Changing substrate ? and how does this sound?

[sillyputty]

I have been having terrible algae problems but I think I have it under control. I have a 37 tall with a 65 pc light and a 20 watt flourescent that is toward the red spectrum (probably not that great for plants but I like the look). I only had a couple of plants so last week I have purchased some more and now have 2 swords (Echinodorus bleheri I think and a green melon), a lizards tongue, some bronze wendtii, some vals which are now floating at the top, a bunch of moneywort, java moss growing on driftwood, a wistera and a bunch of pygmy chain sword.

I use Excel. I have two HOB filters on a somewhat overstocked tank. I added PhosGuard. I keep the water level high to reduce splash. I also reduced feeding amt. I have cut the length of time for the 65 to 12 hours and will have the 20 watt on maybe an hour or two more than that.

Last week I cleaned all the build up of algae from the glass and fixtures. Reattached the Java to the driftwood (haven't had much luck getting it to attach) and did an extra good vacuum. I cleaned the filters good with tank water but didn't put new filters in, left the old ones in.

I am going to change the substrate to Eco Complete this week so I can actually get these plants planted. I have 2 twenty lb bags. Should i remove all the old gravel or leave a thin layer on the bottom. Should I put a couple of cups of the old gravel in some mesh for a couple of weeks?

[djlen]

A couple of suggestions from observing your tank (nice looking tank BTW).
That's a tall tank with less than 2 wpg and even though it's CF lighting the height of it will make it difficult to penetrate. Plant those floaters and try not to shade the tank if you can. Let what you've got penetrate.
As to the substrate. I would drain it down to the substrate, saving as much water as possible in a bucket with your fish in it. Then pull the all the substrate and if the tank has been set up for a while you should be left with a bunch of brown gunk in the bottom. That gunk will 'seed' your new substrate and get you up and running instantly. Just lay in your new substrate over the 'gunk' and back fill with as much of the old water as possible. You can consider whatever you need to add from the tap as a water change.
Chemical additives to control imbalances in nutrients, IMO are never a good option and not necessary. I would recommend that you discontinue their use.
Please test your water for pH, N, P, gH, and kH and post your results.

Len

[sillyputty]

Thanks, Some good ideas. The floaters are the vals and just there till I get the substrate changed. I bought the Excel when I had way fewer plants and tons of algae. I would clean it and it would look the same 3 days later. I have to say I think it did slow the algae growth down and in fact the black aglae seemed to be slowly going away. I think I will keep using it until I get the substrate changed and the plants established. The tank has been set up for about 10 months. The tank is back in a corner where it gets no direct sunlight but it does get alot of bright morning reflected light. Does that affect it much? I think you can tell in the pictures and I had closed the blinds to take the picture.

[djlen]

Amazing how positively plants that are growing well have a negative effect on algae.
I suggest that you consider continuing the use of the Excel or some other form of carbon supplementation. It will do nothing but good things for your plants.

Len

[Loachkeeper]

I did a complete substrate change about 2 weeks ago. I had broken my 55 and replaced it with a 60g. I used Flourite instead of the old gravel and vaccuumed out the 55g very well and gathered as much brownish film as I could into a large container that I filled with water. Once I had the 60 set up and ready for water I dumped the container with the brown film back into the 60. I reused about 35% of the old water.