anyone hear of this product ? eSHa PROTALON-707

I second Tom's post. It's ultimately just a money drain...you have to keep using it to "fix" (I use that term lightly) the problem, unless you actually fix the problem. You just have to keep tinkering.


Your plant load looks pretty low, also. You may want to stick in some fast growing stemplants to help outcompete the algae.
 
Thanks folks !

What type of stem plant do you think would do well with the 65watt 6700 lighting that this tank has ? Right now I have a few tiny sprigs of water sprite trying to grow in here. I do have some taller sprigs in a few other tanks that I could transplant into this one......any other types that get to the nutrients before the algae can ?

Also, I've been keeping the light off most of the time...is that not a good idea ? It just seems that when I have it on regularly the algae begins to get worse.....but, without the light the plants aren't getting what they need to grow and make use of the nutrients???? :confused: :confused:

Gads....this gets complicated !
 
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Len suggested rotala indica to someone in another thread and I'd forgot what a nice plant it was. Ludwigia repens is another option.

Might I suggest adding some anubias or java fern to your driftwood. You have a dynamite looking tank but I'd love to see some plants on the wood.
 
That's an idea there Reiv...I do have a few very small anubias in that tank somewhere...lol...but they're so tiny and hardly grow at all. Perhaps something like that right between the two stems jutting up there on top of the log...hhmm..
 
Run your lighting normally.
The Excel we recommend does not magically make the algae go away. The increased plant growth realized through it's use is what decreases the volume of algae.
Grow the plants......lose the algae. More plants, more use of available nutrients, less algae. In order to help facilitate this process, you need good lighting, in the neighborhood of 10 - 12 hrs. daily, IMO.
Both plants that John mentions (rotala and ludwigia) are fast growing, colorful stems that are easy to propagate and will give pink/red color depending on lighting, and use nutrients.

Len
 
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I'll second the recommendation for rotala indica and ludwigia repens, they'll add color to your tank. I'm also a big fan of anubias.

You don't want to shorten your light period. In order for the plants to outcompete the algae for nutrients, they must be healthy and growing. You may slow down the algae with the short light period but it'll eventually kill the plants.
 
Stick with 10 hours of light.
Add Excel per rec's.
Add some narrow leaf java fern if you can, it does well and would look nice.

The issue is that you do not have a terrible plant infested algae issues, but a little help will make the tank look like you want with a little work.

Excel, CO2, 10 hours of light, fertilizer, water changes etc.
You can dose once/twice a week and improve growth using the Excel also without getting too much into things.

You have too little plant biomass to go non CO2 well.
But that will change some if you add the java fern, moss, Excel etc.


Regards,
Tom Barr
 
Tom, what do you mean by "too little plant biomass? Do you mean there aren't enough plants in the tank ? It looks like you're saying with what I have in there now I would need CO2 injection to do well....but if I add the extra plants you mentioned I should do better? Did I understand you ok ?

I do dose with the excel every day per instructions at this time...I'll go back to leaving the light on for at least 10 hours a day. Also, I do have fertilizer spikes at the base of the sword plants and the aponogetons, but other than that I don't add any other ferts. Should I ? ..and if so...what ??

This was the first planted tank I had ever attempted and it's been going for almost a year now. Thing is...I have this little one gallon tank with one betta, a good substrate, a sprig of water sprite and one little baby sword plant...and that tank has done fantastic !! Not a single spot of algae EVER !! and all it has for lighting is one little 7 watt incandescent bulb...go figure...lol...no muss, no fuss. Now if I can get this 29 to behave like that I'll be a very happy woman !
 
I just remembered this liquid plant fertilizer that I have for my viveriums. It's called Dyna-Gro and the numbers are 7-9-5. Should I use this for the aquarium ? If so, how often would I dose with it ? It says to use 1/4 to 1/2 teasp. per gallon. Go for the 1/2 teasp....or will 1/4 do ?? I'm not worried about it harming the fish, since it's safe to use with my dart frogs.

Thanks for any info ! :)
 
As previously stated, the more plants, the more difficult it is for the algae.
Increasing your bio-mass/plant mass would help enormously in the fight against algae.
Plus, IMO you need to fill out the tank a bit.
Your plants will benefit from regular dosing of N,P,K and trace elements. I would caution strongly against using any type of ferts. that are used for dosing house plants.
Get a fertilizer that is made for aquariums.
With your wattage, you could probably do well with an all-purpose fertilizer available at most LFSs, augmented with a light dosing of Seachem's Flourish for traces.
Do not pull up those plants that you've buried the plant tabs under for at least 3 months. If disturbed they can/will cause you algae problems.

Len
 
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