Advice For Healthy Looking Plants

[Corrine]

Hello,

I have a Juwel Rio 180, it has the lights that came with the tank.. which is two 100cm 45w T5 .. watever that means! My stocking list is...

4x Angelfish
4x Apistogramma's
20x Rummynose Tetras
4x Plecos

So it will be quite well stocked..

So far i've got

2x anubias nana
1x LARGE bunch of green cabomba
1x Bogwood covered with java moss
1x slate covered with monosolenium tenerum

I've ordered

Straight Vallis to run along the back
some mixed crypts

I have TPN & Easycarbo

Not sure if you'll need anymore info to help me

1)What would you recommend for looking after these plants in these conditions..? (I'm not keen to start with pressurised co2 but will consider all ideas for the future )

a) Best Fertiliser
b) Best liquid carbon
c) Dosage amount and frequency

Thanks Guys

 

[Ps3Steveo]

I'd stick with TPN+ I take it the TPN is the + version as you'll need it? And once you run out of easycarbo buy some Aqua Essentials Aqua Carbon as it's half price but more pure. I'd keep lights at no more than 8 hours a day and dose 5ml of Carbon and 10ml of TPN+ daily, will be better in the long run if you go with EI ferts as it will be sooooo much cheaper. Also vallis and liquid carbon doesn't do well to be honest, so may want to re think that. Most of your plants are ok in low tech conditions but as your lifting is quite good you'll need to dose so defo re think the vallis if it dies, or go pressurised. Do you have good flow tho? If so and you wantvto keep the vallis you'll be ok but going pressurised must have good flow for distribution of CO2.

Hope this helps.

Steve

 

[Corrine]

I'd stick with TPN+ I take it the TPN is the + version as you'll need it? And once you run out of easycarbo buy some Aqua Essentials Aqua Carbon as it's half price but more pure. I'd keep lights at no more than 8 hours a day and dose 5ml of Carbon and 10ml of TPN+ daily, will be better in the long run if you go with EI ferts as it will be sooooo much cheaper. Also vallis and liquid carbon doesn't do well to be honest, so may want to re think that. Most of your plants are ok in low tech conditions but as your lifting is quite good you'll need to dose so defo re think the vallis if it dies, or go pressurised. Do you have good flow tho? If so and you wantvto keep the vallis you'll be ok but going pressurised must have good flow for distribution of CO2.

Hope this helps.

Steve

Thanks for the reply .. I've actually got the normal TPN but as soon as tht runs out i'll start to use the TPN+ (theres hardly any left of the normal TPN) whoops!

1) Can I have the lights on split throughout the day (e.g 7am-10am then 5pm-10pm)?
2) I haven't got a power head or anything.. is this recommended since I will be dosing carbon?
3) cool, ill get the aquaessentials carbon next, is the aquaessentials ferts any good?
4) Is it recommended to do atleast 50% water change a week when dosing carbon?
5) Is it normal to dose that amount ? the instructions say a lot less

Sorry for all the questions lol

 

[Ps3Steveo]

That photo period is fine lots of people split theirs.

What LPH is your filter rated? You need good water movement, if it's bad then grab a Koralia.

Yeah they're both great, I use them and less than half price but I'd buy twice as much nourish+ as carbon as it's double the dose of TPN+ and make sure it's the + one

You don't need a huge water change weekly with carbon, it's more with the ferts but I just keep to my regular routine. The carbon has a 24 hour half life so soon disapears if it's not all used.

Yeah I'd say for yours more like 4ml carbon and 16ml nourish+ or 8ml TPN+ daily, it may sound a lot but it's recommended, I'd go with AE nourish+ tho cheaper

Hope this helps

Steve

 

[SO19Firearms]

Steveo, are you dosing nourish with your nourish+?

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Nope just nourish+ it's an all on one

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Scratch that idea just realised it's not all in one, I'm
going to AE now to get nourish too, yeah you'll need both or just stick with TPN+ as it's an all in one

 

[SO19Firearms]

Nope just nourish+ it's an all on one

I thought that too, that's why I asked.

Scratch that idea just realised it's not all in one, I'm
going to AE now to get nourish too, yeah you'll need both or just stick with TPN+ as it's an all in one

Has it always been 2-part or did he change recently?

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Dunno mate, when I bought it, it never said use with standard nourish, lucky I have some tpn+ left till the nourish turns up. Can't believe they changed the recommendations.

 

[SO19Firearms]

I'll look to see if there's a cache of the site later to see if they changed the spec....