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I have a 16 gallon, and read the previous posts. I have 1 angel (it's small), 2 livebearers, one mini gourami, and 3 neons. I know, I'm alittle overstocked. Anyway, I have diatrams (spelled right) and can't get rid of them off the gravel. The walls and plants are free, as I reliogiously clean them. Would a small bottom feeder do me good? I want to have him happy though.
Thanks,

Anne

Hi there,
Considering your tank is overstocked as is,
i wouldnt add any more fish.
You are aware I hope that you cannot keep an
adult angelfish in a 16 gallon tank?
Angelfish grow to be 8 inches from snout to base of
tail, and up to 14 inches tall in Finnage.
They need a minimum sized tank of 24 inches long by
12 inches wide by 18 inches deep - a 25 gallon tall.
Keeping Angels in small tanks stunts their growth,
and they will usually only live 3-5 years once stunted,
which is a puny amount of time for a fish that if properly cared for can easily live 20 years.

If you got rid of the angelfish, you could add 3 more
neons, and a group of bottom feeders - like 6 cory cats or 3 kuhli loaches or similar.


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Diatomic algae is down to the presence of silicates anyway, its not an issue that is solved by scavenging species. Most algae eaters cannot derive nutriment from it, and only water changes and the natural erosion of gravels really affects the outcome of how much diatomic algae you have. When the diatomic algae runs out of the raw materials to form their structures with only then does it subside.


If in a case like mine where I have a lot of quartz gravel, you just have to get used to it, it does subside with time as the tiny particles from the gravel are finallty removed by many months of water changes, and the looser surface areas are eroded away.

Silicates do not naturally fade, they can only be removed, so do a big scrape, and then an water immediate change while much of the diatomic algae is suspended in the water. If you just scrape it off and dont remove it, it will be back time and again, infinitely recycled, unless picked up slowly by the filter and dumped when you clean the media.

If you already know that you're overstocked, then why add more fish?. I think it's more efficiant to make water changes & consider what So_Very_Sneaky said.

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Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

Yep, most common solution to Diatoms is water changes, water changes and more water changes.
Suck it up and get it out.
Maybe you need to clean your gravel more often.
Are you using a gravel vaccuum and vaccuuming 50% of the gravel once weekly?

Reduce feeding, reduce stock, water changes, are all
solutions to Diatoms.


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