anniecox
04-08-2009, 1:45 PM
I recently purchased some fish from my lfs that had ich. I treated with Quick Cure for about 10 days without success. Lost all of my fish (about 12) except my 3 Neon Dwarf Rainbows and two Albino corys. The ich is gone. While treating, after reading differing suggestions, to decrease stress on the fish, I occasionally decreased lighting. At the time, plants looked not just good but great. Amazon Sword in particular, growing, developing multiple baby plants, etc.
After about 10 days into the ich treatment, they developed what I believe is algae. They do not look healthy at all. I lost my Red Ludwigia. I have an anubia, Red Mellon Sword, Amazon sword and a crypt. Crypt looks ok. I have trimmed the leaves with the most algae. During the treatment process I did two 30% water changes. After the ich treatment, I did one 50% water change. After each water change, I added Seachem Flourish per instructions.
I was planning on doing another partial (30%) water change today. I will again replenish the Flourish. I have done a lot of reading about algae, the causes, etc. But admit, I am truly a novice at a planted tank, and confused by all the advice given on different internet forums. Too much phosphate, CO2, potassium, adding more nutrients, etc. Don't want to do overload but want to get my plants healthy. Also read about adding extra Flourish and Excel.
I have a 45 gal. (36” long x 18" high). I have a 30" T5 double strip light which has a Colormax Full Spectrum and one 6700K, 18 watt. Total of 38 watts. But am told by an experience planted tank lfs owner that since it is a double T5 it is equivalent to more and would be adequate. I leave the light on most of the day. I also purchased a bubble wand and air pump to add to my Emperor 400. I may need to cut down on the bubble wand. Have heard differing info on that, the CO2, etc. For a substrate I used a combination of mostly EcoComple and a little Florite and gravel.
Are you all able to help understand what I am doing wrong, what I am doing correctly and what I need to change? I really want to be successful with this planted tank.
I forgot to mention that not only is there algae on the plants (and decorations, walls, etc.) but some of the plant leaves are deteriorating. So I am not just dealing with algae on the plants but also deterioration. Thanks. Annie
After about 10 days into the ich treatment, they developed what I believe is algae. They do not look healthy at all. I lost my Red Ludwigia. I have an anubia, Red Mellon Sword, Amazon sword and a crypt. Crypt looks ok. I have trimmed the leaves with the most algae. During the treatment process I did two 30% water changes. After the ich treatment, I did one 50% water change. After each water change, I added Seachem Flourish per instructions.
I was planning on doing another partial (30%) water change today. I will again replenish the Flourish. I have done a lot of reading about algae, the causes, etc. But admit, I am truly a novice at a planted tank, and confused by all the advice given on different internet forums. Too much phosphate, CO2, potassium, adding more nutrients, etc. Don't want to do overload but want to get my plants healthy. Also read about adding extra Flourish and Excel.
I have a 45 gal. (36” long x 18" high). I have a 30" T5 double strip light which has a Colormax Full Spectrum and one 6700K, 18 watt. Total of 38 watts. But am told by an experience planted tank lfs owner that since it is a double T5 it is equivalent to more and would be adequate. I leave the light on most of the day. I also purchased a bubble wand and air pump to add to my Emperor 400. I may need to cut down on the bubble wand. Have heard differing info on that, the CO2, etc. For a substrate I used a combination of mostly EcoComple and a little Florite and gravel.
Are you all able to help understand what I am doing wrong, what I am doing correctly and what I need to change? I really want to be successful with this planted tank.
I forgot to mention that not only is there algae on the plants (and decorations, walls, etc.) but some of the plant leaves are deteriorating. So I am not just dealing with algae on the plants but also deterioration. Thanks. Annie