Help

[jakester]

Hi,
I have just set up my planted tank and so far things arn't going to well there is alot of brown algae growing on the leaves and there are quite a few dead or dieing leaves. There is also algae on the glass. I am using the nutrafin Co2 kit which seems to be functioning well and I have around 4WPG I have used tetra substrate complete with a fine black quartz above that. I thought it would be easier than this after buying all the kit! The growth has not been that good either. However there has been some pearling which must been a good sign.

Your help will be really highly appreciated Thanks Jakester.

P.S I have not tested the Co2 yet as the LFS did not has a KH test kit but the plants are pearling so it must be making a difference I suppose.

 

[Esfa]

Gently rub the leaves with algae on them - it should come off.

Cut off the brown/dying leaves to stimulate new growth. If the algae doesnt come off, just cut those leaves off, unless that leaves the plant naked.

Have a bit of patience.

 

[Underwurlde]

@ 4wpg, you must surely be dosing ferts of some kind? What are they & how much.

Your CO2 MUST be STABLE. This is important and kits if not used correctly can be very UNstable. Are you using only one kit?

How heavily planted are you, in otherwords, approximate as to how much substrate coverage your plants provide?

What plants are they?

Cheers,

Andy

 

[jakester]

Hi, thanks for your replys. I read that I shouldn;t start dosing ferts for the first few weeks. I am using one kit but tank is only 13 gallons and its seems to be functioning correclty. The plants haven't spread much yet at the moment they probably cover about 60-70% of the substrate. The plants are the 24 inch collection from plants alive nothing particularly hard to keep I don't think.

Thanks Jakester

 

[Underwurlde]

I read that I shouldn;t start dosing ferts for the first few weeks.

Hand in hand with a reduced lighting period as well!!!!

I am using one kit but tank is only 13 gallons and its seems to be functioning correclty.

Irrespective of size, DIY kits WILL blow hot & cold. Run two in parallel, but antiphase of each other - in otherwords aim to change the mix on one on say Sunday, the mix in the other on say Wednesday: The combined output from the two kits will be somewhat stable.

The plants haven't spread much yet at the moment they probably cover about 60-70% of the substrate.

Good. Adequate coverage then.

The plants are the 24 inch collection from plants alive nothing particularly hard to keep I don't think.

Any idea of the plant names? Regardless, I think these are fast growers (given the chance of course) so good again.

Andy

 

[jakester]

Plants:
Elodea Densa
Aponogetum Crispus
Elecocharis Parvulus
mini Amazon Sword
Bacopa Monnerii
Twisted Vallisneria
Sagittaria Natans
Rotalla Indica
Hygrophylia Polysperma
Cabomba Caroliana
Ludwigia Mullertii
Cryptocoryne Wendtii

So should I start dosing with ferts now?

I can't really afford to get another Co2 kit at the moment and haven't got time to make a DIY one. Its looks quite reliable at the moment producing a steady flow of bubbles. Is there anything you would reccomend to get rid of the algae. I wasn't planning to use the EI method just a basic plant fert of some sort.

Thanks loads for your help.

 

[Underwurlde]

I wasn't planning to use the EI method just a basic plant fert of some sort.

4wpg = EI = NPK & trace dosing. Simple as.

If you don't want to go the EI route, half your light to 2WPG. I can suggest this as you have a good substrate.

So should I start dosing with ferts now?

Match the level of ferts you put in to the lighting levels / lighting period. The level of light drives growth that in turn drives CO2 uptake that in turn drives fert uptake. It's a chain reaction.

Your plants - excellent selection you've got there - many so called 'starter plants' / 'aglae busters'. Get the lighting / CO2 / fert BALANCE sorted out, goodbye algae. At the mo, you have an UN-balanced tank, hence algae IMHO...

Andy

 

[jakester]

Thanks for you help it is really appreciated! How should I go about balancing it should I dose with my nutrafin plant fert now or wait a while. How do I match the fert level to lighting. Sorry, I just find this incredibly confusing.

 

[Underwurlde]

What lighting period do you currently run?

Which Nutrafin product do you use? Is it 'NutraFin Plant Gro'?

Andy

 

[jakester]

I have only changed the tank from a normal tropical fish tank into a planted tank a few days ago so I don't have set lighting period yet. The plant food is Nutrafin Plant Gro but its only the sample that came with the Co2 kit.(enough for 46 uk gallons)

 

[Underwurlde]

Oh, and one more question (sorry forgot to ask):

Decsion time: Are you going the EI route (easier, but more expensive / higher maintenance) or not?

Andy

 

[jakester]

Well, will I still be able to grow most of the plants in the list I posted and get healthy results?

 

[Underwurlde]

For a step down from EI with a kind of 'hybrid' approach in mind: @2WPG, minimal weekly only fert dosing, 10-15ppm CO2, monthly 20% water changes, NO gravel vaccing:

Elodea Densa - definately.
Aponogetum Crispus - ? possibly, should be OK
Elecocharis Parvulus - pretty sure it will be OK.
mini Amazon Sword - definately.
Bacopa Monnerii - definately.
Twisted Vallisneria - definately.
Sagittaria Natans -? possibly - should be OK
Rotalla Indica - definately.
Hygrophylia Polysperma - definately.
Cabomba Caroliana - definately.
Ludwigia Mullertii - definately.
Cryptocoryne Wendtii - definately.

Nothing on your list of plants is ringing any alarm bells in my mind, like I said, excellent selection of plants you've got there.

Andy

 

[nry]

4wpg and CO2 over a 13 gallon tank is way way loads of light - 1.5 up to 2wpg would be a better level, with 1.5wpg being a better level if you do not want to go the EI route. Move over this, and things are open for problems - the Nutrafin plant feed is not sufficient for your lighting level, it is more aimed at a low light, ~1wpg tank.

1.5-2wpg is more than enough to grow pretty much anything in a 13-gallon tank which is ~the same size as my 15-gallon (24" x 12" x 12"), and to be honest I am wondering longer term if my 2wpg is a bit high for me and am looking into 1.5wpg later down the line (months off). High light requires high stability and unfortunately you will not manage that easily with DIY CO2 and no EI dosing/water changes.

 

[jakester]

I have two lights at the moment one 36 watt T5 and one 15 watt T8 I can't get 2WPG with either of them. If I had 3WPG and a really good fert would I be alright.

Oh, just read your post.

What do you think I should do. I didn't realise that I had too much light.