RossMartin
Member
Hi All,
I've had a few planted tanks with no real success but i never give up. I brought the tank 7 years ago and have never had fish in it apart from two ottos who i rescued and then moved to another tank. I seem to be having algae issues that i can't get to the bottom of.
The details are below:
Setup Date: 01/11/2016
Tank: TMC 600 60x45x30
Light: 1 x TMC 1500Ultima at 30% for 6 hours no ramp
Filtration: JBL CristalProfi e1500,
Hardscape: Lava Rock
Substrate: Complete ADA Amazonia powder
CO2: 2Kg fire Extinguisher though with Bazooka diffuser (As my up inline atomizer broke). I'm unable to count the bubbles in the bubble counter. I also add 2.5ml of EasyCarbo each day as well
Water: 100% London Tap Water. 2 x 50% water changes a week
Plants: Monte Carlo, Staurogyne Repens and Didiplis Diandra
Fertilization: EI:
Macro Solution
4tsp Potassium Nitrate
1tsp Potassium Phosphate
6tsp Magnesium Sulphate
500ml Water
Micro Solution
1tsp Chelated Trace Elements
500ml Water
Dosing:
Macro 3x a week. (10ml per 50ltr of Aquarium water) i dose 15ml
Micro 3x a week. (10ml per 50ltr of Aquarium water) i dose 15ml
20-50% weekly water change.
The problem:
I had the lights at 25% on both channels so dropped them to 10% two weeks ago as i was getting algae on the plants. After a bit of reading that the lights might be too low i have upped them to 30%. I removed the plant leaves that had algae on them but they have come back! Not too sure what i am doing wrong.
The tank is like a glass of coke as i have so many bubbles in there. The drop checkers are green/yellow at lights on ..i have no fish or clean up crew so i inject CO2 at a high rate.
I have doubled the Potassium Phosphate to see if that helps with the algae. I have started adding 1ml of Iron on each Micro dosing day as well.
I am thinking of replacing the light with something else as i think it is too powerful, but also too focused to the middle of the tank.
Also i had HC in the tank before the Monte Carlo and like the Monte Carlo it went brown and didn't grow, it did nothing, not even root!
I did run a full length spray bar across the back of the tank with an Up Inline atomizer, however this broke, but i have noticed a quicker CO2 diffusion using the Bazooka and a lily pipe.
I can't help but think there is an issue with the CO2 or lighting. I can see bubbles all around the tank, they get everywhere. I've even considered if the CO2 i am getting isn't CO2 at all!
I also thought could this be an issue with the maturity of the filter. I always use tank water to clean the filters which i do perhaps once every six weeks. I clean the pipes every week. I have added some friendly bacteria into the tank to help as well.
The Full Tank Shot:
The Brown Monte Carlo:
The Brown Repens:
I have added some Limnobium laevigatum as i read that this is a good indicator of problems. I am getting curling leaves on it and leaves appear to be going yellow/transparent and dying. I opnly got it on Friday and can see a decline in it.
Any advice as to why i've got algae on the plants would be greatly appreciated! I really want to get a decent tank going. Just comparring this to some others tanks is really fustrating!.
Kind Regards
Ross
I've had a few planted tanks with no real success but i never give up. I brought the tank 7 years ago and have never had fish in it apart from two ottos who i rescued and then moved to another tank. I seem to be having algae issues that i can't get to the bottom of.
The details are below:
Setup Date: 01/11/2016
Tank: TMC 600 60x45x30
Light: 1 x TMC 1500Ultima at 30% for 6 hours no ramp
Filtration: JBL CristalProfi e1500,
Hardscape: Lava Rock
Substrate: Complete ADA Amazonia powder
CO2: 2Kg fire Extinguisher though with Bazooka diffuser (As my up inline atomizer broke). I'm unable to count the bubbles in the bubble counter. I also add 2.5ml of EasyCarbo each day as well
Water: 100% London Tap Water. 2 x 50% water changes a week
Plants: Monte Carlo, Staurogyne Repens and Didiplis Diandra
Fertilization: EI:
Macro Solution
4tsp Potassium Nitrate
1tsp Potassium Phosphate
6tsp Magnesium Sulphate
500ml Water
Micro Solution
1tsp Chelated Trace Elements
500ml Water
Dosing:
Macro 3x a week. (10ml per 50ltr of Aquarium water) i dose 15ml
Micro 3x a week. (10ml per 50ltr of Aquarium water) i dose 15ml
20-50% weekly water change.
The problem:
I had the lights at 25% on both channels so dropped them to 10% two weeks ago as i was getting algae on the plants. After a bit of reading that the lights might be too low i have upped them to 30%. I removed the plant leaves that had algae on them but they have come back! Not too sure what i am doing wrong.
The tank is like a glass of coke as i have so many bubbles in there. The drop checkers are green/yellow at lights on ..i have no fish or clean up crew so i inject CO2 at a high rate.
I have doubled the Potassium Phosphate to see if that helps with the algae. I have started adding 1ml of Iron on each Micro dosing day as well.
I am thinking of replacing the light with something else as i think it is too powerful, but also too focused to the middle of the tank.
Also i had HC in the tank before the Monte Carlo and like the Monte Carlo it went brown and didn't grow, it did nothing, not even root!
I did run a full length spray bar across the back of the tank with an Up Inline atomizer, however this broke, but i have noticed a quicker CO2 diffusion using the Bazooka and a lily pipe.
I can't help but think there is an issue with the CO2 or lighting. I can see bubbles all around the tank, they get everywhere. I've even considered if the CO2 i am getting isn't CO2 at all!
I also thought could this be an issue with the maturity of the filter. I always use tank water to clean the filters which i do perhaps once every six weeks. I clean the pipes every week. I have added some friendly bacteria into the tank to help as well.
The Full Tank Shot:
The Brown Monte Carlo:
The Brown Repens:
I have added some Limnobium laevigatum as i read that this is a good indicator of problems. I am getting curling leaves on it and leaves appear to be going yellow/transparent and dying. I opnly got it on Friday and can see a decline in it.
Any advice as to why i've got algae on the plants would be greatly appreciated! I really want to get a decent tank going. Just comparring this to some others tanks is really fustrating!.
Kind Regards
Ross