Hi all,
This is my first post on the forum and I am hoping you can help me figure out what is going on in my aquarium. I have been in the hobby for about 2 years and am having a great time learning what it takes to keep a planted tank, but I have been having several issues for the past 3-4 months with plants surviving for 3-5 weeks, and then having stunted growth and damaged lower growth and a good case of GSA on the plant leaves.
Here are my aquarium specifications:
Volume:
-Juwel Rio 180L (101x41x50cm)
Lighting:
-2x 45" T5 (removed reflectors because I was having a GSA problem on my hardscape)
-Photoperiod 6 hours per day
Filtration:
-1x Eheim eXperience 350
-1x Eheim eXperience 150
-1x 1000l/h powerhead
CO2:
-Pressurized CO2 using ceramic diffuser. Running 260bpm. Turned CO2 up until the fish were only at the top and then dialed it slightly back.
Dosing:
-M/W/F 36ml Aqua Rebell Estimative Index (weekly totals 22.5ppm NO3, 4.15ppm PO4,
17.1ppm K)
-T/T/S 3.6ml Easy Life Ferro (0,6ppm Fe)
-Root Tabs: JBL 7Balls under all root Feeders
-I took the advice of several members here and burned my test kits, so I'm not able to tell you what ppm is currently in the tank , but I am very consistant with my dosing and water changes.
Substrate:
-Inert small gravel (1-2mm) over JBL ProFlora Aquabasis Plus
Plants:
-Alternanthera Reineckii Mini (planted approx. 3 months ago)
-Microsorium Pteropus
-Anubias Barteri Nana
-Staurogyne Repens (planted 10 days ago)
-Cryptocoryne Moehlmannii (planted approx. 3 months ago)
-Hygrophila Siamensis 53b (planted approx. 3 months ago)
-Rotala H’ra Vietnam (planted 10 days ago)
-Ludwigia Repens Rubin (planted 10 days ago)
Stock:
-12 Mollies/Platys (15-20 Fry)
-9 Amano Shrimp
-7 Cherry Shrimp
-1 Bristlenose Pleco
-15-20 small Pest Snails
I do a 50% water change every week on Sundays and clean my filters once every two months on an alternating schedule. I believe I have optimized my flow as best I can. There are CO2 bubbles reaching all parts of the tank and my drop checker which is in an area of lower flow, is lime green/yellow around 2-2.5 hours into the photoperiod.
The plants seem to take off and grow right after planting, but 4-5 weeks in I start noticing smaller growth and leaves on the bottom of the plant developing pinholes and other types of damage. The GSA growth on the leaves has seemed to stop since I removed the reflectors from my lights, but it is still appearing on my Ohko stone. Approx. 10 days ago I planted an some in-vitro Rotala H’Ra and am already noticing the same type of damage on the lower leaves…
Does anyone have an idea what this could be? I know mechanical damage is usually the result of a lack of CO2, but judging by the reaction of my fish as well as my “lower” levels of lighting, I would say I have a sufficient level??
I am willing to try anything here to get back the rapid growth I had when I started this aquarium approx. 12 months ago. Any suggestions are much appreciated. I have attached a few pictures to better show the types of damage I am describing as well as one of the entire aquarium.
Thanks in advance,
Ryan
This is my first post on the forum and I am hoping you can help me figure out what is going on in my aquarium. I have been in the hobby for about 2 years and am having a great time learning what it takes to keep a planted tank, but I have been having several issues for the past 3-4 months with plants surviving for 3-5 weeks, and then having stunted growth and damaged lower growth and a good case of GSA on the plant leaves.
Here are my aquarium specifications:
Volume:
-Juwel Rio 180L (101x41x50cm)
Lighting:
-2x 45" T5 (removed reflectors because I was having a GSA problem on my hardscape)
-Photoperiod 6 hours per day
Filtration:
-1x Eheim eXperience 350
-1x Eheim eXperience 150
-1x 1000l/h powerhead
CO2:
-Pressurized CO2 using ceramic diffuser. Running 260bpm. Turned CO2 up until the fish were only at the top and then dialed it slightly back.
Dosing:
-M/W/F 36ml Aqua Rebell Estimative Index (weekly totals 22.5ppm NO3, 4.15ppm PO4,
17.1ppm K)
-T/T/S 3.6ml Easy Life Ferro (0,6ppm Fe)
-Root Tabs: JBL 7Balls under all root Feeders
-I took the advice of several members here and burned my test kits, so I'm not able to tell you what ppm is currently in the tank , but I am very consistant with my dosing and water changes.
Substrate:
-Inert small gravel (1-2mm) over JBL ProFlora Aquabasis Plus
Plants:
-Alternanthera Reineckii Mini (planted approx. 3 months ago)
-Microsorium Pteropus
-Anubias Barteri Nana
-Staurogyne Repens (planted 10 days ago)
-Cryptocoryne Moehlmannii (planted approx. 3 months ago)
-Hygrophila Siamensis 53b (planted approx. 3 months ago)
-Rotala H’ra Vietnam (planted 10 days ago)
-Ludwigia Repens Rubin (planted 10 days ago)
Stock:
-12 Mollies/Platys (15-20 Fry)
-9 Amano Shrimp
-7 Cherry Shrimp
-1 Bristlenose Pleco
-15-20 small Pest Snails
I do a 50% water change every week on Sundays and clean my filters once every two months on an alternating schedule. I believe I have optimized my flow as best I can. There are CO2 bubbles reaching all parts of the tank and my drop checker which is in an area of lower flow, is lime green/yellow around 2-2.5 hours into the photoperiod.
The plants seem to take off and grow right after planting, but 4-5 weeks in I start noticing smaller growth and leaves on the bottom of the plant developing pinholes and other types of damage. The GSA growth on the leaves has seemed to stop since I removed the reflectors from my lights, but it is still appearing on my Ohko stone. Approx. 10 days ago I planted an some in-vitro Rotala H’Ra and am already noticing the same type of damage on the lower leaves…
Does anyone have an idea what this could be? I know mechanical damage is usually the result of a lack of CO2, but judging by the reaction of my fish as well as my “lower” levels of lighting, I would say I have a sufficient level??
I am willing to try anything here to get back the rapid growth I had when I started this aquarium approx. 12 months ago. Any suggestions are much appreciated. I have attached a few pictures to better show the types of damage I am describing as well as one of the entire aquarium.
Thanks in advance,
Ryan
Attachments
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Alternanthera Reineckii Mini.jpg1.2 MB · Views: 260
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Alternanthera Reineckii Mini2.jpg1.3 MB · Views: 258
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GSA on Ohko Stone.jpg1.7 MB · Views: 227
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Hygrophila Siamensis 53b.jpg1.2 MB · Views: 223
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Hygrophilia Siamensis 53b2.jpg1.3 MB · Views: 228
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Microsorium Pteropus.jpg930.5 KB · Views: 218
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Staurogyne Repens.jpg1.1 MB · Views: 202
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Styurogyne Repens2.jpg1.2 MB · Views: 225