plant problem

Ramphonic

Ramphonic

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Mar 31, 2009
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Im having the hardest time with my planted tank. I seem to have very little growth and seem to be getting some algae on the lower stems. I have a 29g with a ahsupply single 55w kit. That ive had for about a month. I have diy c02 diffused with a powerhead running for about a week. Ive dosed a little flourish. I have the lights on 8 hours a day and my nitrates are about 10 (ppm?) I change 20-25% of the water twice a week.

I think I have swords, willow hygro, anacharis, a crinium onion plant, a few vals, ludwigia repens?, needle leaf ludwigia? pennywort and several other misc. the onion plant and the anacharis seem to be doing the best.

My main concern is the algae and how to beat it. It seems to be dark green and I also some hair on the leafs. I am about to give up on this. My swords grew faster with my cheap hood light. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Ramphonic said:
I have 2 angels and 4 cories

I thought excel will melt my anacharis and vals?
Click to expand...

Well, im not an expert, so i don't know about that, i have vals in my tank, and it didn't hurt them, but Anacharis has never worked for me. Get some algae eaters like an Otto, they are cute too, stay small, and do a great job keeping the tank clean, and they will eat what the corys eat when the algae is gone.
 
you probably have too much light. I've heard the excel isn't good for vals. you may want to try a DIY system if you can't afford a pressurized system. You can also decrease your lighting by either only using 1 of the bulbs or having the lights on for less time.

I know 55w over a 29g doesn't seem like a lot but the AH supply, from my understanding, are rather impressive in the amount of light they put out (due to the reflectors) so 55w isn't exactly 55w, if that makes sense.
 
i agree with too much light. if your plants were doing well with your old fixture i'd switch back.
not exactly on topic but....
how large are your angels? i would think that a 29 would be a bit small for them, no? i had one angel in my 29 and i felt bad for him and upgraded. i suppose it would depend on the dimensions as well though. sorry, just some food for thought.
 
I am getting confused on the light situation. One says I have real low light under 2wpg others say it counts as more. I thought that it counts as more because of the reflector. I cant disconnect one as it is only one light. I cant go back because I gutted my hood to install these.

I was told not to get ottos due too the small size that my angels may attempt to eat them.. I am getting a couple of nerites to help with cleaning. There isnt much algae on the glass. Just some real dark stuff on some of the stems, a little hair on the large leafs and just a little lighter green on some gravel.
 
You can also try feeding less. The algae may be getting excess nutrients from overfeeding. If you are unable to change back to the first light you had, try having the light on for a shorter period. This may be due to having just added CO2. Your plants may not be using all of the nutrients and CO2 yet. You could also try putting in more anacharis and onion plants to out compete the algae for nutrients. I would also check on the dosing of the excel, flourish products. You may be under dosing. It's possible that with the better lights and the new CO2 your plants can't get enough nutients without additional suppliments.
 
all I am using is the regular flourish after each water change (just the last 3 changes) So I should cut my lights back even more??

I was looking at the other flourish products. Do I need the nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus?
 
My angels have never touched or looked my Otto's, and i have four Large Angels with 2 Ottos. The Nerite snail is a good idea though too. And if you are just using regular Flourish .07-.01-.037 that's just trace elements, you might want to add the others too, KNO3 (Nitrate), KH2P04 (Phosphates), andK2SO4 (Potassium) if you water needs it. I also use Flourish Iron, but that could lead to more algae, in your case. Also using dry ferts is super cheap!
 
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