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View Full Version : 20 Gallon High Tech Planted 2 months in


Kuthoht
05-09-2009, 5:22 PM
Tank Specs
20 Gallon High
65 Watt Coralife Aqualight
5lb Pressurized c02
rea sea 500 co2 reactor
red sea drop checker
eheim 2028 proII canister
30lbs flourite substrate
Manzanita Driftwood
Dosing EI for a 20 gallon tank

Plant List
Red Ludwigia
Myrio Filigree
Water Sprite
Myaca
Green Cambomba
Green Crypt
Bronze Crypt
Dwarf Hair Grass
Red Elephant Ears

Ok so this is my first planted tank. I've tried to go all out with this tank to increase my chances of success. I purchased all of my plants from aquariumplants.com and they were in awesome condition when I received them 2 months ago.

Now for my issues I've run into since launching the tank. I have of course run into some algae issues. Its not out of control but it is annoyingly present.

1. I have some brown algae mostly on my dwarf hair grass. The grass has grown some but for the most part it looks ugly as it has a coating of brown algae on it. Most of the plants in the tank dont have this issue or at least not enough to concern me.

2. I've noticed some Green Spot algae on the glass of the tank which comes back pretty quickly when I clean it off. So far this isn't evident on plants.

3. I have some green hair algae in the tops of some of the plants. It forms long thin strings and I've been just reaching in and pulling them out.

4. My green crypt did have the start of what looked like beard algae on a couple of leaves but I trimmed the leaves and haven't really seen more signs of it.

I think what algae issues I have, have come as a result of overdosing with the EI routine. I have been very consistent in my dosing the dry ferts according to the recommended amount for a 20 gallon tank. After testing my water and observing my algae issues I've decided that the recommended dose of fertilizer is too much for my tank and have cut it back by about 1/3.

As for growth of plants in the tank. The ludwigia and water sprite grow like a weed. I have to prune them every couple of days and the ludwigia does alot of pearling. The myaca has grown well. The myrio and cambomba grow but are consirably slower. My crypts are growing although slowly. The elephant ears was a bulb when I received it. In 2 months its just finally started to show small leaves. This must be a VERY slow growing plant.

I have attached pics of the tank in current form.

petluvr
05-09-2009, 5:29 PM
Tank looks nice and you have my favorite fish, the columbian tetra:)

Kuthoht
05-09-2009, 7:24 PM
yea I'm quite fond of my columbian tetras. I have 4 of them and they're much better looking in person than the picture shows. The dwarf flame gourami is also very pretty.

I guess I shoud list the fish stock

4 Columbian Red/Blue Tetra
1 Dwarf Flame Gourami
2 Dwarf Sunset Platy
3 Orange Von Rio Tetra
3 Peppered Corydas
3 Otto's

DiezelEinstein
05-09-2009, 7:28 PM
looking good! what's your photo period? how many hours.

lighting for too long will for sure put them green spots on the glass.
usually slow growing plants will get hit with "green dot" as well the glass due to having the lights on too long.

ChrisK
05-09-2009, 7:31 PM
wonderful looking tank

gmh
05-09-2009, 7:44 PM
Plants look healthy and the fish look happy.
Nice job!

Kuthoht
05-09-2009, 9:53 PM
I'm doing 8 hours a day. I have the co2 and lights on the same timer.

I had these same fish before I ever went planted. I will say this. They're colors have really popped since adding plants. I can honestly say the fish I have in my tank are much better looking than the same ones at the store I got them from.

DSR
05-11-2009, 12:45 PM
I have the same issue with my drawf hair grass. I planted it three weeks ago and it is really starting to take off now. I broke it into three clumps and planted them about 3 inches away from each other in a triangle. The space between the three clumps is now filling in nicely. But, I have noticed that I am getting some brown on the grass... thought maybe it was dying but now I am not so sure. I typically brush vacuum the grass when I do my water changes, but that doesn't seem to help. Did you figure out a solution?

jenazen69
05-11-2009, 1:57 PM
nice tank can't wait to see the progress updates.

Fordtrannyman
05-11-2009, 5:04 PM
What's your question?

I think you're doing good with the fert. regime and photo period. I personally would run the Co2 24/7 or set it to come on an hour before the lights.