Opinion Time - Where Do I Go Wrong.....

[Vin Swords]

Hi,

I use 3 x 14k and 1 x 6k. T5. All 54w . 2 to 10pm.

400L heavily planted. Heavily stocked.

Excel and TPN+ ( previously used leaf zone)

50% weekly water change.. With API stress coat and sera backwater extract.

Have algae (bba types) problemS.. Yesterday I have Turned off 50w UV due to the rumors its weaken the organic carbon liquid ( excel )

I don't see Much growing apart from algae..

Help me out please .

 

[Fantail_John]

Hi,

I use 3 x 14k and 1 x 6k. T5. All 54w . 2 to 10pm.

400L heavily planted. Heavily stocked.

Excel and TPN+ ( previously used leaf zone)

50% weekly water change.. With API stress coat and sera backwater extract.

Have algae (bba types) problemS.. Yesterday I have Turned off 50w UV due to the rumors its weaken the organic carbon liquid ( excel )

I don't see Much growing apart from algae..

Help me out please .

I'm now expert, as I not planted any yet, but doing a lot of research and member on here if you not using co2, I was told not to use TPN+ as this will cause problems just use TPN not the plus, and if it is heavy planted and heavy stocked only do top ups water changes? If this information is correct I have been given. Apart from this I don't know, but some one will let you know better Could be any thing that is causing it, being close to a window for example.

 

[minnnt]

He is dosing co2 in liquid form with the excel though. Limit your light to 7 hours a day and see if anything improves. I believe you have only just started using excel and tpn+ ? It takes a week or two to show signs of improvements. Ensure you have enough directional flow in your tank to keep the water and the plants moving. You will need to be doing water changes of 50% a week due to the plants expiring quicker now that you're dosing carbon and fertilisers. I have chosen to do 25% water changes twice a week which should even the nutrient loss etc.

And yes ensure your tank isn't in direct sun light and ensure you have adequate filtration Vin.

 

[RadaR]

Wow, thats dedication. 50% a week on 400litre. Also tpn+ and excel must cost a bomb because thats like dosing 20ml of both per day.
+1 what minnnt said.

 

[Vin Swords]

Hi, thanks.. Yea I do get reflection from windows in the opposite building.. Sorted now.

But recently I setuped flooded forest type setup with bog wood on the top like roots and attached some mini anubias in it.. This plants don't get sunlight but they started get fuzz algae ..

I am thingthing about take the fish and filter out and nuke it with excel... I do have good algae treatments but don't want to use it yet.

Ta

 

[RadaR]

Never use algae treatments. Just manual removal and keep plants healthy..Fuzz or hair algae is an indicator of lack of CO2.

 

[StandbySetting]

Why are you using 4*T5 tubes? 2 would be sufficient to grow pretty much anything, I'd be using pressurised CO2 on a set up like that too, Glutaraldehyde just isn't as good as the real thing in my opinion.

What's your filtration and circulation like?

 

[Vin Swords]

I know.. But I never missed a day without excel..

This make me think.. My UV filter distroy the organic carbon as 50w in 3 feet tube must do some damage to organic stuff..

It's off now.. Let's see how is it gos..

 

[Vin Swords]

Why are you using 4*T5 tubes? 2 would be sufficient to grow pretty much anything, I'd be using pressurised CO2 on a set up like that too, Glutaraldehyde just isn't as good as the real thing in my opinion.

What's your filtration and circulation like?

Well.. 2wpg.. 216w on 100l tank? Shall go down to 108w?

I use eheim 2262 and a 2329 wet and dry for bio filtration . A 2224 for mechanical filtration . A 3k wave maker and 2 k power head ..

SS,

What do u know about UV & planted tanks?

 

[Vin Swords]

I just worrid about using co2.. I have few large discus and angel and other fishes with us for long time..

 

[StandbySetting]

You have 2WPG of T5 though, the WPG rule was based on T12's, T5's put out considerably more light than T5's, personally I think you'd be fine dropping down to just the two tubes, what plants are you growing? With the lighting you have currently CO2 is a must, otherwise you will suffer with algae like you have described.

 

[Vin Swords]

lighting is down to 2 x 14,000k 54w.

And regarding UV and planted tanks? Knows anything?

 

[Vin Swords]

Hope I can still go along with TPN+ ?

what is the difference between TPN and TPN+ ?

 

[RadaR]

UV doesn't solve anything (in terms of algae) that cant be addressed with good fert regime, general maintenance and good plant health.
I wouldn't have thought it would degrade Glutaraldehyde at break neck speed. Open to correction though. Glutaraldehyde does have a 24hour half life regardless.

TPN+ contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (and micro nutrients), which the plants need in greater quanitity once some form of carbon is made available to the plants. Whether than be Glutaraldehyde or gaseous injected CO2.
TPN just contains micro nutrients.

 

[minnnt]

Yes too much lighting will greatly increase the upstart of algae. I would look at a less kelvin rated bulb too.