Advice On Planted Tank

[RadaR]

ok thanks, but from that, what im gonna need like 4 bags

Correct.

Um....you can bulk it up by adding AquaClay to the bottom of the tank, then have the Moon Sand ontop?

 

[jameshughes1989]

yea because otherwise its going to add up to a pretty penny. How much of each do you think I'd need. I cant seem to work it out

 

[RadaR]

Try one bag of aquaclay and two bags of black sand. Observe and judge from there. If you need more, you need more.

 

[jameshughes1989]

cool cheers m8, ill probably have more questions soon

 

[jameshughes1989]

me again

Anyone used this liquid carbon? whats it like compared to easycarbo, as the fella at aquaessentials.co.uk told me it does the same job. Any input would be great, cheers

 

[RadaR]

Funnily enough I'm using it. I think it's been great so far

 

[jameshughes1989]

Well look at that, good stuff

How long have you been using it for?

 

[RadaR]

Well over a month now, mabye two. The tank is injected with CO2 as well but I add the liquid carbon just in case. SO far, no CO2 related algae problems. Just brown diatoms due to my lack of water changes (small-ish tank that should have atleast two water changes a week).

 

[waterdrop]

Interesting RadaR, I too have noticed that water changes seem to have a good effect on diatoms (certainly more so than some other types of algae.) Is this something that you've seen discussed in the planted section, kind of a "well-known" thing? WD

 

[RadaR]

Interesting RadaR, I too have noticed that water changes seem to have a good effect on diatoms (certainly more so than some other types of algae.) Is this something that you've seen discussed in the planted section, kind of a "well-known" thing? WD

I believe it to be well known but I could be mistaken. Folks are advised to perfrom water changes but maintain good nutrient levels if diatoms are present.
Water changes works well against diatoms in particular because they are one of the first algaes one sees if there is a sufficient ammonia concentration (could be low enough not to show up on test kit) in the water. Hence why most cycling tanks will experience diatoms. The water changes reduces the ammonia greatly. Brown diatoms are also very easy to wipe off, therefore any abrasion will send the spores back into the water column. Again, the water changes reduce these numbers.