Stocking Question

[leah1436]

Ok, I've had my tank up for a little over a year now and it was going well until a few weeks ago. I decided that I wanted to try and use live plants instead of the fake ones i had been using since I set it up. I bought 3 plants, set them up and everything seemed to be going ok. However, now I am having an problem with algae in the tank. I think the problem is that I am leaving hte light on for too long and I don't have enough plants in the tank. Does that make sense? I've purchased a few more plants and am hoping that will help. I had some loss recently (while I was on vacation someone slightly raised the temperature of my tank, to about 110 degrees faranheight.), so I have some room in the tank, right now there is only 7 danios and 2 Black Skirt tetra's. Would it make more sense to buy more plants and see if that helps rid the algae? Or should I look at getting something like Ottos or a bristlenose Plec to eat some of it? Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

[SJ2K]

1) Algae is formed when all its needs are met, thats nitrate, light and oxygen. By adding more plants yes you will be reducing your nitrate which may help but bare in mind, decaying plant matter also increases ammonia intake which will in-turn result in more nitrate So, keep your light on for no more then 12 hours a do, add more plants if you desire and be strict on your weekly water changes

 

[leah1436]

Thanks, that's what I've been doing. And since I put more plants in and did a water change earlier this week, the algae seems to be less. As for adding more fish, like I said, I realize I'm understocked. I was thinking of adding a 2 more of the Black skirt tetras, but then was thinking about 3 or 4 Ottos, so I have something for the lower layer of the tank. That shouldn't be overstocked, right?

Thanks again.