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**scolley** · 03-22-2008, 04:49 PM

Wow! I'm just knocked out. There is STILL no GDA! This makes 5 days since I last cleaned the walls. Even at its best, this tank has NEVER gone 5 days and not had new GDA evident. So something I did, or a combination, has made an unambiguous difference.

Was it the Maracyn? Lots of stems? New filter? Better flow on the old? Or a combination? I'm sure I'll never know. And I'm sorry that I don't have something learned that I can pass along - other than that this combo makes a BIG difference.

I haven't changed my lighting at all. But I have changed my dosing. Kind of. With all these stems, needless to say I had to increase dosages. But I've been testing almost daily, and I've made sure I'm keeping my levels at N-14, P-1.5-2, K-20+. I've not changed my micros, except that I've moved my ECA (ADA Fe) from 8 drops/day to 12.

In other words, IMO the loss of GDA is not due to a fert change.

But the real thing that has knocked me out is the improvement in how the tank looks. I've been so focused on Discus and keeping the tank low maintenance, that I've completely ignored what a WONDERFUL canvas a 180g is for doing spectacular things with plants. I'm really taken with the increase in beauty this temporary addition of plants is to the tank.

One way or another, I'm gonna have to figure out a way to keep some of these stems without massively increasing the work load.

Always nice to have a new challenge!

PS - The Anacharis (Egeria najas) just melted. Don't know if it was the temp or what, but it just plain died. All of it.

PPS - And the Wisteria (Hygrophila difformis) is just kind of hanging in... slow growth, slow dieback of old lower leaves. This plant is just pretty much maintaining, unlike the Green Temple, Ludwigia, and Rotalla which seem to be thriving. Glad I had the presence of mind to select an assortment.

03-22-2008, 04:49 PM	#353 (permalink)
scolley Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11/100%) Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: connecticut Posts: 3,210	No algae! Beautiful Stems! Wow! I'm just knocked out. There is STILL no GDA! This makes 5 days since I last cleaned the walls. Even at its best, this tank has NEVER gone 5 days and not had new GDA evident. So something I did, or a combination, has made an unambiguous difference. Was it the Maracyn? Lots of stems? New filter? Better flow on the old? Or a combination? I'm sure I'll never know. And I'm sorry that I don't have something learned that I can pass along - other than that this combo makes a BIG difference. I haven't changed my lighting at all. But I have changed my dosing. Kind of. With all these stems, needless to say I had to increase dosages. But I've been testing almost daily, and I've made sure I'm keeping my levels at N-14, P-1.5-2, K-20+. I've not changed my micros, except that I've moved my ECA (ADA Fe) from 8 drops/day to 12. In other words, IMO the loss of GDA is not due to a fert change. But the real thing that has knocked me out is the improvement in how the tank looks. I've been so focused on Discus and keeping the tank low maintenance, that I've completely ignored what a WONDERFUL canvas a 180g is for doing spectacular things with plants. I'm really taken with the increase in beauty this temporary addition of plants is to the tank. One way or another, I'm gonna have to figure out a way to keep some of these stems without massively increasing the work load. Always nice to have a new challenge! PS - The Anacharis (Egeria najas) just melted. Don't know if it was the temp or what, but it just plain died. All of it. PPS - And the Wisteria (Hygrophila difformis) is just kind of hanging in... slow growth, slow dieback of old lower leaves. This plant is just pretty much maintaining, unlike the Green Temple, Ludwigia, and Rotalla which seem to be thriving. Glad I had the presence of mind to select an assortment. __________________ steve You wanna know what I really think? You can see at www.wetplantlogic.com. 180g high tech, "generally" low maintenance, planted discus tank Last edited by scolley; 03-22-2008 at 08:23 PM.