I'm Soooo Confused!

[Too Fast]

About 3 weeks ago I upgraded my tank from a 135L with 1WPG T5 lighting to a 180L with 1WPG T5 lighting. I planted it out with existing plants and left it for a week or so. Having posted on here about which plants to put in as I was wanting more cover I was reccomended java fern and Amazon swords. Off I went to the lfs where I purchased some as well as more of what I already have to bulk things up abit. On planting them I noticed that I have what I've now discovered to be BBA, this was something I noticed starting in small quantities on the bogwood when changing the tanks but just picked it off not knowing anything about it. It is now back to small levels again but is obviously increasing - its now on 1 plant as well as the bogwood!

Having read the "James' planted tank - algae guide" is says that in low light tanks it is often caused by "changing CO2 levels" What does this mean? What causes it to change? i.e. Do I have too little CO2?, Too much?, or am I doing too many water changes? - I do 10%once a week at the moment.

I have read that "Overdosing Flourish Excel will clear it up" Is this the best method for me to try? Should I boil the bogwwod and return it to the tank?

With me having planted my tank up to what I intend to leave it as will that help with the CO2 and overall stablity of the system?

Should I look at a weekly regeme of putting ferts in the tank and if so what and how often?

My filter has a flow rate of 680LPH on a 180L tank. I now know that this is not really sufficient so am Looking at upgrading. What flow rate should I be looking at? - I am thinking of going to 1300LPH or more, does this make a difference?

How is all this going to affect the fish?

Sorry that there are lots of questions and that I have waffled on but as you can probably tell I'm really confused and need help.

Any help is much appreciated.

 

[ian]

About 3 weeks ago I upgraded my tank from a 135L with 1WPG T5 lighting to a 180L with 1WPG T5 lighting.

the WPG rule doesn't really apply with T5 bulbs, what is your wattage on your bulbs?

Having read the "James' planted tank - algae guide" is says that in low light tanks it is often caused by "changing CO2 levels" What does this mean? What causes it to change? i.e. Do I have too little CO2?, Too much?, or am I doing too many water changes? - I do 10%once a week at the moment.

first off are you dosing anything at the moment?
in tanks that are of a higher light, C02 fluctates as it gets used up quickly. IMO there is probably little C02 as BBA will thrive on small amounts. 20% water change weekly is better, if dosing ferts and carbon.

I have read that "Overdosing Flourish Excel will clear it up" Is this the best method for me to try? Should I boil the bogwwod and return it to the tank?

If it's not taken over the tank, then in my experience spot dosing is better (switching filter of whilst doing so). Using a pipette or syringe and squirting the normal amount over the effected areas. OD ing a bit is OK imo, but it's quite dangerous stuff.

With me having planted my tank up to what I intend to leave it as will that help with the CO2 and overall stablity of the system?

this all depends on the lighting, ferts ect ect

Should I look at a weekly regeme of putting ferts in the tank and if so what and how often?

yes, you should. Give us a complete list of plants you have.

My filter has a flow rate of 680LPH on a 180L tank. I now know that this is not really sufficient so am Looking at upgrading. What flow rate should I be looking at? - I am thinking of going to 1300LPH or more, does this make a difference?

thats about 4 times turnover at max, we in the planted side look for at least 10x turnover as this will give just enough to push those ferts and C02 all around the tank, leaving no dead spots. You don't have to get a new filter to do this, a powerhead can give you enough (if not better IMO) circulation around a tank

How is all this going to affect the fish?

the fish will be better off as your creating a ecosystem, if the plants are healthy, the fish will be to. A plant is the best test kit someone can ever buy.

 

[Too Fast]

About 3 weeks ago I upgraded my tank from a 135L with 1WPG T5 lighting to a 180L with 1WPG T5 lighting.

the WPG rule doesn't really apply with T5 bulbs, what is your wattage on your bulbs?

Having read the "James' planted tank - algae guide" is says that in low light tanks it is often caused by "changing CO2 levels" What does this mean? What causes it to change? i.e. Do I have too little CO2?, Too much?, or am I doing too many water changes? - I do 10%once a week at the moment.

first off are you dosing anything at the moment?
in tanks that are of a higher light, C02 fluctates as it gets used up quickly. IMO there is probably little C02 as BBA will thrive on small amounts. 20% water change weekly is better, if dosing ferts and carbon.

