How Not to Plant a Tank

mommabear1007 · 02-20-2013, 08:33 PM

Getting pretty fed up with the BBA. There are also spots of GDA on the glass, which are annoying, but not nearly as annoying as the BBA. I cut it all out, clean the filters, change the water, and sure enough, next week, it's all over the plants again.

I've tried putting some h2o2 on it during the water change, I've tried putting excel on it during the water change. Wondering if maybe the spores are still everywhere and if a UV sterilizer might help??? The last thing I want is more equipment in this tank but I am soooooooo sick of the BBA

mommabear1007 · 04-15-2013, 04:49 PM

Haven't updated this is in awhile so here goes.

I think there is something wrong with the co2 regulator (which is probably why the bba is taking over), its been suggested to me to increase the working pressure and adjust the needle valve and if that doesn't work to put a second valve inline. So that's where I'm at with that.

I put a screen over the light to try to discourage the bba, and it worked, but the plants are leggy. I haven't changed the dosing schedule either and not sure if I should? I keep changing the water once a week ~50% so shouldn't hurt anything just seems unnecessary.

I want to do two things:

1.) remove the 2nd, smaller filter. It doesn't disconnect correctly and its a real PITA to clean now. it's also overkill as my main concern was circulation, but there is a powerhead next to it (i'm diffusing the co2 through it) so it really doesn't need to be there. i was thinking of slowly removing the media piece by piece over time so that the sudden removal of bacteria wouldn't be such a shock, but I also kinda wanted to use it in the 10 gallon at home, and therefor don't want to throw the bacteria away... so not sure how to go about doing that... AND...

2.) i want to add more fish. right now there is one angel and 5 red minor tetras and I would like to add 5 more red minor tetras and 10 or 15 neon tetras but I don't know if that would be too much. I also don't know that I should remove the 2nd filter if I add so many fish. I wouldn't add them all at once, obviously... but don't know if i should...

pejerrey · 04-16-2013, 01:08 AM

What is the temperature?
Proper aeration?

Nami · 04-16-2013, 05:33 AM

You're really brave for sticking it out this long! I've always been scared of plants but am just starting to do this myself.

mommabear1007 · 04-16-2013, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pejerrey

What is the temperature?
Proper aeration?

temp 80 :/ i've turned the heater down
very good surface movement, yes

mommabear1007 · 04-16-2013, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nami

You're really brave for sticking it out this long! I've always been scared of plants but am just starting to do this myself.

thanks! but i don't know if brave is a good word. I'd say stubborn

i've invested too much to quit.

you've come to the right place, there is loads of info and helpful, knowledgeable people here. you can do it! if there's anything i've learned its: do the research FIRST, or you will have a lot more work in the long run!

pejerrey · 04-16-2013, 04:10 PM

Shorten your photoperiod then. I know u are hard headed about that!

How many hrs is now?

mommabear1007 · 04-16-2013, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pejerrey

Shorten your photoperiod then. I know u are hard headed about that!

How many hrs is now?

8, but on for 4, off 2, on 4. i can't shorten the period any more now that i've added the screen, the plants are struggling. growing slowly, not near as thick, and they've gotten really leggy. i've actually considered lessening the break.

i did end up cutting three lines in the screen to add a bit more light.

and the increase in the working pressure seemed to stabilize the bps rate (but its only been one day) so hopefully that problem is fixed and i can bring the light back to normal. i will probably do that slowly though.

mommabear1007 · 04-16-2013, 05:27 PM

what is ideal temp?

mommabear1007 · 04-16-2013, 06:35 PM

Holy cheese.

Those plants were much worse than I thought. I went to trim them, moved some around to fill in a gap, ended up removing probably 35% of the plants. At least. They're looking rough. I removed the screen completely.

Maybe I would prefer the BBA :/

10gallonplanted · 04-16-2013, 11:05 PM

78-76 is a temp I like.

pejerrey · 04-17-2013, 05:46 AM

What I would do:

Keep ur tank about 70F with no screen for the lights but no more than 6hrs on total.

