ShropshireLad
New Member
Hi All
First post here,
I have 2 fairly low-tech planted tanks, one 20 months old, one 9months old, and I have been consistently struggling with both plant growth and algae. I’ve done a serious amount of research over that time but I think most of my problems boil down to being lazy with maintenance i.e. water changes and fert/excel dosing. I have a bit more time on my hands now and I want to do things properly and get the tanks looking good. Starting now with weekly maintenance/water changes rather than every 2/3 weeks.
What I’m hoping for here is some advice on correct lighting intensity/photo period, and also fert dosing (I currently have Seachem Flourish Comp so preferably using that). My lights are the Fluval Plant 3.0 so I can adjust them as much as I want.
Tank 1 – Fluval Roma 125L (20 months old)
Dimensions: 80cm x 50cm x 35 cm
Filtration/Circulation: Fluval U3 Internal Filter (600lph). Plus an air stone.
Lighting: Fluval Plant 3.0. (32w, 2350 lumens) Running at about 50%. Approx 40cm from substrate. 6 hours solid with a one hour ramp up/down either side (8 hr total).
CO2/Carbon: Just daily Excel according to bottle instructions. Not been religious with it though.
Substrate: Inert gravel with a few flourish root tabs dotted around
Décor: Plenty of bogwood. Occasional catappa leaf added.
Stocking levels: 15 cardinal tetras. 1 BN Pleco. 1 P. Gourami. 2 Bolivian Rams. Assassin snails.
Plants: All easy Tropica plants. Nothing really growing well apart from a brown coloured Crypt. Sparsely planted. Just added a Phyllantha floating plant. Planning to add more plants like it had when it was originally set-up but would like to get the ones I have growing first!
Algae issues: BBA. When I’m on top of water changes its not so bad. But gets out of hand otherwise.
Tap Water: Hard. High nitrates 30-40ppm. Approx 7.8PH.
Tank water: Still hard but a little softer and around 7ph. High nitrates though (40-60ppm)
Temp: 26c
I eventually want to change the substrate for aqua soil but I want to try and make it work with gravel for now. Any advice on lighting levels/photo period & ferts?
Tank 2 – EA Freshwater 900 – 250L (9 months old) – Tall tank!
Dimensions: 90cm x 70cm x 50cm
Filtration/Circulation: Oase biomaster thermo 600 – using spray bar at one end. Plus an air stone.
Lighting: Fluval Plant 3.0. (46w, 3300 lumens) Running at about 70%. Approx 55cm from substrate. 6 hours solid with a one hour ramp up/down either side (8 hr total). This tank does get a bit of direct sunlight through skylights In the morning.
CO2/Carbon: Just daily Excel according to bottle instructions. As with the other tank though, I’ve not been religious with it.
Substrate: Tropica soil powder.
Décor: Plenty of bogwood. Occasional catappa leaf added. Dragon rock.
Stocking levels: 11 rummynose tetras. 6 sterbai corys. 6 Angels (recently added) 6 ottos. 3 zebra snails.
Plants: All easy Tropica plants. Nothing really growing that well but better than the other tank - Assuming because of the soil. Moderately planted. Planning to add more plants since some have died off.
Algae issues: Major cyanobacteria problem. Just keeps coming back. A bit of BBA.
Tap Water: Hard. High nitrates 30-40ppm. Approx 7.8PH.
Tank water: Still hard but softer and around 6.5-7ph. High nitrates again (40-60ppm)
Temp: 26c
I think due to tank depth that I might need to ramp the light up to full capacity so that it reaches the substrate? My dwarf sag have really dwindled and look terrible. S. Repens has almost completely died off. I’m worried about the BGA/BBA though. Any fert dosing recommendations? Preferably using the Seachem comp. that I already have.
I’m determined to get some good growth and get these plants looking decent!
Thanks in advance.
First post here,
I have 2 fairly low-tech planted tanks, one 20 months old, one 9months old, and I have been consistently struggling with both plant growth and algae. I’ve done a serious amount of research over that time but I think most of my problems boil down to being lazy with maintenance i.e. water changes and fert/excel dosing. I have a bit more time on my hands now and I want to do things properly and get the tanks looking good. Starting now with weekly maintenance/water changes rather than every 2/3 weeks.
What I’m hoping for here is some advice on correct lighting intensity/photo period, and also fert dosing (I currently have Seachem Flourish Comp so preferably using that). My lights are the Fluval Plant 3.0 so I can adjust them as much as I want.
Tank 1 – Fluval Roma 125L (20 months old)
Dimensions: 80cm x 50cm x 35 cm
Filtration/Circulation: Fluval U3 Internal Filter (600lph). Plus an air stone.
Lighting: Fluval Plant 3.0. (32w, 2350 lumens) Running at about 50%. Approx 40cm from substrate. 6 hours solid with a one hour ramp up/down either side (8 hr total).
CO2/Carbon: Just daily Excel according to bottle instructions. Not been religious with it though.
Substrate: Inert gravel with a few flourish root tabs dotted around
Décor: Plenty of bogwood. Occasional catappa leaf added.
Stocking levels: 15 cardinal tetras. 1 BN Pleco. 1 P. Gourami. 2 Bolivian Rams. Assassin snails.
Plants: All easy Tropica plants. Nothing really growing well apart from a brown coloured Crypt. Sparsely planted. Just added a Phyllantha floating plant. Planning to add more plants like it had when it was originally set-up but would like to get the ones I have growing first!
Algae issues: BBA. When I’m on top of water changes its not so bad. But gets out of hand otherwise.
Tap Water: Hard. High nitrates 30-40ppm. Approx 7.8PH.
Tank water: Still hard but a little softer and around 7ph. High nitrates though (40-60ppm)
Temp: 26c
I eventually want to change the substrate for aqua soil but I want to try and make it work with gravel for now. Any advice on lighting levels/photo period & ferts?
Tank 2 – EA Freshwater 900 – 250L (9 months old) – Tall tank!
Dimensions: 90cm x 70cm x 50cm
Filtration/Circulation: Oase biomaster thermo 600 – using spray bar at one end. Plus an air stone.
Lighting: Fluval Plant 3.0. (46w, 3300 lumens) Running at about 70%. Approx 55cm from substrate. 6 hours solid with a one hour ramp up/down either side (8 hr total). This tank does get a bit of direct sunlight through skylights In the morning.
CO2/Carbon: Just daily Excel according to bottle instructions. As with the other tank though, I’ve not been religious with it.
Substrate: Tropica soil powder.
Décor: Plenty of bogwood. Occasional catappa leaf added. Dragon rock.
Stocking levels: 11 rummynose tetras. 6 sterbai corys. 6 Angels (recently added) 6 ottos. 3 zebra snails.
Plants: All easy Tropica plants. Nothing really growing that well but better than the other tank - Assuming because of the soil. Moderately planted. Planning to add more plants since some have died off.
Algae issues: Major cyanobacteria problem. Just keeps coming back. A bit of BBA.
Tap Water: Hard. High nitrates 30-40ppm. Approx 7.8PH.
Tank water: Still hard but softer and around 6.5-7ph. High nitrates again (40-60ppm)
Temp: 26c
I think due to tank depth that I might need to ramp the light up to full capacity so that it reaches the substrate? My dwarf sag have really dwindled and look terrible. S. Repens has almost completely died off. I’m worried about the BGA/BBA though. Any fert dosing recommendations? Preferably using the Seachem comp. that I already have.
I’m determined to get some good growth and get these plants looking decent!
Thanks in advance.