Flourite And Ferts

[Diesel Trout]

I have a 72 gallon bowfront with flourite black sand as my substrate. I just added plants three days ago: 3x vallis, 2X amazon swords, 3X cabomba. Right now I am nearing the end of my fishless cycle (I hope) so there are just plants, rocks and bogwood.

When I planted I did not added any fertilizer as I am aware that the flourite contains many minerals. However the vallis is looking kind of glassy and not very healthy which as I understand, with my very limited knowledge of planted tanks, usually indicates iron deficiency. Are my vallis just in shock from the new tank or should I add fertilizers to give them a boost? The other plants look pretty good so far.

My lighting is 130 watts Satellite with Smartpaq actinic bulbs and I am not running CO2.

Thanks.

 

[mdwheeler]

I have a 72 gallon bowfront with flourite black sand as my substrate. I just added plants three days ago: 3x vallis, 2X amazon swords, 3X cabomba. Right now I am nearing the end of my fishless cycle (I hope) so there are just plants, rocks and bogwood.

When I planted I did not added any fertilizer as I am aware that the flourite contains many minerals. However the vallis is looking kind of glassy and not very healthy which as I understand, with my very limited knowledge of planted tanks, usually indicates iron deficiency. Are my vallis just in shock from the new tank or should I add fertilizers to give them a boost? The other plants look pretty good so far.

My lighting is 130 watts Satellite with Smartpaq actinic bulbs and I am not running CO2.

Thanks.

you DEFINITELY need to add some kind of organic carbon to keep your plants going!!! As well as other fertilizer! If you can you need to get a co2 system.

 

[Diesel Trout]

you DEFINITELY need to add some kind of organic carbon to keep your plants going!!! As well as other fertilizer! If you can you need to get a co2 system.

I found a bottle of fertilizer but it had a date of 2005 on it so I think I will not use it and buy some new stuff.

Please explain why I need a CO2 system. Many people on this board seem to do fine without one.

 

[aaronnorth]

because high light = fast growth. To keep up with the fast growth more nutrients & CO2 is needed, in low light tanks, there is enough nutrients usually from the fish waste, and CO2 isnt needed due to slow growth.

 

[Diesel Trout]

because high light = fast growth. To keep up with the fast growth more nutrients & CO2 is needed, in low light tanks, there is enough nutrients usually from the fish waste, and CO2 isnt needed due to slow growth.

Is 2 WPG considered high light?

Bought some Flourish today. See if that helps my vallis.

 

[aaronnorth]

unfortunatley yes, are they T5 or T8?

 

[Diesel Trout]

unfortunatley yes, are they T5 or T8?

Not sure. They are Smartpaq bulbs, 10000k/460nm, u-shaped with the daylight bulb on one side and the blue bulb on the other. The pins are at one end only. They came with the Satellite 24-hour lighting system.

 

[aaronnorth]

it will be a power compact T5 then,
As above, i would add some liquid carbon, or better still pressurized CO2 system. You need some fertilisers in the water column too


http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=298133

 

[Diesel Trout]

it will be a power compact T5 then,
As above, i would add some liquid carbon, or better still pressurized CO2 system. You need some fertilisers in the water column too


[URL="http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=298133"]http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=298133[/URL]

Believe it or not I did read (most) of your Back to Basics post previously, I just wasn't sure how much of it applied to me (i.e. lighting levels). Thanks for the info.