Recent content by TrickySpot

I have pressurized CO2 and now the explanation in the EI article I read, that too little of some nutrients causes algae, makes sense, I was worried that adding mag phos + phos in tap water would be like a free buffet for algae    Been going for a week, so will be interesting to see how the tank...

Hey guys,   How do other EI fertiliser users adjust for Nitrates from fish waste, phosphates in fish food which comes out in waste and phosphates in tap water??  I can see EI is simple enough if you have no fish, but how do you adjust when you do have fish?   Thanks!  

All gone!

Planted tank being broken down - spread the word   Anybody near Heathrow, I'm emptying my 450L planted tank today and have loads of plants to give away. All sorts, don't know the names of most.   Call on 01895 44 99 27 and pop by to get plants if you want!    

I did get an aftermarket LED panel (not installed) which claims to be equivalent to 3 x 50 watt T5 bulbs, which would give me roughly 4x50=200 plus 3x50=150, so 350 watts for 105 gallons (estimating displacement of about 50L through substrate), so that gives 3.3 watts / gallon.....still in the...

Hi,   I have a Juwel Vision 450 with the stock 4 x 50 watt bulbs, which I believe are 2 x 'normal' and 2 x 'full spectrum', i.e. cover blue/green (+- 6400K).   I've got the reflectors on them and with CO2 injection my plants grow like crazy, except some that should grow well, but don't!  ...

H2O2, hydrogen peroxide......I use it on all my fittings and fixtures at 3% concentration and it either breaks the dirt down itself, or makes scrubbing a lot easier! Don't get too much in the tank, not sure of the exact concentration fish can handle, but I personally am very generous and no fish...

  Those were tiny pieces, they've grown like mad! Should I pull them out and split them further now that they've grown? Don't quite like the idea of that, rather just buy two more pots and plant them in...

I've just added a 2nd layer of plants to my 450L, all that remains is the hairgrass to carpet and a load of Pogostemon Helferi to go in on the right...I don't want too much carpeting. Glad to say CO2 is doing its job, plants are beading (just some), so might have to split the input into one for...

LOL   Yes!   IMHO,   1. airstones give the biggest bubbles, 2. Glass diffusers with ceramic discs are next 3. My LFS sells wooden blocks with a air hose attachment, it releases such small bubbles it's more like a mist

DrRob,   I wish somebody could give me a straight answer on the lighting! If using the old method of WPG, then I have 4x54 watt / 118 gallon = 1.83 WPG, which is low lighting I think....   I've switched to the lumen method, which makes better sense, so each bulb is 3800 lumen, which I can double...

  Lights are on for 6 hours a day, CO2 comes on 1 hour before lights, switches off 30 min before they do. There definately aren't enough plants in the tank, but I'm cash poor, rooted plants are so expensive.....and I've got 450L to fill.....   What confuses me is that my nitrates at the moment...

  That makes sense! But, I've had the same issue 3 times now....somewhere are other posts of me moaning that when I add API LeafZone which is just potash and iron, I get terrible algae, so something is consistent.....either my tap water, or something in my setup/regime :)

Hi Guys,   I have my pressurized CO2 all up and running, solenoid works well and level stays very constant at all times. The problem is our local water has a high level of phosphates, and the minute I add ferts, I get algae like nothing before.    I've read that you shouldn't over oxygenate your...