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Does anyone successfully keep BNs with dwarf hairgrass? My BN is starting to ruin my dwarf hairgrass. Looks like he sucks on the leaves for algae and end up bending, uprooting, etc.



My Scapes

I keep a BN with chain swords and the only thing she does is uproot them every now and again. Maybe yours just has an affinity for hairgrass. When it all fills in, there shouldn't be much of a problem, but if it continues to go south, I'd consider getting a sturdier plant for your foreground - or get rid of the BN.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Hi,
I suspect that with the small root system of each plant,
that you are seeing the result of that fish with those
plants. Personally, I've tried that plant several times
and each time they pull away from the gravel and float
away. I've tried planting the individual plants with
tweezers, pouring some gravel atop of the plant mat
(spaced evenly about the circumference and a tad in the
center) to hold it down to the gravel, and nothing seems
to work. I've decided that my grain size is too large
for it to anchor to, and that (perhaps) sand or nearly
sand grain size is more appropriate for this plant.

BTW, I enjoyed your log of the tank with the ONYX and
petrified wood through the link that Little Mouse (I
believe it was) furnished.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Little Mouse ???

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Frank,

Actually the dwarf hairgrass is staying down and rooting really well, but The BN tries to clean eat off the delicate leaves and ends up ruining some.

Glad your enjoying the log, actually I'm using eco complete and driftwood and I think you mean Little Fish Here's the link:

http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Planted%20Aquaria/64496.html?200510100841



My Scapes

How large of a tank, and how many BNs do you have in it? Maybe he is not finding enough food elsewhere. You might try to suppliment his diet with some algae wafers or something other like that.

The thing is, in my experience, it the BNs rarely do anything with the smaller more fragile leafed plants. As they cannot get a good hold on them. In my planted tanks, I had like one BN for a 75 gal tank. Or two in my 125 gal tank. They never messed with the small leaved plants, so much so, that I had to add some ottos for them.

Last edited by ACIDRAIN at 10-Oct-2005 12:35

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There is always a bigger fish...

This is my 72G and it has 2 bn and 3 otos currently. Since were on th subject of dwarf hairgrass, with do you think about ramshorn snails and the grass. I'm trying to get the lawn established so I guess it's better to wait.

My Scapes

For your tank, I think I would try to suppliment the BNs feedings. As for the snails, I don't see any harm from them.

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There is always a bigger fish...

thanks ACIDRAIN, sounds like a plan.

My Scapes

I've had trouble with all my ancistrus species (claro, domesticus, L-144, 255, and 34) and hairgrass. At one time or another, they've been in my quarantine 10 gallon, planted heavily with the stuff--they are naturally inquisitive, and forage most of the day; not a good mix with stem and/or small foreground leaf plants. Neoplecostominae are probably the only recommendable option in regards to algae control in heavily planted tanks with such plants as the ones that you have.

Thanks Cup, the big problem is catching these guys without destroying my tank.

My Scapes