing in harder water, but the java fern grows and spreads so fast it surprised even me. My last addition of new java fern was about 2 wks ago. Each plant was about 5 - 6 inches tall. Today each of those plants is about 7 inches tall with new shoots both from the base as well as sprouts from most leaves. My pH here runs 8.5 - 8.6 out of the tap, averages about 8.3 - .8.5 in most of my tanks. I haven't tested GH or KH lately, but it has always shown extremely hard water. I get hard water deposits even on my dishes if I let water sit and evaporate in them (without vinegar in the water) and am always having to treat my dishwasher for hard water deposits that build up in the pump. The anubias in my shrimp tank has been in there for years and although it isn't growing as fast as in softer water, it's healthy and thriving enough to be split
(into new plants) about once/yr. Anubias is one of the few plants I have had success in acclimating to and growing in brackish conditions as well.

Dawn

Dawn Moneyhan
Aquatics Specialist/Nutritionist
To learn more about me go to
http://www.helium.com/users/449334

--- On Wed, 5/29/13, Larry Blanchard <labl02@aol.com> wrote:

From: Larry Blanchard <labl02@aol.com>
Subject: Re: [tropical fish club] Algae
To: tropicalfishclub@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, May 29, 2013, 4:06 PM

On 05/29/2013 12:38 AM, Dawn Moneyhan wrote:

> Considering your lighting and unsure of your tank's depth, I would probably at this point suggest java fern and anubias to start out. Those 2 plants can do quite well with low light conditions but can also handle moderate light.

The only comment I'd make is that those plants don't like hard water. I

found that out the hard (pun intended) way. I'd also add some faster

growing plants likewater wisteria to get rid of the algae sooner.

Larry B

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