Tropical tanks are way more complex to upkeep.

mommabear1007 · 04-17-2013, 05:06 PM

ok, ill try it..

the bps rate was down again

02-20-2013, 08:33 PM	#121
mommabear1007 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: under a dead ohio sky Posts: 302	Getting pretty fed up with the BBA. There are also spots of GDA on the glass, which are annoying, but not nearly as annoying as the BBA. I cut it all out, clean the filters, change the water, and sure enough, next week, it's all over the plants again. I've tried putting some h2o2 on it during the water change, I've tried putting excel on it during the water change. Wondering if maybe the spores are still everywhere and if a UV sterilizer might help??? The last thing I want is more equipment in this tank but I am soooooooo sick of the BBA __________________ I have gone to a place far below up above and in between the middle.

04-15-2013, 04:49 PM	#122
mommabear1007 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: under a dead ohio sky Posts: 302	Haven't updated this is in awhile so here goes. I think there is something wrong with the co2 regulator (which is probably why the bba is taking over), its been suggested to me to increase the working pressure and adjust the needle valve and if that doesn't work to put a second valve inline. So that's where I'm at with that. I put a screen over the light to try to discourage the bba, and it worked, but the plants are leggy. I haven't changed the dosing schedule either and not sure if I should? I keep changing the water once a week ~50% so shouldn't hurt anything just seems unnecessary. I want to do two things: 1.) remove the 2nd, smaller filter. It doesn't disconnect correctly and its a real PITA to clean now. it's also overkill as my main concern was circulation, but there is a powerhead next to it (i'm diffusing the co2 through it) so it really doesn't need to be there. i was thinking of slowly removing the media piece by piece over time so that the sudden removal of bacteria wouldn't be such a shock, but I also kinda wanted to use it in the 10 gallon at home, and therefor don't want to throw the bacteria away... so not sure how to go about doing that... AND... 2.) i want to add more fish. right now there is one angel and 5 red minor tetras and I would like to add 5 more red minor tetras and 10 or 15 neon tetras but I don't know if that would be too much. I also don't know that I should remove the 2nd filter if I add so many fish. I wouldn't add them all at once, obviously... but don't know if i should... __________________ I have gone to a place far below up above and in between the middle.

04-16-2013, 01:08 AM	#123
pejerrey Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12/100%) Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Oakland, California Posts: 1,910	How Not to Plant a Tank What is the temperature? Proper aeration? __________________ *A heavily planted shrimp tank is possible!*

04-16-2013, 04:10 PM	#127
pejerrey Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12/100%) Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Oakland, California Posts: 1,910	How Not to Plant a Tank Shorten your photoperiod then. I know u are hard headed about that! How many hrs is now? __________________ *A heavily planted shrimp tank is possible!*

04-16-2013, 05:27 PM	#129
mommabear1007 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: under a dead ohio sky Posts: 302	what is ideal temp? __________________ I have gone to a place far below up above and in between the middle.

04-16-2013, 05:33 AM	#124
Nami Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 53	You're really brave for sticking it out this long! I've always been scared of plants but am just starting to do this myself.

04-16-2013, 06:35 PM	#130
mommabear1007 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: under a dead ohio sky Posts: 302	Holy cheese. Those plants were much worse than I thought. I went to trim them, moved some around to fill in a gap, ended up removing probably 35% of the plants. At least. They're looking rough. I removed the screen completely. Maybe I would prefer the BBA :/ __________________ I have gone to a place far below up above and in between the middle.

04-16-2013, 11:05 PM	#131
10gallonplanted Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Gainesville, GA Posts: 1,674	78-76 is a temp I like.

04-17-2013, 05:46 AM	#132
pejerrey Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12/100%) Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Oakland, California Posts: 1,910	How Not to Plant a Tank What I would do: Keep ur tank about 70F with no screen for the lights but no more than 6hrs on total. Tropical tanks are way more complex to upkeep. __________________ *A heavily planted shrimp tank is possible!*

04-17-2013, 05:06 PM	#133
mommabear1007 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: under a dead ohio sky Posts: 302	ok, ill try it.. the bps rate was down again __________________ I have gone to a place far below up above and in between the middle.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode