The Puffer Forum

Hey I have been on the link and I do have a couple of java ferns and they have bits the "die" then grow back all the time could this be it??

I myself don't know too much about plants so I can't answer that fully. What exactly seems to be your problem with your gravel though? Is there just a lot of waste in it? or is your water really bad?

Just that the gravel gets dirty and once I have cleaned it it seems to get worse let I have checked my water and have had 2 stores check it to with no reasons for it to be to water condition

Can you take a picture of your gravel so I can see the type it is?

Is there a lot of leftover food?

ON soapbox: warning, grump alert!

Please do not advertise your ignorance. Life on this planet is made up of - gasp! - chemicals. We are based on carbon-chain chemicals and use a very wide variety of chemicals constantly and necessarily in our support of our lives. We are chemical, we use chemicals, we require chemicals.

Chemical is a label. It is in and of itself non-judgmental. That is of great significance. There is no value attached or inherent in the term "chemical" - it is neither good nor bad. Some, many, "chemicals" are absolutely required to support life. Certain chemicals are toxic to some life forms - but not to all. Or they may be toxic at certain concentrations, but required at lower concentrations. If you damn all chemicals you are announcing quite plainly that you have no concept of what you are talking about and thus any sensible person should absolutely ignore whatever judgement you offer.

As a form of short-hand, many aquarium hobbyists damn the use of chemicals in tanks. What they really are attempting to say is the use of quick fixes, magic elixirs, snake oils if you will - all these may be criticized freely. Yes, they may well be garbage. Yes, they may help or they may harm. But it is not the fact that they are chemicals that damns them, it is that they may waste your money and provide no or relatively valueless aid to your tank and its inhabitants. Those quick-fixes are often properly damned. But it is not the fact they are made up of chemicals that damns them, it is they are ineffective that is the problem, and frequently are used in hope with little chance of help. That can easily waste money and time and that in and of itself may be damaging.

Please do make statements such as "I never use chemicals in my tanks". That is a lie. Do use fish food? Food is and contains chemicals. Do you use agents to neutralize water purification agents? They are chemicals. Do you use salt (sodium chloride)? It is a chemical;. Marione mix? That is a very complex mixture of chemicals. Buffers? They are chemicals.

Effectivity in tanks is not based on whether or not anything you use in tanks is or is not a chemical. Effectivity, usefulness, is based on whether or not a specified material is appropriate and safe for aquatic use. That is totally unrelated to whether or not it is a chemical.

Off soap box, return to your regular programing.