To much yellow, help a brother out

[tattooedfool83]

Low tech, 4-48" t8, 12hr photo period. Excel every other day, 1 cap full.

Everything is growing, it just seems yellow, i dont know if its the lights or what i have 2-5000k and 2-6500k. Somethings are a nice green and then others are a light yellow/green. Ive got a little hair algae and some bba but nothings out of control, ive been doing 30-40% water changes weekly for the last 2 weeks. Obvious estimate on the water change, could be 43.9% or 28.6% who really knows. <sarcasm> just in case..
Obvious nutrient defiency, please bestow some wisdom on this young jedi.....

[OVT]

Your plants need food.
I would start using API LeafZone (~$6 per 500 ml bottle) and start reading up on macro and micro fertilizers. You can buy dry ferts on TPT for about $35 that will last you a year or longer, based on the size of your tank.

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[tattooedfool83]

Will do man, thanks for the quick response.

[chou]

if its yellowing and browning up. i'd dose iron

[Zorfox]

I would skip the API leaf zone and go straight to dry ferts. Leaf zone is only potash and iron. The dry fert option is cheap and easy. I agree about ordering them from TPT users. Nilocg has good prices with a price match guarantee. There are always substrate ferts as well if you don't want the hassle of adding ferts everyday or two. I personally use both. Many people here sell root tabs.

[tattooedfool83]

i checked out what he sells, my only question is what do i buy? I could buy up everything and not know what im buying or how to use it or how much to use...

[Wasserpest]

Plants need macros (NPK) and micros. In low tech tanks, not that much. Yellow-ish growth often indicates N or Fe deficiencies.

To get a baseline, I would go ahead and test N and P. Some of that might come with your tap water, no point of adding it if there is enough in your tank. I think decent LFS do that sort of testing for you.

Based on the results, get some KNO3 and (very little) KH2PO4. That and a bottle of Flourish Comprehensive (micro mix), should last a long time for a low tech setup. Aquariumfertilizer.com is another place to check.

[tattooedfool83]

Thanks for the response, i went ahead and bought some root tabs and liquid fert from this guy, Nilocg. So hoping for the best

[AirstoND]

What substrate is that?

[tattooedfool83]

caribsea floramax with pool filter sand over it. Next time i will definetly use a darker cap to match the bottom. As should as i pull a plant to remove it or replant it. It pulls up the floramax.

[tattooedfool83]

I had another question, my tank has a canister filter on one side and an emperor 400 on the other.
It seems that most of this discoloration is underneath the emperor 400, this is also the same side i have my DIY cO2 going into a powerhead at. When i look at the tank the canister filter side seems so much greener and then the emperor side that is the heaviest planted side just looks yellow/ brown. Very unattractive.
Maybe the emperor? The DIY? Any and all ideas or thoughts appreciated

[Zorfox]

It may be a water flow issue. Poor water flow can deprive nutrients to plants in those areas. You may try redirecting the flow to provide a more even mixing of the water column. A spray bar or power head can help in this regard.

[tattooedfool83]

I do have a powerhead with the DIY co2 going into the impeler, maybe turn it so its directed along the back side glass?
There is good surface movement and i have the out of the canister filter pointed towards the middle of the tank but towards the surface

[Zorfox]

That may work. Typically if you aim the flow at the front glass about half way down it will create a circular flow across the substrate which provides nutrients to all areas. I don't think there is one perfect arrangement. You just have to play with the outputs so you have good flow everywhere. Sweeping the substrate picks up organic material to be filtered as well. I usually run an over rated power head before a water change just to stir everything up well so I will be removing it during a water change. The key is to mix all of the water and provide all areas with nutrient rich water.

[tattooedfool83]

Awesome, thanks man. Ill redirect the flow and see. As much as is in there im not happy. So doing what i can