Her Name Is Rio...

[stu40]

go on, give it a go.What have you got to lose? (apart from more cash)

my only suggestion would be to read up in the PARC section about easy easier to care for plants and when buying, gets lots of different types.Some will work for you whilst others may not.

i think it was 'Minnit' who started a thread about 'Plants Alive' and their 100 plants for £15, luck dip.Bound to be something in there for you.

Despite all the useful help on here, it's about you,finding out what works for your tank and its particular set up.

Now, enough about you.More help with my probs

 

[ian]

this is a C02 problem Stu...with the lighting in these tanks you'll have to think about some carbon introduction. You could try some Easycarbo to begin with. However, when doing this you'll also have to think about some N and P addition. You need to manually remove the effected leaves and manually remove algae. Do a good water change, then start to dose.

 

[stu40]

this is a C02 problem Stu...with the lighting in these tanks you'll have to think about some carbon introduction. You could try some Easycarbo to begin with. However, when doing this you'll also have to think about some N and P addition. You need to manually remove the effected leaves and manually remove algae. Do a good water change, then start to dose.

Co2, even though i've gone down from 90w T5, to 60w T8, still too much light?
How about floaters & more quick growing plant mass?

 

[ian]

sorry mate, i didn't realise you'd reduced lighting, the algae would indicate a C02 problem though. The GSA in that pic would indicate low phosphates and the hair algae is linked with low C02. Personally i would get some easycarbo and TPN+ and start dosing, you'd see a massive difference in a few weeks.

 

[stu40]

and up the water changes to 50% weekly i'm presuming.

Don't know how i lasted for the 9 months, just held off the inevitably i suppose.

 

[ian]

so you've been 9 months with no algae?? Then all of a sudden it appears...when you have lowered the lighting??

 

[stu40]

so you've been 9 months with no algae?? Then all of a sudden it appears...when you have lowered the lighting??

Very little except on some Anubias, which was out in the open, so not unexpected.Did dose Easycarbo for awhile when i had some Green dot algae on glass.Stopped using that 2 months ago though.
Also since then the Wisteria died out on me (lack of nutrients i think,translucent leaves).Over last month i've removed a lot of long vallis.Maybe about 20 plants, many of which were long enough to spread out over the surface.
Only really put crypts back in.
You reckon that i've taken too much out in too short a time?

 

[ian]

the 'balance' has been upset. The Carbo had stopped as well. I think you have hit the nail on the head with whats going on.

 

[stu40]

thanks for the input mate

 

[stu40]

moved the Baccopi Australias, and added H.difformis to its position.Pruned them in half & replanted to give a good sized clump.

replanted about 8 Vallis that i was going to remove & sell

Started adding both EasyCarbo & TPN+ as per label (3ml of both) see how i get on with this dose.

Think i may have lost couple of Otos. Have trouble finding/counting them most of the time.Have been giving them cucumber ever couple of days, they never seem to eat anything else i've tried (courgette/apple)

difficult balance, don't want too much algae, but enough to keep them fed.

 

[minnnt]

Looking forward to the updated pics Stu

 

[stu40]

Doesn't really look any different to be honest.
Just out of curiosity and for further reference how would something like Apiso Eunotus do in my water.?
PH 7.6
gh 9
kh 5

 

[minnnt]

Majority of Apisto's prefer a ph around 6-6.5 i believe...

 

[ian]

the GH/KH is more important than the PH. The hardness needs to be around 8-12 for them to thrive well. They don't do well in harder water.

 

[stu40]

Majority of Apisto's prefer a ph around 6-6.5 i believe...

the GH/KH is more important than the PH. The hardness needs to be around 8-12 for them to thrive well. They don't do well in harder water.

Thanks lads.
Guess i already knew the answer.Time for a rescape
Mbuna's it is.......then again