Need Help: 75g No CO2, Don't want to go back to plastic plants.

Commodore 64

Commodore 64

AC Members
Feb 26, 2008
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Kent, Ohio
So my first foray into planted tanks, with my 55g has not ended well. The only thing that grows is algae, an amazon sword, java moss and a banana plant...Crypts have done nothing. Java fern is green, but is not growing. S.subulata is not growing, hornwort was melting, dwarf hairgrass disappeared, moneywort doesn't die, but grows slow and collects algae.

I'm migrating to a 75g and I don't want plastic plants. Please help, the algae has pretty much overrun the 55g. Oddly enough, when I moved the hornwort to my shrimp tank (30w over 25g) it is doing fine. No ferts in that tank.

What I have to work with:

1. 75lbs of Seachem Fluorite for substrate (got it for $.68 per lb)

2. Shoplight fixture, ODNO modified. I have a 4x ODNO T8 (some say that is equivalent to 125 watts based on lumen production and intensity) and a 2x ODNO T8. To be quite honest, I have no clue what level of lighting I'm dealing with. Conservatively, I would say ~125 watts.

3. AC110, FLuval 305....so I will have fairly turbulent water as the AC110 puts out quite a bit of flow, even when cranked down.

4. Ferts. I have the entire Seachem line, and Rex Grigg has just shipped me his dry fert package. I think this is where I went wrong with the 55g. I think maybe I shouldn't have added ferts with my lack of CO2 and lowish light levels. At any rate, I have a ton of ferts.


Let's assume, for now, that CO2 is not an option. I need to start somewhere though, so should I just do an all moss tank?
 
Once you break above 2wpg, you do risk algae issues without CO2. Shoot for between 1.5 and 2 wpg. I'm currently suffering for removing my rather grubby cover glasses and letting my 55 have the full 140 watts and I'm scraping far too much BGA out every other day. I think it's only the fact that the Ceratopteris and Tiger Lotuses are shading it that I'm getting away with it. Need to persuade SWMBO that she wants a demijohn beside the tank glugging away...

...idea - if said demijohn was also making wine......
 
You could try using Excel for awhile as a Carbon source, but if not, stick to 1.5wpg and get all low light plants.
 
I have a 65g, Flourite substrate, 1.4 wpg, no CO2, no ferts. I would say I have a jungle in my tank. Here are the plants I have; they may work for you also.

  • Corkscrew vals
  • Java ferns
  • Java moss
  • Anubias
  • Dwarf sag
  • Ludwigia repens
  • Amazon sword
  • Anacharis
  • Crypt wendtii (fairly new)
Most of those are low light plants and many low light plants do grow slowly as you've noticed with your tank.

How long do you keep your lights on? Should try around 8 - 10 hours a day.

This is also my first planted tank and it's only been set up for about 7 months.
 
I do lights for 12 hours per day. Perhaps I should reduce that.

Also I have been using Excel, 5ml per day.
 
petluvr said:
The hornwort is doing better in the shrimp tank because it prefers cooler waters. What's the temp in ur tank maybe that's why your plants aren't growing?
Click to expand...

Both temps are 78-80*F. It's hard to keep it lower than that during the summer because we don't have A/C. I would prefer 76, and that's what I keep my thermostats at.
 
Commodore 64 said:
I do lights for 12 hours per day. Perhaps I should reduce that.

Also I have been using Excel, 5ml per day.
Click to expand...

I would knock off atleast 3hrs, will help with algae, since slow growers are more susceptible.
 
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