Gfish
Member
- Joined
- 5 Mar 2010
- Messages
- 426
Hi all,
I'm fairly new to this and have gotten into fish species that most folk wouldn't dream of putting in a planted tank. But after much research I set up my 5ft x 2ft x 2.5ft high tank and used onion plants, java fern and anubias only.
The fish I have are:-
6 x Myleus Schomburgkii - black bar silver dollars
6 x Geophagus aff. Altifrons Rio Xingu
3 x L200 Green phantom plecs
1 x L128 Blue phantom plec
Also some lemon tetras, otocinclus and mini ancistrus
All went really well at first with the plants growing extremely well, especially the onion plants and anubias. As I introduced more fish I upped filtration to where I am now with an FX5 and an Eheim 2028. And things steadily went downhill. Well, plants stopped growing, so after discussions with the guy I bought plants from I purchased Tropica and then later easycarbo to help deal with some Blackbush algae. The stuff seems to work but not well enough and vie had to chop and cut leaves back quite alot. My java which was a huge bunch, fairly central and high in the tank, was such a mess that I cut it back to the base. This has showed no sign of returning
Recently after more discussions I started using Tropica+ and although I was very hesitant because the addition of nitrates and phosphates and the fish I keep, in particular the cichlids, I went with advice and have been using it for about 2 weeks now. I've been alternating and trying to find the best regime of dosing but I'm still unsure and I'm fighting off the algae while watching new shoots appear but amongst loads of damaged leaves so its a long way from looking good again. I will cut the old leaves away when I add more plants. I intend doubling the amount of anubias with another type, and adding some water fern perhaps as well as some thin leaved javas.
My lights are 2 T5 tubes 54watt and although its considered a low ish lighted tank, the plants are not in the substrate so most sit closer to the light.
I'm debating on CO2 and I'm wondering if the ferts I'm using at the moment Tropica, Tropica+ and easycarbo are enough?
I don't want to give up on having a planted tank with these fish, and to be honest the fish munching leaves is the smallest problem. I'm struggling to find the balance but feel like algae is always around the corner, and as I fight the algae and cut back, the growth is not near fast enough to keep up.
I will post up a pic of my display soon, but welcome all thoughts and suggestions from the experienced here.
My aim is to have a tank that does not require loads of work, due to time restraints, so minimal ferts would be good, and if I add CO2 then it hopefully will make the work I do worthwhile, as opposed to now, where I'm up to my armpits every night and fighting a losing battle it seems.
The fish do nibble new leaves when still soft so hopefully CO2 increasing growth and adding more plants should prove to be the best way forward.
PLEASE come forward, I'm a bit of a novice here and could do with friendly advice
QUESTIONS I have include:-
Has upping filtration stripped my water of nutrients required?
Does high stocking and big fish make things difficult to maintain a decent planted display?
And the onion plants. Should I use root tablets?
I look forward to chatting with you all and thanks to you in advance for anything that helps.
Cheers
Gavin
I'm fairly new to this and have gotten into fish species that most folk wouldn't dream of putting in a planted tank. But after much research I set up my 5ft x 2ft x 2.5ft high tank and used onion plants, java fern and anubias only.
The fish I have are:-
6 x Myleus Schomburgkii - black bar silver dollars
6 x Geophagus aff. Altifrons Rio Xingu
3 x L200 Green phantom plecs
1 x L128 Blue phantom plec
Also some lemon tetras, otocinclus and mini ancistrus
All went really well at first with the plants growing extremely well, especially the onion plants and anubias. As I introduced more fish I upped filtration to where I am now with an FX5 and an Eheim 2028. And things steadily went downhill. Well, plants stopped growing, so after discussions with the guy I bought plants from I purchased Tropica and then later easycarbo to help deal with some Blackbush algae. The stuff seems to work but not well enough and vie had to chop and cut leaves back quite alot. My java which was a huge bunch, fairly central and high in the tank, was such a mess that I cut it back to the base. This has showed no sign of returning
Recently after more discussions I started using Tropica+ and although I was very hesitant because the addition of nitrates and phosphates and the fish I keep, in particular the cichlids, I went with advice and have been using it for about 2 weeks now. I've been alternating and trying to find the best regime of dosing but I'm still unsure and I'm fighting off the algae while watching new shoots appear but amongst loads of damaged leaves so its a long way from looking good again. I will cut the old leaves away when I add more plants. I intend doubling the amount of anubias with another type, and adding some water fern perhaps as well as some thin leaved javas.
My lights are 2 T5 tubes 54watt and although its considered a low ish lighted tank, the plants are not in the substrate so most sit closer to the light.
I'm debating on CO2 and I'm wondering if the ferts I'm using at the moment Tropica, Tropica+ and easycarbo are enough?
I don't want to give up on having a planted tank with these fish, and to be honest the fish munching leaves is the smallest problem. I'm struggling to find the balance but feel like algae is always around the corner, and as I fight the algae and cut back, the growth is not near fast enough to keep up.
I will post up a pic of my display soon, but welcome all thoughts and suggestions from the experienced here.
My aim is to have a tank that does not require loads of work, due to time restraints, so minimal ferts would be good, and if I add CO2 then it hopefully will make the work I do worthwhile, as opposed to now, where I'm up to my armpits every night and fighting a losing battle it seems.
The fish do nibble new leaves when still soft so hopefully CO2 increasing growth and adding more plants should prove to be the best way forward.
PLEASE come forward, I'm a bit of a novice here and could do with friendly advice
QUESTIONS I have include:-
Has upping filtration stripped my water of nutrients required?
Does high stocking and big fish make things difficult to maintain a decent planted display?
And the onion plants. Should I use root tablets?
I look forward to chatting with you all and thanks to you in advance for anything that helps.
Cheers
Gavin