It's been awhile since I've kept a tank, about 7 years at the moment, and I've been feeling the urge to start again.
Last time I tried a planted tank, it didn't end well.
https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/having-another-bash.11779/
I had T5 lighting, CO2 and mixed my own fertilizers, but no matter what I tried, I just ended up with 1 big algae mess.
My water isn't very good and quite hard.
I did a API lquid test on my nitrates on there are more 20ppm.
This is what my water company had to say.
I was quite disappointed with my tank last time, I followed guides and advice, but I had was a big mess that left me with nothing but shame.
This time I was original thinking of keeping African Cichlids and just staying away from plants. But part of me wants to try plants again, because I know I will miss them.
Am I p***ing in the wind trying to keep plants in my water? Is there something different I could try, or different equiptment this time around?
I don't want to end up with this again
Last time I tried a planted tank, it didn't end well.
https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/having-another-bash.11779/
I had T5 lighting, CO2 and mixed my own fertilizers, but no matter what I tried, I just ended up with 1 big algae mess.
My water isn't very good and quite hard.
I did a API lquid test on my nitrates on there are more 20ppm.
This is what my water company had to say.
http://cdn.southeastwater.co.uk/Files/West Ashford.pdfYour water hardness
271 mg/l CaCO₃
19.00 English degrees or degrees clark
27.14 French degrees
15.20 German degrees
2.71 mmol/l
15.20 Grains per US gallon
19.00 Grains per British Gallon
This means your water is classified as hard
I was quite disappointed with my tank last time, I followed guides and advice, but I had was a big mess that left me with nothing but shame.
This time I was original thinking of keeping African Cichlids and just staying away from plants. But part of me wants to try plants again, because I know I will miss them.
Am I p***ing in the wind trying to keep plants in my water? Is there something different I could try, or different equiptment this time around?
I don't want to end up with this again