Planting My Tank

[chesterjohn]

I recently removed all of the plants from my tank as they were looking dead, and since then, my algae problems have almost gone, although the growth has seemed to be consistantly slowing since they were put in.

I am getting some new plants shortly, what can I do to ensure that I won't get an algae bloom again?

They are easy grow plants and don't require CO2 or anything other than normal tank conditions.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Anubias barteri var. nana; Java fern and Java moss all do well in normal tank conditions. They'll grow better with the right condtions but I have them attached to wood/rock in my tank and they are all looking fine. My tank is low light; no fertilizers and no CO2.

 

[RadaR]

They are easy grow plants and don't require CO2 or anything other than normal tank conditions.

Depends on your lighting though doesn't it. If the lighting is at a certain level where the plants demand more nutrients and CO2 but dont recieve it then they're not going to do well.

I am getting some new plants shortly, what can I do to ensure that I won't get an algae bloom again?

Plant heavily, ensure all nutrients are provided, micro and macro (macro shouldn't be neccasary if the light is low and the tank is healthy stocked with fish). Good circulation. A photoperiod that doesnt exceed 10 hours (7-8 is better). If liquid carbon or CO2 is added then weekly water changes will be needed to remove oragnic waste produced by the plants. If no form of carbon is added, then refrain from doing water changes all together (maybe 2 or 3 a year). If this is too scarey then perform water changes but make sure the CO2 from the new tapwater is gassed off before adding to the tank.

 

[chesterjohn]

Thanks. So I'll reduce the lighting hours and do less water changes. How heavily planted does a tank need to be to only do a few water changes a year?

That does sound scary, especially as I wanted to add some rams and they need good quality water

 

[RadaR]

The "no water changes a year" only works if the lighting is around 1 watter per gallon or less. The tank has to be morderatly stocked with fish. The tank should have atleast 75% coverage with plants. I reccomend a nutrient rich substrate for this method. No Co2 either. If you add CO2 then you have to do water changes because the plants grow at a quicker rate, which therefore produces more metabollic waste/oragnic waste which needs to be removed.

That does sound scary, especially as I wanted to add some rams and they need good quality water

If done right, the water quality is good.

 

[chesterjohn]

The "no water changes a year" only works if the lighting is around 1 watter per gallon or less. The tank has to be morderatly stocked with fish. The tank should have atleast 75% coverage with plants. I reccomend a nutrient rich substrate for this method. No Co2 either. If you add CO2 then you have to do water changes because the plants grow at a quicker rate, which therefore produces more metabollic waste/oragnic waste which needs to be removed.

Ok, so my tank is now planted. I'd guess about 50% coverage with plants, maybe more. No CO2 will be used, and my lighting is currently at 7 hours a day (no idea what the power to volume rating is yet).

99% of the algae has gone, but there are still a few bits on the gravel in places. Will the addition of plants cause this to go crazy again? Or should it be ok?

I do have a bit of gravel left to replace if necessary, but wanted to keep the old stuff in for nutrients.

 

[RadaR]

99% of the algae has gone, but there are still a few bits on the gravel in places. Will the addition of plants cause this to go crazy again? Or should it be ok?

No, it wouldn't cause the algae to go crazy. That would only happen if the plants were dieing due to not being given the resources they need.

 

[chesterjohn]

99% of the algae has gone, but there are still a few bits on the gravel in places. Will the addition of plants cause this to go crazy again? Or should it be ok?

No, it wouldn't cause the algae to go crazy. That would only happen if the plants were dieing due to not being given the resources they need.

Thanks RadaR, I'll be making a trip to buy some nutrients for the plant this weekend. Any advice which products are good? They're the common plants you see, Amazon sword, Vallis, and the other common ones I've seen but don't know the name of...

 

[RadaR]

Since you havn't said otherwise since my post

The "no water changes a year" only works if the lighting is around 1 watter per gallon or less.

I'll assume you only have 1WPG or less, in which case, you only have to dose trace elements (micro nutrients). Easylife Profito is very good.

 

[chesterjohn]

Since you havn't said otherwise since my post

The "no water changes a year" only works if the lighting is around 1 watter per gallon or less.

I'll assume you only have 1WPG or less, in which case, you only have to dose trace elements (micro nutrients). Easylife Profito is very good.

Going from the spec of the tank, the lighting is about 1.7WPG using US gallons

 

[RadaR]

Size of the tank?

 

[chesterjohn]

Size of the tank?

240 litres, 64 USG

 

[RadaR]

If you could lower it, that would be great. There's a chance you'd see carbon deficiencies if you didnt inject CO2 because of this lighting. If you cant lower it closer to 60W then shading plants are in order. Use big, shady plants to block out light such as swords, aponegetons and lilies. Floating plants will work too.

 

[chesterjohn]

There are 2 fluorescent tubes in the tank, 1 bluey coloured and the other white. Both are 54W, I'll try looking for some that are lower power ratings. Hopefully the tank won't look too dim with lower lighting.

What problems would carbon deficiencies cause? Algae blooms?

 

[RadaR]

Ah ok. You won't be able to find lower wattage bulbs for the same length, trust me. Sounds like you have a Juwel Rio 240....?

What problems would carbon deficiencies cause? Algae blooms?

Yep. The plants won't grow because they need the carbon. Results in algae, the worst kind (black brush algae, Cladophora, Rhizoclonium, Oedogonium, Staghorn and Spirogyra)

Large plants and floating plants seems like the way to go.