I have been reading many forums as I am slowly sucked deeper into this deep dark pool of voodoo art called planted aquariums. This forum is encyclopedic and I can only hope to absorb a fraction of the information here. I especially appreciate the experienced mature tone of the posts.
I have a planted tank (started 4/4/09) with the following specs:
• 55g Plexiglas flat back hex
• Aqua Clear 70 HOB – no carbon but I just put in a bag of Purigen (Wow!)
• Aqua Clear powerhead with 2 filter cartridges
• Coralife 48” compact fluorescents 2-65 watt actinic (which I keep turned off) and 2 65watt 10,000k bulbs running eight hours per day.
• I also have a 29g QT, sponge filter and uv sterilizer waiting in the wings.
I originally put in Aqua Soil – Amazonia and enjoyed a panted tank for several months.
I was using excel flourih, ADA Brighty K and Green Brighty Step 1.
Then hair algae invaded and two discus died. The discus are still in the QT and I took out all the plants and have just replanted. I will probably keep the three remaining discus in QT for a few more weeks.
I replanted with hydrocotyle Leucocephala (pennywort), bondo grass and several other unidentified plants, I will post pictures to see if you can help identify. I am still using flourish excel and Brighty K but the newly installed plants are already showing signs of distress.
I have ordered the CO2 system from Greenleaf: http://www.greenleafaquariums.com/co2-regulators/gla-co2-regulator.html
And diffuser:
http://www.greenleafaquariums.com/co2-diffusers/diffuser-5000.html
They should arrive next week. I’ll dive into that and the plants should improve.
I plan to use the EI method to fertilize. I have just ordered dry fert from AquariumFertilizer.com : Mono Potassium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate, Potassium Nitrate, Barrs GH Booster and CSM+B Plantex.
I plan to dose per Greg Watson recommendations:
+/- 1/2 tsp KN03 3x a week
+/- 1/8 tsp KH2P04 3x a week
+/- 3/4 tsp GH booster once a week(water change only)
+/- 1/8 (10ml) Trace Elements 3x a week
50% weekly water change
I have 3 discuss, 5 rummy nose tetras (hope to add many more), a small clown loach, 2 corydoras julii, 1 chinese algae eater and 1 emerald cory.
I keep the water at 83 degrees, about 60-70% WC from aged, preheated, primed water.
Water Specs:
Ph 7.9, Gh/Kh 175 ppm, NH3/NH4,NO2 and NO3=0
Sooo… Does it appear I am on the right track?
I have a planted tank (started 4/4/09) with the following specs:
• 55g Plexiglas flat back hex
• Aqua Clear 70 HOB – no carbon but I just put in a bag of Purigen (Wow!)
• Aqua Clear powerhead with 2 filter cartridges
• Coralife 48” compact fluorescents 2-65 watt actinic (which I keep turned off) and 2 65watt 10,000k bulbs running eight hours per day.
• I also have a 29g QT, sponge filter and uv sterilizer waiting in the wings.
I originally put in Aqua Soil – Amazonia and enjoyed a panted tank for several months.
I was using excel flourih, ADA Brighty K and Green Brighty Step 1.
Then hair algae invaded and two discus died. The discus are still in the QT and I took out all the plants and have just replanted. I will probably keep the three remaining discus in QT for a few more weeks.
I replanted with hydrocotyle Leucocephala (pennywort), bondo grass and several other unidentified plants, I will post pictures to see if you can help identify. I am still using flourish excel and Brighty K but the newly installed plants are already showing signs of distress.
I have ordered the CO2 system from Greenleaf: http://www.greenleafaquariums.com/co2-regulators/gla-co2-regulator.html
And diffuser:
http://www.greenleafaquariums.com/co2-diffusers/diffuser-5000.html
They should arrive next week. I’ll dive into that and the plants should improve.
I plan to use the EI method to fertilize. I have just ordered dry fert from AquariumFertilizer.com : Mono Potassium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate, Potassium Nitrate, Barrs GH Booster and CSM+B Plantex.
I plan to dose per Greg Watson recommendations:
+/- 1/2 tsp KN03 3x a week
+/- 1/8 tsp KH2P04 3x a week
+/- 3/4 tsp GH booster once a week(water change only)
+/- 1/8 (10ml) Trace Elements 3x a week
50% weekly water change
I have 3 discuss, 5 rummy nose tetras (hope to add many more), a small clown loach, 2 corydoras julii, 1 chinese algae eater and 1 emerald cory.
I keep the water at 83 degrees, about 60-70% WC from aged, preheated, primed water.
Water Specs:
Ph 7.9, Gh/Kh 175 ppm, NH3/NH4,NO2 and NO3=0
Sooo… Does it appear I am on the right track?
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