FoundMoney
Fish Crazy
In my 30 gallon I currently have 70Watts using a double bulb fixture, 2 x 25, and a single tube fixture with 20 watts. Considering there is no CO2, I figure, through posts here and other reading, that it's probably a bit too much light, and have come up with a schedule of about 10 hours of light. I will run the tank with just the 50 watt fixture most of the time and give a 20 watt burst for about 2 hours in the middle, appoximating noontime. Previously, I had been running both lights simultaneously for about 12 hours with a 3 hour break in between. We'll see how this goes.
I have had the tank running for about 3 years and in that time I've never had a proper balance but alternating cycles of plant growth and algae blooms. I've tried running things with and without liquid fertilizer. Currently, I have in my possession a Flourish knock off liquid fertilizer, Flourish Trace, and Flourish Excel. My plan is to add the knock off when I change my water (1/week, 20%), add the Excel every other day and add the trace once a week. I've done this for about a week and have seen good growth even on my anubias, which has sprouted 2 new leaves in that time. My vallisneria is now growing toward the top of the tank and I'm getting good growth on my crypt. The java fern, which has grown over the years but only bunches of tiny leaves. The leaves are now reaching much longer length, with the longest one about 2 inches.
However, I am seeing some algae starting to grow, especially some green spot algae on the anubias and crypt leaves and some green fuzzy algae on the vals. Not a lot, but I don't want it to get out of control. Am I over fertiziling? Now that I've cut my light back should I also cut out some of the fertilizer? Since I'm not injecting CO2 I'm prepared for fairly slow growth but when I didn't add ferts in the past I saw little plant growth but still had algae.
Suggestions?
I have had the tank running for about 3 years and in that time I've never had a proper balance but alternating cycles of plant growth and algae blooms. I've tried running things with and without liquid fertilizer. Currently, I have in my possession a Flourish knock off liquid fertilizer, Flourish Trace, and Flourish Excel. My plan is to add the knock off when I change my water (1/week, 20%), add the Excel every other day and add the trace once a week. I've done this for about a week and have seen good growth even on my anubias, which has sprouted 2 new leaves in that time. My vallisneria is now growing toward the top of the tank and I'm getting good growth on my crypt. The java fern, which has grown over the years but only bunches of tiny leaves. The leaves are now reaching much longer length, with the longest one about 2 inches.
However, I am seeing some algae starting to grow, especially some green spot algae on the anubias and crypt leaves and some green fuzzy algae on the vals. Not a lot, but I don't want it to get out of control. Am I over fertiziling? Now that I've cut my light back should I also cut out some of the fertilizer? Since I'm not injecting CO2 I'm prepared for fairly slow growth but when I didn't add ferts in the past I saw little plant growth but still had algae.
Suggestions?
