scouse_andy
Fishaholic
Hi there,
Another Andy here with my two-penneth.
I have a Juwel Rio 240 with standard T8 lights, reflectors and no fertilisation, basic soil substrate and low demand plants.
I had similar algae problems to you on the tank and have found that a much reduced photoperiod has really helped. I have limited mine to about 4 and a half hrs per day - this seems ridiculously short and flies in the face of all coventional wisdom but I can say it works for me.
If you have a similar set-up it may be worth a go. I did try and increase the light period on mine to a more conventional 8 then 7 then 6 hrs and found that no matter what I tried the plants developed spots of algae and some holes and yellowish leaves.
My theory (probably rubbish as science is not my forte) is that the plants in my tank are easy growers which don't require a lot of light or fertilisation. If you up the light then you need to up the fertilisation as well otherwise lack of nutrients proves the limiting factor.
You seem like me in your attitude to plants: after a nice looking (if basic) tank with little hi-tech gadgetry and time spent pruning as possible.
I am sure a lot of people will disagree with what I am saying here but I can only tell you my experience, I am no expert at all. I find 4 and a half hrs for my tank strikes the balance. I get slow but constant and healthy plant growth without noticeable algae and no need for any pruning at all really.
I have a journal in my signature if you want a better look.
I am about to set up a Rio 300 with Tetraplant substrate, the same T8 lighting (1.5WPG), similar plant species and regular fertilisation with Seachem Flourish and liquid CO2 with Flourish Excel. I am expecting to be able to increase the photperiod to a more normal 7 or 8 hrs as the plants should have sufficient nutrients in the water column and substrate to make use of all the light. It will be very interesting for me to see if this is really the case and just what extra plant growth the more costly substrate, Flourish and Flourish excel actually produce.
As for the BGA, I had an outbreak too. I managed to get rid of it by doing a big water change then sealing the tank from all light for 72 hrs then doing another big water change at the end. I was amazed at the state of the tank as I uncovered it after the blackout, the sand was bright and sparkling again!
The key though is to get to the root cause of the BGA and change whatever needs changing (shorter photoperiod in the above case) otherwise the BGA is highly likely to return. I now wedge a credit card between the front glass of the tank and the sand and give it a good scrape every couple of weeks to prevent any build up of BGA as I believe it works its way up from the substrate. I think it was George Farmer who recommended the credit card on this forum.
You have a really nice looking tank there and hope you can overcome these minor blips. Look forward to more pictures as it develops.
Cheers, Andy (MK III)
Another Andy here with my two-penneth.
I have a Juwel Rio 240 with standard T8 lights, reflectors and no fertilisation, basic soil substrate and low demand plants.
I had similar algae problems to you on the tank and have found that a much reduced photoperiod has really helped. I have limited mine to about 4 and a half hrs per day - this seems ridiculously short and flies in the face of all coventional wisdom but I can say it works for me.
If you have a similar set-up it may be worth a go. I did try and increase the light period on mine to a more conventional 8 then 7 then 6 hrs and found that no matter what I tried the plants developed spots of algae and some holes and yellowish leaves.
My theory (probably rubbish as science is not my forte) is that the plants in my tank are easy growers which don't require a lot of light or fertilisation. If you up the light then you need to up the fertilisation as well otherwise lack of nutrients proves the limiting factor.
You seem like me in your attitude to plants: after a nice looking (if basic) tank with little hi-tech gadgetry and time spent pruning as possible.
I am sure a lot of people will disagree with what I am saying here but I can only tell you my experience, I am no expert at all. I find 4 and a half hrs for my tank strikes the balance. I get slow but constant and healthy plant growth without noticeable algae and no need for any pruning at all really.
I have a journal in my signature if you want a better look.
I am about to set up a Rio 300 with Tetraplant substrate, the same T8 lighting (1.5WPG), similar plant species and regular fertilisation with Seachem Flourish and liquid CO2 with Flourish Excel. I am expecting to be able to increase the photperiod to a more normal 7 or 8 hrs as the plants should have sufficient nutrients in the water column and substrate to make use of all the light. It will be very interesting for me to see if this is really the case and just what extra plant growth the more costly substrate, Flourish and Flourish excel actually produce.
As for the BGA, I had an outbreak too. I managed to get rid of it by doing a big water change then sealing the tank from all light for 72 hrs then doing another big water change at the end. I was amazed at the state of the tank as I uncovered it after the blackout, the sand was bright and sparkling again!
The key though is to get to the root cause of the BGA and change whatever needs changing (shorter photoperiod in the above case) otherwise the BGA is highly likely to return. I now wedge a credit card between the front glass of the tank and the sand and give it a good scrape every couple of weeks to prevent any build up of BGA as I believe it works its way up from the substrate. I think it was George Farmer who recommended the credit card on this forum.
You have a really nice looking tank there and hope you can overcome these minor blips. Look forward to more pictures as it develops.
Cheers, Andy (MK III)
