First Post, Questions concerning 3 year old Tank.

[MattCantSwim]

Hello all,
After lurking in these forums for some time to answer questions i may have had, i have decided to start asking them myself.

Ill start with the basics, i have a 55 Gallon tank with two high power filters, one heater, gravel, plastic plants, and some decorative rocks. The tank is 3 years old, and for the most part has new fish in it. (Pleco, 2 clown loaches, 1 Black mollie, 1 gourami, and 4 brand new silver dollars). my first question concerns calcium. The back of the hood off the tank, mainly on and around the filters right at the water line, is covered in crusty calcium. Is this a problem? And how can i fix it?

Secondly, My aforementioned pleco who has grown to e around 7 inches, has ever since he was put in the tank, been extremely solitary and hid in the fake log i have in the tank. i rarely see him, and i have no idea what he actually eats, as i have never noticed a difference in the dark green algae that plagues my glass. is this natural? or is my water bad or something?

Thank You for your time and responses.

 

[JRT8783]

Hello all,
After lurking in these forums for some time to answer questions i may have had, i have decided to start asking them myself.

Ill start with the basics, i have a 55 Gallon tank with two high power filters, one heater, gravel, plastic plants, and some decorative rocks. The tank is 3 years old, and for the most part has new fish in it. (Pleco, 2 clown loaches, 1 Black mollie, 1 gourami, and 4 brand new silver dollars). my first question concerns calcium. The back of the hood off the tank, mainly on and around the filters right at the water line, is covered in crusty calcium. Is this a problem? And how can i fix it?

Secondly, My aforementioned pleco who has grown to e around 7 inches, has ever since he was put in the tank, been extremely solitary and hid in the fake log i have in the tank. i rarely see him, and i have no idea what he actually eats, as i have never noticed a difference in the dark green algae that plagues my glass. is this natural? or is my water bad or something?

Thank You for your time and responses.

I got 3 power filters on the back of my 125 and have the same problems with the calcium buildup on all 3 filters and all 3 of my glass tops. Never seen issues from it besides the fact that by the time I finally wanted to clean it off everything, the stuff around the edges was extremely hard to get off so I left it and just got what I could with hot water. Besides looking ugly, hasn't had a negative effect on anything or anyone. The only way I would think of fixing it would be to get rid of the HOB power filters and get canister filters and/or lower the water level of the tank so none of the splash from the filters hit the hood. The splash from mine is loud enough though so I just deal with it.

As for your pleco, what kind is it? There are quite a few that once they get bigger, don't really do anything with the algae. Some do, some don't, would need to know the exact species... and even then, I'm no pleco expert so I won't be much help. Only advice I can give on that is try distracting your clown coaches for a bit and drop an algae wafer by his hideout and see if he eats it.

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[MattCantSwim]

Its a Plecostcomus.
Also while i have you here, my Gourami is the same way. Hes about 3 years old.