Need Fertilizer help and more questions...

[naturegrl]

I have a moderately planted, cycled(about 3 months) 55 gal. tank
-2 48 " coralife double strip full spectrum and 6700k t5 strips total 112 w
-running magnum HOB 250 filter
-30% water changes every 5 days
-parameters are consistently amonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 10-15, ph 8.3(very hard water here)
- temp 80-82 degrees
- light duration--I keep one strip-56w lit about 12hrs, and the second 56w lit for about 5 hours in the middle of the day.
- no CO2
-tank water from tap that has gone through home water softener.
-4" airstone runs continuously.
- substrate is is a mixed med. and large pebbles.

Fish stock as follows: 1 dwarf gourami, 4 black skirt tetras, 6 black phantom tetras, 2 diamond tetras, 1 shwartz cory, 1 gold nugget pleco.

So far everything seems to be going smoothly. I would like to add a piece of driftwood soon and a few more plants. I want to make sure I don't get myself into trouble as I am still reading and learning lots on planted aquariums. Several questions:

My main questions are about fertilizers and the fact that we have very hard water here to begin with. Does this matter? Do I go ahead and ignore that and add the fertilizers as stated in the estimation guide?

Do I have to have CO2? I would rather not have to have one more thing to have to store around my tank and keep an eye on. Not to mention the extra expense.

Is running the airstone all the time a bad thing? Is it maybe taking out needed CO2? Should I only run it at night?

I would like to change to a smaller substrate but I'm afraid I'll kill the plants not to mention I would have to move the fish out while I do this. Is this wise or should I just leave it alone?

Just want to make sure I'm not heading for some kind of disaster. I want to keep it simple but have nice plants that fill in and grow nicely.

Thanks for your help!

[naturegrl]

Bump

[jpappy789]

With that lighting and tank size pressurized Co2 would be advantageous, and less costly in the long run. As would dry ferts. But IMO it's not necessary. It really depends on the plants you want to keep.

[Bk718]

Reduce the lighting to 9-10hrs a day
If you decide not to use co2 then cut back on the ferts as well. Dose the tank once or 2x a week.
Since you are not injecting co2 to the tank you can run the airstone without a problem.

[naturegrl]

Thanks guys,

Dose the tank once or 2x a week.

ok but with what? Does my existing hard water and high ph have any bearing on which ferts and how much I use?

[seighten]

hey, hello! given all the other factors are "equalized" , adding co2 just makes plants grow faster (in general..). with regular water changes, a relatively "light" fish load, LOTS a light.... my plants have done well with just the regular addition of flourish excel... they just do not grow as FAST as if co2 was being added. to me, is not worth the extra "hassle"... one question... any particular reason you only have ONE cory in that tank? are you aware that they do better/prefer to have the "company" of others of their own kind..?

[naturegrl]

Well, I'm starting to think I should maybe consider CO2. It just seems like such a big added expense and more "stuff" I have to fiddle with and worry about going wrong.

So again, my concern about adding ferts is that how do I know how much to add and which ones? I already have very hard water. Isn't adding certain ferts going to make my water hardness worse? Am I way off base? I'm afraid to just start dumping stuff in my tank without knowing how it will interact with my rock water.

I did just read in a couple of different sources that running an airstone does deplete the CO2 in my water column. So I've decided to only run the airstone at night.

To answer your question seighten, I am planning to add more cories soon. I didn't realize when we purchased "zippy" that he really needs some friends. After an awful outbreak of ich, and now recovered, we are moving causiously. And our LFS hasn't had any schwartz cories in a while.

[jpappy789]

Ferts have no effect on water hardness. For low light plants flourish and excel are enough but higher light requirements mean heavier fert dosing. Rexgrigg and aquariumfertilizers.com are the best places for dry ferts.

[plantbrain]

Well, I'm starting to think I should maybe consider CO2. It just seems like such a big added expense and more "stuff" I have to fiddle with and worry about going wrong.

So again, my concern about adding ferts is that how do I know how much to add and which ones? I already have very hard water. Isn't adding certain ferts going to make my water hardness worse? Am I way off base? I'm afraid to just start dumping stuff in my tank without knowing how it will interact with my rock water.

I did just read in a couple of different sources that running an airstone does deplete the CO2 in my water column. So I've decided to only run the airstone at night.

To answer your question seighten, I am planning to add more cories soon. I didn't realize when we purchased "zippy" that he really needs some friends. After an awful outbreak of ich, and now recovered, we are moving causiously. And our LFS hasn't had any schwartz cories in a while.

CO2 is the biggest step/issue/decision for plant folks.
It's a bit like a drug once you start using and it's a hard habit to break.
Still, it's the best thing you can use to increase the rate of plant growth, some folks might not want that though.
Ferts are easy, CO2 is not so much, but a good gas tank set up will be best and run about 100-150$, you can try DIY if you wish but over time, the gas tank is the only way to go.

I'd strongly suggest not adding more light if you want the plants to grow faster etc, add CO2 instead, or use Excel.

Excel might be a good middle road for you.
Cost more and requires that you dose it often than say CO2, but it's generally easier for many new folks.

As far as hardness , keep KH and GH seperated. Ferts do not add this other than GH booster(GH obviously), and baking soda(KH) etc

Regards,
Tom Barr

[naturegrl]

Hey Tom, thanks for the reply.

So with my current set-up, what would you suggest for light and fert schedule?

[avionics30]

All great inputs from everyone above! You are getting great advice! Although you do not site any issues with your plants, I do have a question about your water quality. You mentioned that your water goes through a sofenter. Is this a salt based softener? Using salts to soften water is OK for you and I but could lead to problems with healthy plants. I would try to use unsoftened tap water if you can. Good luck!

[gmh]

I have similar lighting in my tank. I run one set of lights for 11 hours and the second set for 9 hours.
I add a dose of Kent Freshwater every water change and put in a few Flourish root tabs every couple of months; other than that it is strictly low tech.
The plants I have include Hygro, Ludwigia Repons, Crypts, Anubias, Jungle Val, and Java Fern.
Most of these grow slowly but that is fine with me. It's an easy care tank.

[plantbrain]

Hey Tom, thanks for the reply.

So with my current set-up, what would you suggest for light and fert schedule?

Ideally it would be better to have 2x 54 W T5lights.
PC lights are fairly intense as well.
Not more than 10 hours.

That will help.

Are you thinking CO2 or Excel or both?
If not, use less light, say 2 x 40 W with a reflector, or T8 lights etc.

If so, you are okay,

Ferts depends on whether you use CO2/Excel or not.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[naturegrl]

I have coralife T-5 series double linear strip 48" colormax full spectrum & 6700k (each strip has two different bulbs) plant lamps each bulb is 28w for a total of 56w per strip. I have two of these strips for a total of 112w.

I was wondering what a dosing & lighting schedule would be with these lights and ferts without CO2? I do have a bottle of excel and a bottle of flourish iron but I'm afraid to use it until I know what I'm doing.

55 gal. tank

[naturegrl]

The problem with my water softener (which is salt based) is that it goes through the hot water pipes of the entire house.

When I do water changes, I have to match the tank temp (82 degrees) which brings in the "softened" water.

And just to fill in a little more info....

I currently have a couple different kinds of crypts, swords, water sprite, ludwiga, penny wort, java fern, and something that looks like a type of bacopa. I want to add a piece of drift wood with java moss.

So far everything looks good. Not growing much though. My swords are the only ones that look iffy from time to time. The ludwiga is doing the best and growing.