Planted Aquarium Rebirth.

[adracco]

While away on my 2 week holiday vacation, all but 3 of my fish in my 30 gal planted aquarium passed away. My theory is that one of my cardinals died causing a chain reaction of ammonia poisoning as each fish died off. The 2 that survived I put in my downstairs tank, and are safe and happy. (2 SAE, guppy.) Now as sad as I was about my little community it is time to move on. I want to give my glourious planted aquarium a rebirth, a second chance. My question is, since i get a do over,what can I do to make it even more beautifully efficient the second time around. I already have plenty of plants, but what are some things that I can do in the beginning stages, that will help lay the groundwork into making my tank flourish even greater.
The specs:
30 gallon
95 watt 50/50 10000k/ actinic- 4 hours on 2 hours off, 4 hours back on.
DIY co2 yeast sugar method, with alternating bottles. (One day I will get pressurized tanks)
bio-wheel emperor filter for a 50gal tank.
(additional)Whisper filter for 20 gal. (Can never have too much filtration.)
I use liquid fert. Have tiny gravel substrate
lots of heartry plants:
Java fern
Java moss
vasilis
cryptocorne
mini lili pad plant thing that is really cool.

Problems I had before:
My main peev is: hair algae, possible spyro gira, or the other type that starts with a R (I forget)
It is imbedded in my java fern carpets and lava rock. Doesn't go away. I have tried 3 day black outs as well as removing in every day with water changes. What can I do or purchase to get rid of this.

Other problem is pest snails, these I don't mind as much but if I can get rid of them without harming my tank, I would do it.

I would also appreciate any input towards ideas that would help improve my tank, as I begin my rebirth.

(PS I still have the filter media so I am not too worried about cycling)

Thanks

 

[Truck]

i posted in another post that after carrying out an experiment ive come to the conclusion that booming snail populations are caused by over feeding/excess food

 

[SuperColey1]

There are only a few things I would change and first is with 3.5WPG that I would either remove some light to use DIY succesfully or go pressurised with the existing light.

I would also get rid of liquid ferts and use EI.

I like the way you said filtration (you can never have enough) At 1400lph you are less than many of us in planted. lol. I guess you thought you were high on circulation

My tank is 33USG similar toyours and I am running 2200lph but you were right. You can never have enough.

I would guess that your algae (in your Java Fern Carpet??? I assume you mean moss) is actually cause by too high light with poor CO2 due to the DIY setup not being consistent enough for the light level and then to top it off a fert that doesn't provide the right nutrients (low on nitrate and phosphate) which means that the plants aren't running at full strength leeching a little ammonia for localised algae outbreaks.

I would suggest pressurised with any tank. It is the most important part of keeping a healthy algae free setup IMO. However if you aren't wanting to spend that much then I would take the light down to 1-1.5WPG and continue with the DIY. Change onto a fert or make your own that provides enough N and P. Put a nutrient rich substrate to go under the gravel.

Then plan and research heavily. Get it right from the start, Learn the dosing method you choose (I would suggest EI as it is easy to implement, cheap and very easy.)

AC

 

[adracco]

Thanks for the info. I am going to drop down to a 65 watt bulb for now and raise it when I can get some cash for a pressurized system. Man I thought I had good filtration and then some. You learn something new everyday. Also another question, is there something that I can do before I restock it ,to get rid of the current algae embedded in and on the plants. Is there another method besides picking out everything by hand?
thanks