Wanting To Take My Planted Tank To The Next Level

[CezzaXV]

Well, I intend on buying the chemicals I need to make my own ferts, as I'm running out of the premade stuff I use. I'm going to do what it says in the calculator and make up a macro solution and a trace solution rather than dosing dry, as I'd find it easier to dose this way. Going to keep my water change schedule as it is and just dose every day, alternating between macro and trace. Seems the best way to me as I remove most of my water twice weekly, but feel free to tell me otherwise.

I know when dosing ferts like this you can't rely on nitrate tests as you're dosing nitrates. I've heard the nitrates we dose are different to the type produced by a cycled tank, but can someone explain or point me the direction of an explanation? Just because I like to be in the know.

If I were wanting to upgrade the lighting, is it as simple as replacing my current bulb with a higher output one, or is a new lighting unit in order?

 

[FishFanatic04]

My nitrates used to show around 20 at the end of a week. But now it is looking like 80ppm. Dosing gives you readings that you can't rely on. But there's no reason to test for nitrates if you are doing the weekly water changes. I think that was the point. Nitrate tests can tell you when you need a water change...but if you are on a schedule then you wouldn't ever need to test that.

 

[CezzaXV]

I've been getting into testing my water recently, especially nitrates to see how they build up or not. When you're dosing ferts, is it still the case you want to be removing them quicker than they're building up? Is there still a sensible range I should be keeping my water in? I'd like my plants to be able to thrive but I dont want my fish to suffer for it.

 

[ian]

Nitrate testing kit are a useless piece of kit. The do not give correct readings. There are sooo many variables when it comes to testing nitrates. They belong in the bin.

(this is coming from someone who doesn't own a test kit)

 

[stu40]

Do you have this answer on 'copy & paste' ?

 

[ian]

theres a lot of answers i have on copy and paste! lol

 

[CezzaXV]

I don't even frequent the planted forums and I've seen you write that before

What's the deal with nitrates in planted tanks then? Surely nitrates don't stop mattering to the fish just because you start dosing ferts?

 

[ian]

Nitrates are just a little less important to fish than others think. There has been testing done of sensitive fish and shrimp and the harmful ranges tend to be around the 300ppm. People get really hung up about nitrate testing when they really shouldn't.

 

[stu40]

Ian got there 1st.^^^^

 

[CezzaXV]

So I'm guessing it's more about keeping them stable than keeping them low.

What about lighting then? Is it as simple as getting a higher output bulb or is a new lighting unit necessary?

 

[stu40]

So I'm guessing it's more about keeping them stable than keeping them low.

What about lighting then? Is it as simple as getting a higher output bulb or is a new lighting unit necessary?

It's more about sufficent nitrates.it's better to dose slightly more than the plants need than slightly less, otherwise the plants start to fail & algae can get a foothold.
I don't know much about your lighting unit, however the wattage correlates to the length of bulb.So if it's a 25W bulb that fits, then a 30W would be too long.

 

[CezzaXV]

I've got one dose of TPN+ left and maybe 2-3 doses of the cheapo one I have, so looking to buy the chemicals some time this week.

Can anyone tell me about liquid carbon and whether that's worth doing? I dont really like Googling stuff like that because of course these products sing their own praises, but I wanna know if they're worth using.

 

[Tonyb111111]

I started using Flourish Excel liquid carbon about 5 weeks ago, and it made a difference to my plants. Some of the lower level ones especially picked up a lot. Just a thought, if youre running T8 lighting, it may be worth sticking some T5's in there and put some reflectors on.

 

[CezzaXV]

Right, I've ordered the stuff to make my ferts with, along with some Flourish Excel. My amazon swords are really struggling in my tank and I've never been able to keep vallis even though I've heard it's supposed to be easy to keep. Also got a few other plants that are doing okay but look like they could do with a helping hand, so hopefully this will see an improvement.

Turns out I was mistaken, it's actually a 15W bulb in my tank not a 25W as I thought. I've been hoping to get a bigger tank before the end of the summer even though the world seems to be conspiring against that plan at the moment. If it does happen, I'll make sure my possible tank candidates have good lighting.

 

[FishFanatic04]

I've seen a ton of posts saying ppl have bad luck growing vallis when doing excel, that it melts. It melted my anacharis too. BUT it's great with my other plants