Should I Be Doing More

[steve_jones83]

So have changed my 125 litre to sand, new bogwood, new plants, about to sort the stock out inside.

Just wondering if I should be doing anything else.

I changing 10% water weekly. I add a bit of aquarium salt every water change. Prune the plants.

But thats about it.

Should I be adding anything or cleaning more etc

Thanks for your advice.

 

[Louiseness]

Most people would suggest changing a bigger proportion of water, maybe 20 or 30%, but that really depends on your nitrate readings more than anything else.

Why are you adding aquarium salt?

 

[mike455555]

thats what i wanted to know. some scaleless fish dont like salt at all

 

[steve_jones83]

As stated in a previous thread, I pretty much run on advice given to me from various aquatics. It is only recently that I have started to reesearch myself. I was told long ago that you should add some aqurium salt every water change. I take it this is also bad advice.

 

[Louiseness]

As stated in a previous thread, I pretty much run on advice given to me from various aquatics. It is only recently that I have started to reesearch myself. I was told long ago that you should add some aqurium salt every water change. I take it this is also bad advice.

Don't worry, I wasn't trying to have a go it's not NECESSARILY a bad idea but it's old-fashioned advice. Some hard water fish like mollies are fine with salt, and it can be good for helping to treat injuries or diseases. But there really isn't any reason to add it routinely, plus, as has been mentioned, it is actually bad for scaleless fish like cories and plecos.

 

[mike455555]

maybe with marine you do. but not freshwater. how much do you add each change?
and most people do a higher % water change each week

 

[This Old Spouse]

Yes, you should do a bigger water change each week, and don't add any salt. What kind of fish are you planning to have?

 

[Tizer]

lots of us with plants use EI dosing, it might be worth a read into that, you basically dose ferts daily instead of weekly. Also we use dry ferts and mix them up ourselves, much cheaper, lasts longer. however, you are required to do a 50% water change every week as you are actually over dosing ferts using this method. I think its a great way to get into a good routine, its good for your plants and its good for your fish.

 

[mike455555]

it depends on what lights he has. if he needs to EL dose, and what plants he has also ?

 

[Tizer]

no, it doesnt

http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/EI.htm

"the aquarist doses the tank with a slight excess of nutrients throughout the week to prevent anything from running out and does a large water change at the end of the week to prevent anything from building up."

Educate yourself, i found it very interesting and use the site a lot myself as im thick as two short planks when it comes to plants.

 

[mike455555]

yes. iv read it but if hes running like 0.8wpg the fish will provide for the plants?. so there is no need to EL dose. it would just be a waste of chemicals because there would already be an excess for the plants (provided by the fish)

 

[Tizer]

I dont believe fish provide enough of the right nutrients for optimal plant growth, i'd rather over dose than under dose to ensure they get all they need, the cost of dry ferts is next to nothing so the question would be, why not?

 

[mike455555]

true the cost is next to nothing. but if the tanks planted minimally with only slow growers like java fern, the plants would get everything they need from the fish.
i doubt you would have to dose often. maybe trace like once a month. would suffice in this situation

im not saying dont EL dose but it might not be needed,depending on the plants.

if hes got highlight and EL dose he'll also need to dose co2? which is where it gets expensive

 

[Tizer]

maybe trace like once a month.

So you do need to add additional ferts then? or not?


Anyway, like i said, it could be worth a read into it, i've been doing it on my tank for a long while now with good results. The website i linked goes into it quite a bit plus the guys in the planted section here are very good if you need more info. As Mike has said, the lighting isnt uber high, you might not want to touch ferts or get into plants all that much as it can get expensive

 

[steve_jones83]

As stated in a previous thread, I pretty much run on advice given to me from various aquatics. It is only recently that I have started to reesearch myself. I was told long ago that you should add some aqurium salt every water change. I take it this is also bad advice.

Don't worry, I wasn't trying to have a go it's not NECESSARILY a bad idea but it's old-fashioned advice. Some hard water fish like mollies are fine with salt, and it can be good for helping to treat injuries or diseases. But there really isn't any reason to add it routinely, plus, as has been mentioned, it is actually bad for scaleless fish like cories and plecos.

Sorry for misunderstanding btw, wasn't cross at all. Just a little embarrassed by how little I know.