I have read that "Overdosing Flourish Excel will clear it up" Is this the best method for me to try? Should I boil the bogwwod and return it to the tank?

If it's not taken over the tank, then in my experience spot dosing is better (switching filter of whilst doing so). Using a pipette or syringe and squirting the normal amount over the effected areas. OD ing a bit is OK imo, but it's quite dangerous stuff.

With me having planted my tank up to what I intend to leave it as will that help with the CO2 and overall stablity of the system?

this all depends on the lighting, ferts ect ect

Should I look at a weekly regeme of putting ferts in the tank and if so what and how often?

yes, you should. Give us a complete list of plants you have.

My filter has a flow rate of 680LPH on a 180L tank. I now know that this is not really sufficient so am Looking at upgrading. What flow rate should I be looking at? - I am thinking of going to 1300LPH or more, does this make a difference?

thats about 4 times turnover at max, we in the planted side look for at least 10x turnover as this will give just enough to push those ferts and C02 all around the tank, leaving no dead spots. You don't have to get a new filter to do this, a powerhead can give you enough (if not better IMO) circulation around a tank

How is all this going to affect the fish?

the fish will be better off as your creating a ecosystem, if the plants are healthy, the fish will be to. A plant is the best test kit someone can ever buy.

I have 2 x 24 Watt bulbs in the tank. I have never used any ferts and tbh, I have no idea what plants I have as the lfs I use just have them in tanks unlabled . The only ones I know are the amazon swords and the java fern. Here are photos I've just taken so hopefully you might be able to help from that.

As far as a powerhead goes I'm looking at upping filtration anyway (with a view to a much larger tank in 2-3years as well as upping the stock of my current tank) so was looking at either a fluval 405 or a Fx5. I guess this would mean I wouldn't need to look at a powerhead.

 

[ian]

nice looking tank.

do all fluval tanks come inthat syle where the filter comes through the bottom?

right, the plants you have in there are Vallis (at the back), java fern (back left), echinodorus bleheri (sword, back right), Cryptocoryne beckettii (front left and right) and i think its a Cryptocoryne willisii in the middle.

As for pwerhead if you're upgrading to a larger filter, no you won't need a powerhead at present.

I would start using some ferts if i was you, i would also start to does some flourish excel.

 

[Too Fast]

Thanks for the plant ID's.

I don't know about all fluval but it's a standard feature on the 2 or 3 I looked at. It's what made me buy it as I think it looks alot tidier than running the pipes over the back.

What ferts would you reccomend? and how often?

 

[ian]

well all of your plants are slow growers, hopefully the excel will balance out the C02 problem and help with the BBA. Have you got a large stocking in the tank? If its quite low i would dose some Tropica Plant Nutrition plus (fert)
Start dosing the fert a couple of times a week. The Flourish excel needs dosing daily.

 

[Too Fast]

I currently have
2 x Bristlenose
6 x Cherry Barbs
7 x Blue King Tetra.

I am in the process of setting up a quarantene tank so I can up my stock by adding a Chocolate Zebra Plec (Dwarf), 12 x Cardinals and 2x 3 spot Gourami. I want to sort the filtration out before adding too much though so see it as a 6 month project.

Is the Flourish excel a daily dose permanantly or just until I get rid of the BBA?

 

[Too Fast]

Just read up on Flourish Excel and see that it's a permanant daily dose.

Would you recommend using flourish as my weekly fert or is Tropica Plant Nutrition plus better, if so why?

 

[ian]

yeah, its a permanant thing unless you decide to go to pressurised C02, even then i still use Easycarbo (alt to Excel). With your lighting, i would call top end of low-med, you look at what kind of fert you need. The difference between the 2 are that Tropica plus uses NKP, which is nitrate, phosphate and potassium. If you research these you'll find the old school way of thinking that these cause algae, but not we know algae is caused by ammonia and light. Research actually shows that algae does better when these elements are low. Now if you are at the top end of stocking i would say to just dose the Flourish. The Flourish fert contains these, but in minute amounts. TPN plus isn't as value for money that Flourish. You then have to look at whether your plants are fast growers and whether they will actually need all of the NKP.

I personally would just use Flourish at present and see how you go with this.

 

[Too Fast]

thank you, alot of questions answered! Learning has taken place!