Just want to thank ereryone here for the great info,that allowed me to sucessfully set up my 20gal long.Planned ahead for 2 mo. befor setting up.I have 1-55 wt.6700k ah supply retro. and 2 13wt.retro.Can say only goor things about ah.super products and price.Also have Hagan co2 system doin good job,have to prune plants every week.Have 6 amano shrimp.8neons,3 ottos,2 sae,2 dwarf garamies,sorry cant spell sometimes.Plants include.glasso.val,indica,2 red plants.Ammonia 0,ph-6.6-7.0 late afternoon.nit-0 do 25%water change weekly.dose florish twice a week-half a capfull,and excell every other day,half cap.used 10lbs.shults on bottom 12lbs flourite on top,is all about correct?again thank you,and any suggestions ,ps been set up for 6 weeks now no algee prob yet,knocking on wood. ha ha
Hi,im new here,suggestion,comments?
- Thread starter bigtank1
- Start date
Welcome Bob -
From your post, it looks like you're running about 80 watts CF lighting over 20 gals., correct?
You give your pH values, but don't mention your kH. Can you tell us that value?
With a 4:1 ratio, I'm curious to see how your Hagen CO2 system is holding up, in conjunction with the Excel that you are dosing.
Keep us posted on your progress, OK?
Len
From your post, it looks like you're running about 80 watts CF lighting over 20 gals., correct?
You give your pH values, but don't mention your kH. Can you tell us that value?
With a 4:1 ratio, I'm curious to see how your Hagen CO2 system is holding up, in conjunction with the Excel that you are dosing.
Keep us posted on your progress, OK?
Len
Hey Len thanks for the reply,still need to get test kit,will try to get some pics up,when i get good camera.
Required test kits:
ph
kh/gh
ammonia
nitrate
nitrite
Optional:
phosphate
iron (good luck trying to get the same reading twice... very un-useful)
potassium
what am I missing?
A 20g long is how high? like 18"? That seems like a whole lot of light for a pretty short tank. Usually if your plants can't absorb all those nutrients you will get algae so be careful.
ph
kh/gh
ammonia
nitrate
nitrite
Optional:
phosphate
iron (good luck trying to get the same reading twice... very un-useful)
potassium
what am I missing?
A 20g long is how high? like 18"? That seems like a whole lot of light for a pretty short tank. Usually if your plants can't absorb all those nutrients you will get algae so be careful.
tank is only 12"high im lettin some of the plants cover a portion of the surface.I have the 2-13wt. on a seperate timer.I might want to turn off till i get all the proper test kits,thanks for the warning.
Just discovered one of my dwarf gouramis pulling out glosso by the roots and swimming off with it.If i can catch the little bas----he will be off to the lfs.He goes to the thickest part of the tank where i cant net him.He is the tank bully,would like to put him in my ciclid tank for 5 min.to see how tough he is,hehe.lfs orded kh gh test kit for me,will know more about my water par.soon.
Yes, if you start to see serious algae you might consider turning the extra 26watts off temporarily.
You are only dosing traces. Your plants will need the required macros to flourish and fight off algae.
You need to load up on plants under that lighting, and maintain a CO2 level of 25 - 30 ppm.
Salvinia, Water Sprite, Riccia are good floaters that will help a lot.
You could even float some Egeria. These plants will use nutrients and shade the tank while you work on your balance.
Keep us posted.
Len
You are only dosing traces. Your plants will need the required macros to flourish and fight off algae.
You need to load up on plants under that lighting, and maintain a CO2 level of 25 - 30 ppm.
Salvinia, Water Sprite, Riccia are good floaters that will help a lot.
You could even float some Egeria. These plants will use nutrients and shade the tank while you work on your balance.
Keep us posted.
Len
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Thanks Len,goin to get some fleet,no salt ect.Im ok with plants for now,about 70%of tank filled,starting to look like a jungle.About 60%of the surface is covered,will be careful not to prune too much Sat.when i do 25%water change.
Good idea. Don't worry about appearance at this time, as much as giving the tank a chance to age up and mature with tons of plants in it.
Once it gets a good bacteria colony going over time, it will be much easier to keep.
Len
Once it gets a good bacteria colony going over time, it will be much easier to keep.
Len