New Tank - Need A Bit Of Help

[mattpage]

I'm fairly new around here, and was hoping some of you kind people could help me with my tank set-up.

I have just restarted my tank (Its 156 litres, which is about 40G?) and I am hoping to get it well planted.
I have used a mixture of sand and fine gravel for the substrate, filtration is a fluval 304. Decor includes several pieces of bogwood.

I had the decor and substrate in the tank for about 2 weeks then got as many plants as I can afford.
I don't know all the names, but I have a lot of vallis along the back, bamboo, grass carpet, 2 moss balls and some type of fern.

I have bought a natural (nurafen I believe) CO2 system, but I am not sure it is working correctly, and even if it is I am no sure it is enough for my tank. Should I be injecting CO2, how much will this cost? The outlet from my filter makes the water quite rippled, and I have read this can make the CO2 dissipate faster?

I have got a brownish covering on the leaves of the bamboo plants, plus many of the stems have died off, any ideas how I can save the plant? At the moment it is positioned near the filter outlet - perhaps they don't like moving water?

Another problem I'm having is algae. At the moment its not a big problem, but I have algae growing on the back wall of the tank. The problem is the tank is under a window, so gets direct sunlight. There's nothing I can do about the position of the tank. But any ideas of how to combat the problem?

I've been adding a liquid plant growth every week, and have put fertilizer sticks under some of the plants, am I adding too much?

Here is a picture to give you some kind of idea of the setup:

Or bigger picture here

 

[Waterloo Kid]

Welcome to the planted forum.
In order for people to be able to help you we need a few bits of info from you. The most obvious bit is the amount of light you are using. This doesn't include sunlight by the way. For a planted tank with a good variety of plants you are looking at 2 watts per gallon. Don't worry if it's lower, you'll just have to use low light plants. I have only 0.9 wpg and I have a number of plants in my tank.
So far as stopping the sunlight getting to your tank you could place thick card around the back of the tank to block the light.
I like the layout of your tank. Very nice. Should look great once things have settled in. That plant on the right, the bamboo; doesn't look like an aquatic plant to me. Lots of lfs sell plants that cannot last for very long under water. Do some research on the net to find out what you have. You might need to remove it.
I know I haven't replied to all of your questions but it's a start and will give you something to work with. Keep reading this forum and you will soon start getting the full picture.

WK

 

[mattpage]

Hi Waterloo Kid, and thanks for the welcome

As far as lighting goes, to be honest I have no idea. I am using two tubes, one was originally supplied with the tank (which I hope to change in a month or so) and the other I bought recently, but I cannot remember which model it was. I am not using reflectors, but also hope to get these soon.

The plant on the right is this which I bought from that seller. The fern also by the same eBay seller is this

Any ideas on the rest of the questions answered would be most grateful

 

[@ombomb]

The bamboo looks like: CALAMUS SPECIES (BAMBOO PLANT/PALM TREE) which is fully aquatic I think and needs moderate lighting.

Not sure about the other.

How long are the tubes you are using? Looking at the tank I guess they are 30", 25W tubes, giving you about 1.25 WPG which isn't too bad although the type of bulb you use can make a big difference.

Actually, looking again, the picture of the plant in the tank (on the right) doesn't look that much like the pic on the eBay auction, which is what I based the name on... are you sure you were sent the right plant?!?