Hey all -
I'm dabbling with planted tanks.
I've "reset" one of my tanks since I now have good light and co2 (yay).
In the beginning, everything seems great. No algae, no melts (aside from MC, which is transitioning from immersed to submerged).
On the past couple of weeks, I started getting some algae on the glass. No worries, I scrape them off and do some water changes.
A few days now, they are back. A mix of brown and green. I noticed also that some of my plants (Hygrophilla Corymbosa, S. Repens, A.R. Mini) have green spot algae. My Myriophyllum mattogrossense, half is turning brown. The top part is still beautiful green.. My Tripartita seems to be doing just fine, but it's not that vibrant green (I have the same Tripartita on another 5g tank and that was beautiful).
My Sunset, Bacopa carolina and Cabomba are growing fast though.
So I read some sites, watched some videos and most are saying that I need to find the "balance" between lights, nutrients and co2.
So here's my current setup:
-Co2 turns on 2 hrs before lights come on, and turns off 1hr before lights go out. (It's a pressurized co2, if it matters)
-Light stays on for 7 hours. I have a full spectrum LED lights (HEPO brand, not sure if it's available elsewhere). It originally was open for 8hrs but since I got algae issues, I reduced to 7.
-I'm dosing with Seachem Flourish Comp, Seachem Trace and once a week, Excel. (I'm waiting for my NilocG Thrive).
-I'm not vacuuming the substrate to I "swoosh" the plants to dislodge the detritus and suck it up on siphon when doing water changes.
-I do 50% water changes once a week.
-ADA aquasoil
-DIY osmocote root tabs
As for the flora, I have Guppies, Harlequin Rasboras and Panda Cories - if it matters.
With that, anything I should change/add/remove?
Thanks in advance
I'm dabbling with planted tanks.
I've "reset" one of my tanks since I now have good light and co2 (yay).
In the beginning, everything seems great. No algae, no melts (aside from MC, which is transitioning from immersed to submerged).
On the past couple of weeks, I started getting some algae on the glass. No worries, I scrape them off and do some water changes.
A few days now, they are back. A mix of brown and green. I noticed also that some of my plants (Hygrophilla Corymbosa, S. Repens, A.R. Mini) have green spot algae. My Myriophyllum mattogrossense, half is turning brown. The top part is still beautiful green.. My Tripartita seems to be doing just fine, but it's not that vibrant green (I have the same Tripartita on another 5g tank and that was beautiful).
My Sunset, Bacopa carolina and Cabomba are growing fast though.
So I read some sites, watched some videos and most are saying that I need to find the "balance" between lights, nutrients and co2.
So here's my current setup:
-Co2 turns on 2 hrs before lights come on, and turns off 1hr before lights go out. (It's a pressurized co2, if it matters)
-Light stays on for 7 hours. I have a full spectrum LED lights (HEPO brand, not sure if it's available elsewhere). It originally was open for 8hrs but since I got algae issues, I reduced to 7.
-I'm dosing with Seachem Flourish Comp, Seachem Trace and once a week, Excel. (I'm waiting for my NilocG Thrive).
-I'm not vacuuming the substrate to I "swoosh" the plants to dislodge the detritus and suck it up on siphon when doing water changes.
-I do 50% water changes once a week.
-ADA aquasoil
-DIY osmocote root tabs
As for the flora, I have Guppies, Harlequin Rasboras and Panda Cories - if it matters.
With that, anything I should change/add/remove?
Thanks in advance