Eau, help me out a bit....

[lucysmam]

am a bit by all the phosphate removal products out there. ..what do I need to look for that isn't too £££!!

This seems to be what's causing my black beard algae but lfs has shut for refit so can't get there & only other local place is p@h

[EauRouge]

What's the phosphate level in your tank? Mine's quite high but it's managed by having tons of plants and by adding liquid carbon.

[lucysmam]

around 5ppm...I did read that it was normal for them to be about 1/10th the amount of nitrates, my water comes out of the tap at 30ppm nitrates

I've used up the last bit of the test kit lfs man gave me too so will have to invest in one of my own...

I'm struggling a bit with this one, the pleco demolishes everything except anubias but I can't get to the lfs that sells good quality plants without roping my dad in for a lift.

Think it's a combination of too much light (dp never listens about the light) and not enough plants in there to use the co2 maybe...if I understand how this evil stuff works correctly

[EauRouge]

Yes, that sounds about right. COuld you grow something really fast-growing like elodia or hygrophila or does that all get shredded?

[EauRouge]

Forgot to ask, have you tried java moss or moss balls?

[lucysmam]

Never had hygrophila in there to try it. worth a shot though

I did wonder about something floating maybe but he sometimes pays a visit to the top in a funny upside down kinda way that looks all wrong Thought there was something wrong & panicked the first time he did it.

[lucysmam]

moss balls...hmmm...I've never considered those to go in it either tbh....thought they were more a shrimp thing

[EauRouge]

Floating plants are great for blocking out some of the light. Riccia is really fast spreading, it can form mats though if you're not careful. Whatever floating plant you get will need thinning out regularly but it's easy enough to do.

[lucysmam]

I'll start googling some floating plants in that case. Would rather avoid chemicals if I can

[EauRouge]

Salvinia is another good one, I've got some of that. Water lettuce is good for larger tanks (can't remember how big yours is), that one will flower as well. I'd avoid duckweed though, it's chuffing impossible to get rid of if you change your mind.

[lucysmam]

It's 190L juwel trigon....big corner unit.

I'll avoid duckweed

The flowering one might be good though....if it flowers upside down so you can see them

[EauRouge]

No, it doesn't flower upside down You'll only see it when you lift the lid. It's pretty, though.

[lucysmam]

hmmmm, I shall google and see.

Wonder if anything does flower upside down.

The anubias I have in there is meant to flower but hasn't yet Quite disappointed (but am pleased it's still in one piece with the pleco taking chunks out of everything....he loves moving stuff too....confuses me on a morning when it's all different).

[EauRouge]

Mine flowers a lot. Do you add any plant food to the water? I use liquid carbon and my anubias goes like the clappers, it flowers all the time.

[EauRouge]

Not liquid carbon, liquid CO2. Doh.

[lucysmam]

I was doing when there were more plants in there, used what I had and didn't get any more because all there are now are the two anubias on the pretty lumps of wood I found.

Do you think it's worth it just for them?