Low Light Fertilisation?

[montyII]

I was wondering what kind of fertilisation regime I should use on a low light, no CO2 planted tank?

It's a 35 gal, std 3ft tank, with 2X30W T8 tubes (aqua-glo and life-glo2) giving 1.7wpg.

I read that just a good liquid fertiliser once a month is enough, this sound right?

I used std gravel substrate and I've since read that you should use something like Seachem Flourite for a low light planted tank, but it's too late now... Is it worth putting some fertiliser tabs under the plant's roots in place of a fertiliser substrate? Or would this be too much with the liquid fertlisier?

(My plant choices were a bit inappropriate for low light, amazon swords, red flame, radicans sword, wisteria etc. The only ones doing really well are the wisteria - so I'm going to replace some with low light plants when they get too bad.)

Using two AquaClear filers, a 20 and a 50. Have 2 Koi Angels, 2 golden gouramis and 3 widow tetras. Putting a couple of midget sucker catfish in tomorrow to eat the fuzz algae.

Ta.

 

[Underwurlde]

Take the EI dosing regime and only dose approx 1/10th to 1/7th of everything.

(Off the top of my head, i'll link to another thread when I get home).

I'm afraid as has been pointed out - you'll definately need a good substrate!

Andy

 

[sophos9]

Greg Watsons EI Lite for low light tank recommends 1/2 of the normal EI amounts 2 x per week...

 

[montyII]

Take the EI dosing regime and only dose approx 1/10th to 1/7th of everything.

(Off the top of my head, i'll link to another thread when I get home).

I'm afraid as has been pointed out - you'll definately need a good substrate!

Andy

Was going to put in a good substrate but lfs advised that this was not necessary (they also advised that only people doing dutch aquariums use co2). I've since found a new lfs.

 

[Underwurlde]

Good read:
http/www.barrreport.com/articles/433-non-co2-methods.html

Typical of forum threads of this nature, takes a bit of wading through & unravelling....

 

[lljdma06]

The Amazon will do much better if rootabs are placed under the substrate near it. That is most likely why it isn't fairing so well. You would also probably help your plants along quite a bit with a DIY CO2 mix. You needn't worry about maintaining the stable high amount that others need here, but injecting CO2 into a low-light tank is not necessarily a bad thing. I inject CO2 in some of my low-light tanks and it allows species that wouldn't otherwise thrive to do very well.

I'm a terrible person to imitate regarding ferts. Rootabs are really the only thing I use. I don't dose liquid ferts in any of my tanks, but my bioloads are quite a bit higher and my tanks are all over 6 months old.

Don't wait too long to replace plants. Decomposing plants produce a lot of ammonia, not great for fish and plants like this are aweful to clean up. Speaking of fish, watch your gouramis and angels. That's not the best fish mix.

T8s are pretty inefficient. 1.7WPG in T5s or Power compacts will grow a lot more plants. Something to think about for yourself in the future. There are a lot of things I skimp on (substrate, heat, ferts, CO2), but IMO, quality lighting, even if below 2WPG, is the most essential part of owning a successful planted aquarium. Besides, new lights often make great B-day presents.

llj

llj

 

[montyII]

Good read:
http/www.barrreport.com/articles/433-non-co2-methods.html

Typical of forum threads of this nature, takes a bit of wading through & unravelling....

Thanks for the link, Underwurlde, will start wading.

 

[montyII]

And thanks IIjdma. I have been using root tabs for all my plants, but now I know that the ones I've been using only contain micronutrients, so my plants have been getting no macronutrients. (It's all starting to make sense)

Re lights and co2, I probably will try co2 soon, and new lights in the future, I'm just trying to keep it all simple for now while I'm learning. (And trying not too spend too much cashola... wrong hobby, I guess!).

Haven't had a problem with my angels and gouramis... my angels are very placid and don't bother anyone. Or did you mean the gouramis can be aggressive?

 

[lljdma06]

And thanks IIjdma. I have been using root tabs for all my plants, but now I know that the ones I've been using only contain micronutrients, so my plants have been getting no macronutrients. (It's all starting to make sense)

Re lights and co2, I probably will try co2 soon, and new lights in the future, I'm just trying to keep it all simple for now while I'm learning. (And trying not too spend too much cashola... wrong hobby, I guess!).

Haven't had a problem with my angels and gouramis... my angels are very placid and don't bother anyone. Or did you mean the gouramis can be aggressive?

Seachem makes a great rootab that doses macro and micro, I think. At least that's what I use.

Believe me, I understand what it is to be on a budget! All of my tanks feature some sort of money-saving aspect (substrate, plant choice, etc). Upgrading comes slowly and when I have the time. I think that upgrading a cycled, mature tank, however, is as bit easier as you've already wet your feet a bit in the hobby.

I've hear some bad stories about the two together. I find that the gouramis, especially trichogaster species can get agressive with the slower-moving angels. Pearl gouramis may be ok, but those three-spots, they can be trouble. They're even trouble with their own species.

llj

 

[montyII]

I know they can be feisty... I've just spent 2 hours trying to catch one to put him in my hospital tank. The first one was easy, the second one heads for cover (and there's lots of it in my tank) everytime I put the net near the tank! They've got a bit of velvet - gonna treat 'em with some aquarium salt and up the temp a bit.

Anyway, I'll keep an eye on them with the angels. Sure can be tricky to get the right combo of fish!