Re-plantation

[fish-rookie]

I decided - at underwurlde's suggestion to start a new topic rather than continue on in the 'black out' topic.

I have a 180 litre tank that has started to lose the fight against algae and I decided to restock with fast growing plants in an attempt to regain control. My question is this: should I plant enough to go to 50-75% substrate cover immediately or should the plants be introduced a couple at a time to avoid shocking the tank?

My substrate is about 3" deep small round gravel, I said pea gravel initially but smaller than that I think. I am down to a single plant, due to removing old plants that were algae covered and being slow to replace them.

I have no CO2 system as yet, might put a DIY one in this week but not sure if that will be adding to the shock or if its a must.

My lighting is about 1.5 WPG + reflectors.

The fish consist of:
2 x swordtails
8 x rummy noses - not looking their best
4 x neon tetras
6 x false neons
5 x assorted cory's
1 x banjo
1 x twig catfish

The numbers of the tetras and swordtails were greater but I've had a spate of deaths recently.

Any ideas?
Many thanks,
FR

 

[Castellop123]

...

 

[fish-rookie]

Thanks a lot Corin Castle!

I have heard that the biggest cause of algae is part of the light/CO2/nutrient balance being off. Does this mean that 1.5WPG and a small CO2 system with only a little added nutrients will be good so long as that balance is maintained?

To be exact: I was thinking of getting the nutrafin CO2 system and doing the DIY yeast mix. As I understand it its not quite sufficient for 180L tank but if the lighting is only 1.5WPG the ratio will be okay?

First of all does that make any sense and second, will it work?!



FR

 

[nry]

For that size of tank, you could use old 2-litre pop bottles, alongside a ceramic diffuser. Along with the required tubing you'd be lucky to spend over £10 putting it together!

 

[Underwurlde]

Hello again.

I would start by asking you what you want to achieve with a planted tank and how you expect to achieve it. I'll keep it simple by suggesting 3 approaches.

1) High Tech: EI, or Estimative Index.
Costly to set up initally.
CO2 - and therein difficulties with maintaining stability (re: DIY kits) & monitoring.
Large amount of lighting usually means new fixtures or modification of exisitng fixtures.
High maintenance - dosing, weekly water changes, constant trimming
Couple this with explosive growth, algae free tanks, any substrate (but best with EcoComplete or ADA AquaSoil).

2) Low Tech: See Diana Walstad
No CO2
No water changes (abeit once every 6 months).
Good 'soil' based substrate (can take about 6 weeks to prepare a soil based substrate / high maintence & monitoring for first month or two).
Low lighting (<2.0W / Gal)
Aim for ariel growth, feed the fish well.
Little but sustained plant growth, occational trimming.

3) Mid tech: A mix of 2 & 3
Non-CO2 (that is to say gaseous) but use Flourish Excel instead
Low lighting, about 1.5 to 2W/Gallon ideal.
Once a week minimal top-up dosing of ferts
Once a month water changes.
Good 'soil' based substrate.
Feed the fish well, again good if there is some ariel growth.
Moderate but sustained plant growth, occational trimming.

As you can see, you don't have to use CO2, but if you do....

Andy

 

[fish-rookie]

Thanks Andy!

I'll give it some thought.

FR