Complete Stripdown - Want To Avoid Algae

[Spiceweasel69]

I have juwel 260 Vision. Bought new 3d background so i need to do a stripdown anyway, and get rid of a few fish.

What i want to do is avoid algae on startup, so i need to make sure i put in a lotta fast growers right? As fast growers are algaes enemy. Iv cut mu light to 10 hours a day, and currently have about 1.2 WPG (even tho i believe the WPG rule is flawed, and should take into consideration surface area, not volume). So shoild i be using EI from the start, otherwise i was gonna get the all in one fert bags from aquaessentials that you drop in and lasts 3 months odd.

Again, with new setup i want to avoid algae outbreak. What do you suggest?

 

[Ginge]

I have juwel 260 Vision. Bought new 3d background so i need to do a stripdown anyway, and get rid of a few fish.

What i want to do is avoid algae on startup, so i need to make sure i put in a lotta fast growers right? As fast growers are algaes enemy. Iv cut mu light to 10 hours a day, and currently have about 1.2 WPG (even tho i believe the WPG rule is flawed, and should take into consideration surface area, not volume). So shoild i be using EI from the start, otherwise i was gonna get the all in one fert bags from aquaessentials that you drop in and lasts 3 months odd.

Again, with new setup i want to avoid algae outbreak. What do you suggest?

Hi spicewealel im on hayling island and up until now i had decided on EI but im not muse of my water stats at the moment and am not sure if its worth it if i already have good levels.
How much phosphate and nitrate is in your tapwater?
I think you are right about the fast growers.

 

[robjack]

I'm relatively new to the wonderful world of planted tanks, but through reading and in my experiences, the main thing is, as you said, lots of fast growers. Some say >50% of the substrate should be covered in fast growers, but in my experience I've been able to avoid serious algae with less - maybe if I had covered 50%, I would have got absolutely no algae whatsoever!

Other than that, not having a long photoperiod I think would help, maybe 8 hours to start off? You can always add a siesta, say 4-2-4 or 5-2-5.

Fertilising seems to be a mixed bag - some say add ferts from the start, others say non, others half dosage. (I'm talking about all-in-one stuff, though, and no nothing about EI).

With your lighting levels, algae shouldn't be *that* much of a problem anyway.

Good luck, and happy planting

Hope this helps,

Rob.

 

[George Farmer]

I wouldn't recommend EI in a non-CO2, low light tank. Unless you have added extra tubes to your Juwel it is low light - wpg aside.

The Greenline bags may work well for your set-up, I have no experience in them. Test your NO3 and PO4 to see if they go deficient, which I doubt with no CO2.

Plant as heavily as you can to avoid algae. The pinned algae thread has some good suggestions ref. techniques and species.

Try to keep as much filter bacteria alive as possible during your stripdown. Poor biological filtration i.e. new set-ups is a big cause of algae due to ammonium spikes.

 

[Spiceweasel69]

I started DIY co2 with good results a while ago, and plan to start it again, or get a co2 injector. I saw these electrolysis things that create co2 in the water, but im a bit sceptical.

I havent added new tubes, as theres no room in the Vision 260 hood, but id love to hear if/how it can be done.

Im gonna go for a fair few floating plants too, as theyre good at keeping algae at bay, but need to ensure they dont block too much light.

Filter will still be running, on a smaller tank, so bacteria wont know any difference.

 

[Ginge]

Dan just out of intrest what are you nirtates and phosphates out of the tap??? Because you live near me.

 

[Spiceweasel69]

Dan?

 

[Ginge]

Dan?

Sorry i was typing 1 thing and thinking another and got mixed up. About the water stats

 

[Spiceweasel69]

Hmm. Need to check straight out of tap. Will do and post as soon as i can. How are yours on the island?

 

[Ginge]

Im not to sure TBH i dont think my test kit is very good.

 

[Spiceweasel69]

background had arrived. I will be transferring fish to another tank Sat morning and beginning the stripdown.
Im not gonna EI. My plan is to get some of those fert bags from greenline and just dump one in the tank somewhere where it cant be seen, and gonna get a plant collection from there.

Anyone know how fast they are at delivery?

 

[Silverlady]

Hi,i bought a collection from Greenline when my tank was first set up.I think it came within 48 hours of ordering.Very pleased with it, but it did come with snails on the plants.Well the eggs anyway.

 

[plantbrain]

With lower light tanks, you can get away without using EI. Dosing once, twice a week very ligthly and then using the substrate can work and be a pretty easy routine.

If you like substrate ferts, simply take some decent top soil, add a little water, now you have "mud".
Use an ice tray, add mud to that, freeze.
Take mud cubes out and place into the substrate deeply.

Lots of cheaper than anything you might buy.
Adds what plants needs.

Don't add too much at once etc, basic things like that, you should do fine.
In any planted tanks as suggested...........PACK THE TANK WITH PLANTS from the 1st day!

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[Themuleous]

Interesting idea Tom as you say million times cheaper than root tabs!

 

[Chris_Wood]

Hi Spiceweasle,

How's the new background... ...hope you are as happy with it as I am with mine!

Go for the EI, with CO2! I have no algal problems, just lots opf plants!

See my 'planted RIO 125' for details (and pictures) of modding the lights on a Juwel RIO 125.

Have fun with the re-build and don't forget to silicone the backgournd in well!

CW