What Nutrients To Use In A Low Light Tank?

[Squirrelbuddies]

I've been battling blue/green algae in my 55 gallon tank for what seems like forever (at least 3-4 months). There's really not a lot of detailed information available on this subject. However, through trial and error, I think I've almost conquered it. (I didn't want to use antibiotics or a 3 day blackout.) Basically, what I ended up doing is totally replacing the gravel substrate with sand, removing all plastic plants (which really seem to attract the nasty blue/green stuff) and scrubbed any other surface which had it (rocks, filters...)

I've added a number of plants (vals, java ferns, java moss and anubias). However, I've been concerned because the nitrate readings continued to come in at 5ppm. Phosphate is at 1.0 ppm (which is what the tapwater reads). Last week I placed a few Flourish Tabs in the sand and the plants have already responded! I'm seeing new growth and the nitrate reading is 10-20ppm today! AND, the tank smells pretty good again!

So, my questions are:

Is it ok to use nutrients for the plants even though I do not have a CO2 system or high lighting?

Is there something better to use than "Flourish Tabs"?

Is the higher nitrate reading due to the Flourish Tabs or is it (hopefully) because the blue/green algae is almost gone???

And, yes, I do know the cause of the outbreak -- basically, it was due to poor housekeeping last year when my kribs multiplied. I was so fearful of sucking up the fry with the siphon, that I neglected cleaning the gravel for many weeks. Great lesson learned.

Thanks for reading this! Here's a pic of the tank:

 

[zig]

Hi Squirrelbuddies i dont have much time right now to give a more comprehensive reply but heres a good link for looking after a non CO2 planted tank, this is a system worked out by the same guy (Tom Barr) who also came up with the Estimative index or EI that a lot of us around here use for our highlight tanks, EI works really well for highlight tanks so ive no doubt his non CO2 method works really well also, although i have to admit i have never tried it, although i would if i ran a non CO2 low tech tank.

How much light have you got over the tank BTW it looks quite bright in the photo.

The link is HERE

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

Hey zig - thanks for the reply! I'll check out the link.

I only have 40 watts -- although it's a "Life Glo" bulb and is much brighter looking than the standard issue bulb which came with the setup. I just got it last month. Plus, the sand is bright white so there's good reflection.

I originally wanted to go with a high-light, CO2 setup for this tank -- but decided to do this for my 38 gallon instead - thought it might be easier to start with a smaller tank -- plus the 38 is pretty much void of decor and plant life at the moment - so it's just begging to be made over! I've been researching for weeks and I think I'm ready to order my equipment -- so many questions -- but I'll save those for another thread!

 

[Mr Miagi]

I dont dose CO2 and I also use Flourish Root Tabs. ALong with a liquid Fertiliser. I also use a 30W "Life-GLo" tube. I dont get that higher nitrate reading. 10-20ppm is quite alarming. I would be inclined to say it was due to the change of substrate. How long ago did you do that?

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

I dont dose CO2 and I also use Flourish Root Tabs. ALong with a liquid Fertiliser. I also use a 30W "Life-GLo" tube. I dont get that higher nitrate reading. 10-20ppm is quite alarming. I would be inclined to say it was due to the change of substrate. How long ago did you do that?

I switched to sand 4 weeks ago. The bottom of the tank is much cleaner now as I siphon out the fish waste which has collected on the bottom every other day. (It's mostly from the plec.)

I just tested the nitrates again... So, yesterday before a 25% water change the reading was 10-20ppm. Now it is 5-10ppm (looks closer to 5 than 10).

I'm not sure what this means. I hope it is a good sign. It just worries me because over the past 3-4 months while I was trying to rid the tank of the BGA, the nitrate reading was a constant 5ppm. It never went higher. I'm hoping it's the plants using it up and not another round of BGA.