Algae, Nutrients and all-around panic.

[morleyz]

OK. Started my first "planted" tank in January in my 28G bowfront.

Started off with some lowlight plants, some aponogeton and anacharis. Wasn't quite satisfied, so I made myself some cheapo light upgrades and started DIY CO2 injection. Things were looking good and I added some higher light plants.

Now have an amazon sword, wisteria, red ludwigia and a few others.

A couple of weeks ago, things started going down hill. Plants started losing all of their leaves below an inch or two from the top. Aponogeton started melting away. Anacharis stopped growing all together and started darkening in color. Very little growth from any plants and no new leaves.

Last week, I upgraded my lighting to some real lighting. I now have 110W CF lighting and I've started adding Flourish 2x/week.

Here's my new list of issues...and any suggestions would be appreciated:

1. Brown algae has taken a toll on the plants a lot. I'm hoping that good water changes, my otos, and some bright lights will get rid of this, but any other suggestions would be appreciated.

2. Stem plants that have lost all of their lower leaves. Do I cut the tops and replant them? Or will they regrow lower leaves? They've mostly grown roots below where the leaves have stopped.

3. Aponogetons have gone dormant I think. Do I remove them or leave them in?

4. Where a good place to start for getting nutrients in check and making sure I'm on top of things. Any websites or info you can suggest?

Sorry for the long post, though you'd be able to help more if I was detailed.

Thanks in advance.

[Tempest]

What is your ph and Kh running with the DIY CO2? That's a lot of light you got yourself so you'll need to make sure you have enough macronutrients for the plants too. CO2 first off, then N, P, and K. Flourish doesnt' add the macros. Also, what sort of substrate are you using?

First off, I'd do a good cleanup of the tank and plants.. Trim em up and replant tthe tops of the stem plants. Do a 50 or 60 percent water change then dose back up the nutrients.

I'd use:
CO2 20-30 ppm
nitrate 1/4 tsp nitrate (stump remover or pure KNO3)
phosphate== get to a bit above .5ppm. I make a stock solution of KHPO4 but most here use the Fleet's enemas.
Potassium-- I'd use about a 1/4 tsp of either KCL(nusalt) or K2So4. That doesn't bring you up to a high enough level but you also get potassium in the KNO3.
Flourish-- Add a generous capful.

Since your tank isn't exactly flourishing yet, I'd test in a couple of days for the nitrate at least. If the nitrate is going under 5ppm by then, I'd redose the nitrate, phosphate, and flourish. If the plants are taking up the nitrate, then I figure they are consuming the other nutrients too.

When the plants are growing well, you can figure redosing a high light level tank like this one two or three times a week then doing a 50% water change at the end of the week and starting over. I have found that using this regime that is based on what Plantbrain recommends I don't often even have to test levels in my tank anymore. It's really sorta the lazy womans(or mans) approach.

[djlen]

I agree with everything Tempest said, and would add that the more plants you can plant in there, the better your chances are at beating the algae. That's a ton of light Morley. With that much light you'll need a good concentration of CO2 as well as all the elements that Tempest outlines. What is your kH and ph?
If you want info on plant care an fertilization read everything that Tom Barr writes. Use the Search button and type in Tom Barr or Plantbrain.
Also: www.sfbaaps.com/reference/barr_02_01.shtml
Len

[morleyz]

ok...here's some test results:

PH 8.2
KH 15
GH 4
NitrAtes - undetectable.

Also, I'm currently using 90% flourite/10% gravel substrate. I'll be doing some reading up tonight, and also I'm setting up a second DIY CO2 bottle as my wife hasn't quite blessed my pressuried budget yet.

Any other immediate suggestions?

[Tempest]

Whew, that sure is a high kH!! The ph/kh charts show that you should get the ph down to about 7.2-7.4 using the C02 to get between 20 and 30 ppm Co2 at that kH. Is the kH out of your tap that high too? I would think a single two liter bottle would be sufficient on a 28 gallon tank as long as you find an adequate means to dissolve it. Some people just dissolve it through their power filters. I started that way on my 55 gallon but it was inadequate so I made up a DIY gravel tube reactor.