Trying To Get It Right

[TimJ]

Tank stats:
116.5x36.5x54cm
77f
ph 7.5
NO2 0ppm Nitrite
Nh3/NH4 0ppm Amonia
NO3 20ppm Nitrate
GH 360ppm don't know how to get degrees
KH 190 ppm "
30 watt power glo 90cm tube 3 months old
30 watt flora glo "
DIY CO2 x2 bottles haven't worked out ppm
3" of pea gravel mixed wth Laterite
JBL fertiliser balls
Nutrafin Plant Gro 27ml p/w
Water change 25% every 2 weeks
Haven't tested for ferts


Hi

I have a fairly well planted tank that up until last week had been fairly well balanced.

Then I started to get an algae bloom. Brown/Green algae covering much of the left hand side of the tank.
When I did my tank clean I did find that the outlet for CO2 was prety much blocked with yeast deposits.

I am also worried about the WPG is not enough, but after searching around I can't find 90cm tubes over 30watts.

I also re housed a 8" Common Plec and 3 Clown Loaches just prior to the algae bloom.

Any advice apprecieated, I've got soooo much to learn and have read soooo much my head hurts

Cheers Tim

Sorry don't know how this came up three times all a bit new this posting!

 

[Alex_]

up your co2 and added alot more stemed plants...

 

[TimJ]

Hey thanks I guess another bottle's called for.

So 60 watts is enough then for lighting . Because I tried some calculator and it worked out I needed about 200 watts!!!!

Thanks Tim

 

[BigIan]

i`d seriously start looking at a presreised bottle co2 feed as this will be much more stable and much easyer to controll....

and as for the lighting get a second unit fitted with t5`s and reflectors

and plant as many plants as possible in there, stick some fast growing plants like cabomba untill you have the alge under controll then slowly replace the cabomba with some more decrotave plants

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Just an FYi- to convert ppm to degrees for both GH and KH divide by 17.7.

 

[TimJ]

Thanks guys

I put in a few more plants in not much free space in the substrate left now. I also added some Nerite snails to clean up a bit.

The hood for the tank in formed plastic and will not allow more lighting units to be added. I have made sure the plants are all low light compatable.

I'm not great with DIY but could maybe try making a custom wooden hood.

Anyway thanks for the pointers.

Tim