Goonerboy said:
...Can't seem to upload my photos, so have attached three links here
OK, thanks for the additional data. First things first: Photos aren't uploaded but inserted as a link. On you photo site I right clicked the image and selected "copy image location" then pasted it here. Then I highlighted the URL and selected the "Img" button just above so that the syntax appears as:
Code:
[ATTACH=full]71465[/ATTACH]
The images then appear inline thusly:
Goonerboy said:
I do inject CO2 but not too sure how much to use. Currently just under 1bps. No liquid Carbon.
You need to inject enough to saturate the water to around 30ppm. A dropchecker is a useful tool to get an idea. Please review the article
CO2 MEASUREMENT USING A DROP CHECKER as well as the rest of the articles in the Tutorial section
Goonerboy said:
Substrate was enriched over a year ago.
Presumably using some kind of pill pushed into the substrate? If so then this is further evidence that they are ineffective.
Goonerboy said:
Not really dosing anything.
Therein lies the root of your problem. The combination of your tap water nutrient level plus your root tabs is not providing sufficient nutrition. You need to dose the water column. I always recommend the dosing scheme discussed in the Tutorial
EI DOSING USING DRY SALTS
Goonerboy said:
Filtration is Fluval 205, came with set up. Contains Rowa Phos.
Filters sold with tank setups are notoriously anemic. You need a filtration rating equal to about 10X the volume of your tank per hour. That means a 190L tank should have filtration levels of at or near 1900LPH. If you lack the means to upgrade the filter you can use powerheads to augment your flow.
Goonerboy said:
Fish stocking 4 platies, 2 corys, 7 rummy nosed tetras, 5 leopard danios, 4 copper harlequins, 1 dwarf ancistrus
There is not enough fish to provide the required levels of nutrients.
Goonerboy said:
You should change at least 50% per week.
Goonerboy said:
Ph 8.0, Ammonia 0.6, nitrite zero, nitrate 5.0, PO4 1.5
With the possile exception of the pH value, these numbers are completely meaningless if you are using hobby grade test kits. Throw them away. They are an unnecessary cost and are not serving you at all.
Goonerboy said:
The planting consists of vallisneria torta, elodea densa, vallisneria asiatica, echinodorus tennellus (mini amazon sword) and echinodorus paniculatus (amazon sword). The only plant which seems to be doing ok is the larger amazon sword alhough it is troubled by algae. The others suffer lots of decay and do not seem to be growing, these are also troubled by algae. Have had this batch of plants since early October. Have recently added Hair Grass and an unknown small sword
Yes this is not surprising. These are classic symptoms of starvation. The decay is due to very poor CO2 as a result of the weak injection rate. The algae is due to poor dosing habits.
Your trouble have less to due with low lighting than with low nutrient levels. Fix these issue first and then we can look at lighting. Ironically, the low lighting has actually saved you from more serious problems...
Cheers,