I love my hair algae (part 2)

[Petunia]

You Go Boy! I've spoken with you about this and I agree. It's your tank dude... do what you want.

PS My nitrates are getting better. Thanks for the advice you gave me 'do what works for your tank'.

[lfish]

[Tviokh]

Originally Posted by yardboy

I'm not sure what's so shocking about your tank.]

Me either; in fact, Greg gave me a bit of that hair algae on rocks for my tank, and I LOVE having it in there.
I decided, after setting everything back up, that I'd forsake the tangs (though I loved having them) and wanted a lot of live plants in the tank.

My FW tanks are green (and occasionally reddish) with plant life. Good plant life.
Because of that I have zero water quality issues even with very infrequent changes.

I've noticed it much easier to maintain water quality in my SW tank with the addition of the live plants. We don't have a refugium, and frankly, because of the tank style we have, wouldn't have much of a place to put one, so aquascaping with live plants is the next best thing.
They not only help keep the excess nutrients under control, but in doing THAT they also help keep undesirable algae (such as that brownish stuff that grows on glass) to a minium.
It's not that I MIND having to scrape, it's just nicer when I don't have to.

I've got a tank of omnivores where fish are concerned right now (2 female blue devils that won't die, 1 yellowtail damsel, 2 dominos, and a maroon clown) and they pick at the hair algae and some of the others, but don't eat enough to stress the plants to the point of death. So, free salad bar for them, help with keeping water quality up for me. Win/Win there.

Heh, that said, thanks again Greg for those bits of hairy rock.

Oh yeah, Greg, if you ever want to get rid of some of those 'misfit' damsels in that tank of yours, let me know.
I've decided to keep my tank damsels + the one maroon clown until I can clear out space and get funds for a nice, big, 100+ gallon setup.

[Linda]

I happen to like Gregs tank, his fish and his algae...I think it looks natural and very beautiful.
AND....on the subject of water changes........lol.....cannot remember my last water change. I just fell into doing it 'my way' after doing weekly water changes combined with flushing dead fish. Water changes didn't work for me, no water changes.......it works, very well....everyone is alive and well, they TOLD me so!!!!!! (Great time at your store today Greg!!!THANK YOU, you really helped get me out of that 'slump' after the recent tradegy we have experienced here. THANKS!!!)