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  1. D

    My Fishless Cycle And Flourish Excel

    Vancar, I have absolutely no idea why these people find it hard to grasp the concept of fishless cycle with no lights, and plant at the end of the cycle. I know of nobody at the top of the planted tank side of things that recommends cycling tanks with ammonia that have plants present. Takashi...
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    My Fishless Cycle And Flourish Excel

    Excel contains polycycloglutaracetal, if I remember correctly. It is a polymerized isomer of gluteraldehyde, and acts as a source of carbon for your plants. It contains no ammonia or nitrates. Cycling a planted tank. Sigh! :-( Dave.
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    So Confused

    Just adding the plants and promoting their growth will see your tank processing ammonia, and without you ever seeing any nitrite. Plants export several beneficial nutrients such as hydrocarbons that will feed a bacteria colony. These colonies do not live off ammonia alone. The plants will also...
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    Horrible Black Stuff In Tank. Algae?

    Going by the OP`s description, it sounds like BGA in a planted tank. Causes: low nitrates, poor circulation, poor CO2, inadequate tank maintenance. It often originates in the substrate where light hits it. Solution: clean out as much as you can, carry out as big a water change as is possible...
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    Horrible Black Stuff In Tank. Algae?

    They do different jobs. Purigen gives crystal clear water and is very efficient at removing tannins and other discolourants. I can fill a tank with wood and never see a yellow/brown tinge. I buy it in bags for convenience. Zeolite removes ammonia and helps keep a new tank algae free. It later...
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    Horrible Black Stuff In Tank. Algae?

    Zeolite is the answer for zero diatoms. :good: Dave.
  7. D

    The Yeast Co2 Method

    The tank is looking really good Andy! You may not get me on DIY CO2, but I know where to go for some "needle leaf" Java fern. ;) Dave.
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    Horrible Black Stuff In Tank. Algae?

    First off, I apologise for this. I meant no offence, and never realised you use EI dosing. Exactly. The figures given in the sticky are nominal for high light. Those using less light can adjust the amount they use downwards. Neither of my tanks are dosed full EI, as there is no need...
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    Horrible Black Stuff In Tank. Algae?

    Planted tanks are not a balancing act. All we need to do is supply all requirements, wih the exception of light, in excess. Otherwise, how would an EI tank work? Algae does not feed off excess nutrients, it feeds off whatever is there, including extremely low fert situations where plants will...
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    Ammonia Remover

    Alchemist, you are right regarding quantities. It is very difficult to say how much is needed, but I generally go with a tray full. it is worth noting, however, that i don`t actually add Zeolite to keep ammonia down for fish, I have other uses in planted tanks. Where we disagree is in the...
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    Horrible Black Stuff In Tank. Algae?

    I know what you mean WD. The photos look like diatoms, but the OP`s description of a black film suggests BGA. Perhaps both types, plus others are present. Dave.
  12. D

    Horrible Black Stuff In Tank. Algae?

    The two links provided seem to be giving different advice. The first link to BGA is, I would say personally, very good. The second one, blaming nitrates and phosphates is, in my opinion, utter drivel that has been holding the hobby back for a while. One other thing to consider with BGA is that...
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    Ammonia Remover

    This is because the Zeolite is in the filter. It has a huge surface area, making it an excellent media for a bacteria colony. The fact that it adsorbs ammonia from the water is great for the fish, and it is still available to the bacteria. I always use Zeolite in a new tank. When you think...
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    Ammonia Remover

    Isn`t this a bit of a contradiction? Using ammonia removing media (Zeolite for instance) leaves the ammonia in the filter, available to the bacteria. Chucking ammonia down the loo makes the ammonia unavailable. However, water changes are definitely the order of the day, along with leaving the...
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    Seachem Flourish Vs Tropica Plant Nutrition

    Migdem, I can not help but notice that you are asking for a lot of trouble with this set up. You have a lot of light for a tank that size, and will need to fully commit to a proper dosing schedule. My advice is to read up on the EI dosing method. It is infinitely easier to execute than people...
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    Siesta Lightning Time

    Light levels are not driven by CO2 levels. Adding more CO2 will improve plant growth to a certain extent, but only to an amount determined by your current light levels. Adding more CO2 beyond this limitation simply becomes a waste of CO2. Adding more light, howvever, may make it necessary to add...
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    Siesta Lightning Time

    Have a read of this: http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/226625-split-lighting-algae/ Ignore comment #4, I have since become a tad more enlightened. Dave.
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    My Doomed Tetra Tank...

    Ah, but we can. It has been done many times by many people, myself included. Recommending fast growers in large numbers from the start is just a safety net endorsed by planted tank forums for people using this method for the first time. I have started tanks with Java ferns and mosses and a low...
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    Cycle Crash (Again!)

    Thanks for trusting me Shoc, many don`t. :sad: If you are using pressurised, your CO2 levels almost certainly won`t be swinging. Make sure you bring the CO2 on two hours before the lights come on, and turn it off an hour or two before lights out. Increase the injection rate slowly over the...
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    Vesicularia Dubyana 'christmas'

    For the record, Taxiphyllum barbieri is Java moss, and Vesicularia dubyana is Singapore moss. Java moss is just about the most falsely identified, and wrongly named plant around. Neither type of moss should be difficult to keep. Dave.

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