Problem With Plants

[garf]

Hi guys, it's been more than 3 weeks since I bought the plants from the local shop, and in the last few days, I've seen some brown stuff growing on the leaves. Can someone please tell me what are those? (plant disease?) and how should I deal with it?

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/9417/rimg0068ie7.th.jpg (http://img46.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rimg0068ie7.jpg) http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/7650/rimg0069gf2.th.jpg (http://img529.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rimg0069gf2.jpg)

I only add water conditioner and salt whenever I change the water. I have not put any nutrient for the plants yet. There is a timer to allow 8 hours of light everyday.

[Sloory]

It's ok mate its just algea.
You need to put some snails in the tank and they should clean that up.
Did you have a heater in there?

[sharkybubba]

hey garf,

sloorys right it us just algae so you dont have to worry bout that! if you want to get rid of it you can get snails but be mindful they are like rabbits and can take over. another solution is a sucking catfish as these guys live on alage and are hard little workers and they will clear up the algae for you in no time!! and a third solution is chemicals but i dont recommend this at all...better not to put chemicals in your tank if you dont have too. nice looking plants by the way-i like it :wub:

[garf]

Hi guys, thanks for your response :)

No, I don't have a heater. Perhaps I should pull back the lighting a bit? The tank is actually next to the balcony door, so I guess the side is taking in alot of the morning sunlight. It makes sense now. The worst hit leaf is actually the most "exposed" to the sunlight.

I'm not sure if I want to go the way of the snail or catfish though. :)

[aquariumleasing]

Be mindful of the sucking catfish - we use only the GOLDEN variety as they tend to be less aggressive. The normal ones can be down right nasty!

[sharkybubba]

Be mindful of the sucking catfish - we use only the GOLDEN variety as they tend to be less aggressive. The normal ones can be down right nasty![/b]

i was told it wasnt aggression, if your talking about their chasing behaviour- it was explained to me that they are just trying to eat the slime off of other fish (eww!)- i have both a normal and a golden sucking fish and they both do it :p

[joz]

I would suggest a few small brislenose,they don't have any nasty vices and would do the work well.

[pappyy3]

Hi. I noticed you keep goldfish and don't have a heater (that's fine).

Yes- it seems you have sa small amount of algae on your plant leaves.

Unfortunately some of the suggestions made won't work in your set up. For example:

- Adding catfish and bristlenoses: Unless you keep your water warm (with an aquarium heater) these won't last long in your tank.

- Snails: Great suggestion but this will lead to a snail population problem in the long term. You will only be able to keep the pond snails or the red ramshorns in your coldwater tank.

My suggestion would be to re-locate your tank somwhere where it dosen't get exposed to direct sunlight, this will cut down the algae problem somewhat.

:rolleyes: Nice set up by the way!

[garf]

hi guys, long time no "see".. I've been travelling.
ok latest update - the algae has spreaded :(
Indeed one side of the tank is exposed to the morning sun. I covered up that side with paper, hoping that the sun rays won't get in. But I guess that didn't help at all. I don't know the exact ingredients of photosynthesis, but i suppose it's something that's outside the visible spectrum and can easily penetrate thru the paper ;)

I can't relocate the tank anywhere else unfortunately. So i guess maybe i should cut down the artificial lighting.

[volenti]

You could try a blackout period, 2-3 days of very little light, simple algae can't survive this while the more complex higher plants will cope with it fine.

[ebonairre]

hi guys, long time no "see".. I've been travelling.
ok latest update - the algae has spreaded :(
Indeed one side of the tank is exposed to the morning sun. I covered up that side with paper, hoping that the sun rays won't get in. But I guess that didn't help at all. I don't know the exact ingredients of photosynthesis, but i suppose it's something that's outside the visible spectrum and can easily penetrate thru the paper ;)

I can't relocate the tank anywhere else unfortunately. So i guess maybe i should cut down the artificial lighting.[/b]

I agree with the others - the morning sun is probably part of the issue - I would also recommend getting a golden sucking catfish rather than trying to go with the chemical option. I've got a catfish in my 30L community aquarium; there's no heater and as far as lighting goes, I don't use it outside of the darker winter months. My tank, while not in direct sunlight, is located in a room with plenty of natural light for 8-12 hours per day. I've got tall slimleaf plants in my aquarium, rather than the large broadleaf variety in your tank but he still manages to get to every part of my plants. As he's the only algae eater in the tank (except for a miniscule snail that piggybacked in on my plants from the shop) there's more than enough in the tank for him to feed on and therefore, no need to put extra algae wafers/food in the tank. Never had an algae problem.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes

Anna