Plants Growing Great!

[newfishaddict]

I am glad that I need to make this post because my plants are growing so well. Since adding co2 and new lighting my plants are growing like “weeds”. And my algae problems are almost gone....But, my plants that have reached the surface of the water create little pockets of very little current, and as a result a small amount of fungus or algae is developing where there is very little water flow. What is a method to keep the plants at the surface “clean”?

I have simply been rubbing the plants with my fingers when I do water changes once a week, but this does not seem to be frequent enough….I can manage this myself but I am just wondering if any experienced aquatic plant people have any ingenious methods to avoid this problem……..Perhaps more current?

And, in a low flow aquarium, how would this be dealt with…?

 

[Jen]

If you have too much current, you will get co2 loss, and you don't want that. I assume that you have stem plants? I would just cut them off once they hit the surface. Other than that, I can't think of what to do to get rid of the film.

 

[zig]

Just make sure its not some sort of bga (im not saying it is ) bga loves areas of low or no current in planted tanks, so make sure you have suffcient levels of nitrates and this should not be a problem (the bga that is)

Try creating a little current and see if the algae disappears, or keep the stem plants pruned so they dont hit the surface, either pinch out the growing tips or cut the plants at the base making them shorter.

 

[newfishaddict]

If you have too much current, you will get co2 loss, and you don't want that. I assume that you have stem plants? I would just cut them off once they hit the surface. Other than that, I can't think of what to do to get rid of the film.

I have heard that about current and co2. but, I have a very strong current in my55g, and using two nutrafin co2 bubble counters and homemade co2 2L bottles I have been able to get my ph=7.0 and KH=100...seems like I am able to maintain resonable co2 levels with LOTS of current.

I should add that in about 1/3 of the tank the current is much less and this is the where the co2 is added....(I have about 1/3 of the tank heavily planted with rocks and bogwood "blocking" off this calmer section where many plants are growing FAST . I have had one plant grow 5 feet in 3 weeks!!!

Just make sure its not some sort of bga (im not saying it is ) bga loves areas of low or no current in planted tanks, so make sure you have suffcient levels of nitrates and this should not be a problem (the bga that is)

Try creating a little current and see if the algae disappears, or keep the stem plants pruned so they dont hit the surface, either pinch out the growing tips or cut the plants at the base making them shorter.

Yes, I do have some bga on my glass in some lower current parts of my 55g tank. My plants have grown allot in the past 3 weeks since adding co2 and new lights (one plant has literally grown 5 feet now...); my nitrate levels are <5ppm and I am going to start using your "Estimative index" and adding dry K P N very soon...

Is bga bad for fish???, I think I read that it can be...(I know it is caused by cyanobacteria...)

My nervous fish (tiger rasboras) seem much calmer now that there are plants at the top of the water, I am hoping to keep some on the top...

Perhaps an adjustable powerhead (on relatively weak) that has one of those rotation heads would work....?

 

[zig]

BGA is bad you dont want bga, the fish generally wont go near bga but it will destroy your nice planted tank very quickly when it takes hold and it can be very difficult to get rid of, you need to get some potassium nitrate and use chucks calculator to work out the doseage, maintain a level around 10-15ppm and bga should not be a problem, keep harassing the bga that you can see, add more current to the areas where it is prevelant, if its on the substrate or gravel turn this over until its covered with other gravel, but the best solution is the potassium nitrate with levels as low as <5 you are in the danger zone, a blackout can get rid of it for mild cases but you generally need an antibiotic such as maracyn to get rid of it for good.