esarkipato's 29g Setup (56K warning)

[esarkipato]

Hey Doug. I definitely suspect a carbon shortage for the algae issues. I just CAN'T justify buying excel, when I have such a cheap carbon source right here . I should really get some amanos...but they are $$! (you are starting to see my motivations).

I recently added 8 glowlight tetras, and 3 more baby cories. hopefully these will help eat the food I put in, I was severely understocked for a while there.

The front left corner.......the foreground is marselia, just thinned out and replanted (see the close-up, first photo). Behind that is Blyxa Japonica. there is actually a TINY little plant called Rotala sp. 'mini', it's only 3-5 mm wide!!

[fresh_lynny]

The replant looks great

[Betowess]

Originally Posted by esarkipato

I could up the bubble count but it's already at roughly 2bps (29g tank!). Speaking of which.....is this cylinder about to go? The left gauge is very low.....and the right gauge is quite high:

Looking nice Earnie! Don't risk a mini pH crash. I'd get that tank refilled soon. Maybe try upping the CO2 and watching the fish on those algaes. I have an old nemesis of a red algae recurring with my new AS. I'm going to try that myself, albeit slowly - to watch the fish.

[esarkipato]

Fresh_Newby, thanks a lot! Every replant is a learning experience. I'm jsut trying to get it looking PRIMO for our halloween party

Betowess, I appreciate the advice. The tank is now filled and kickin'. $10 for a 5 lb tank. I think I am going to try an inline reactor soon....and maybe try splitting the co2 for microbubbles as well. There are now (lemme think...) 6 otos in there. I would like to get some amanos but there are none locally and when there are they are like $5 a pop. No SAE's either

[Wingsdlc]

So I take it your tank did run dry. How long did yours last you? I get out 6 months out of mine. I figure thats not back concidering it is way less work than DIY co2.

Blyxa Japonica... where did you get your hands on this? I really like that plant but I have never seen it on our list at work.

Our Amanos are 4.50 at my work (MVPets). Pretty pricey. Good thing I work there and get a cut on the cost. I would still worry about the Amanos with that angle in the tank though. I would think they couuld take down a few and that would be $$$$!

I understand the excel price thing too. I only normaly use it for my low tech tanks. My sword digs it. It is nice to have around for algae issues though.

Might catch up with you at the Auction if you are going....

Most places you can ask them to oder fish in for you. I know my bosses will do it in most cases.

[esarkipato]

OK, I've got a sneaking suspicion of some nutrient deficiency or abundancy....and I really want to get to the root of them. here are the symptoms:

-Algae growth occurs on older leaves. See this picture from page one, particularly the older leaves on the L. 'cuba'. That stuff looks more like staghorn/hair algae. If the older leaves don't get this algae, they just kind of shrivel up and fall off! (R. Macranda, Alt. Reineckki)
-Algae also on the glass, some spot algae/dust algae but it looks now like it also grows in very short strands....
-Algae on the wood and java fern aerial roots, some older leaves of marselia. This stuff looks like BBA.
-Newer leaves sometimes look yellow, or at least lack color. Mostly found in the Ludwigia glandulosa, so it could be getting shaded.

I am starting to suspect that my dosing is off, as well as a low CO2.

DAY1: 50% WC, 1/4TSPN KNO3, 1/2TSPN K2SO4, 1TSPN MGSO4, 8 ML PO4 solution (should be 2ppm)
DAY2: 1/8 TSPN CSM+B (I dissolve it into solution each time)
DAY3: 1/8 TSPN KNO3, 1/8 TSPN K2SO4, 6 ML PO4 (1.5 ppm)
DAY4: 1/8 TSPN CSM+B
DAY5: 1/8 TSPN KNO3, 1/8 TSPN K2SO4, 6 ML PO4 (1.5 ppm)
DAY6: 1/8 TSPN CSM+B
DAY7: REST (lol)

Here are my speculations: This may be too much CSM+B. For a 29g tank, should it be more like 1/16 TSPN? I've read that too much of this stuff can cause algae.

Do I dose too much PO4?

Is CSM+B low in Iron? This is what I suspect is the source of discolored new leaves. According to Watson's page...it contains 7.0% Iron (Fe - cheleted). Should I order some pure Iron Chelate and add that in? Remember that I do have fluorite....that has some iron in it I thought.

As for co2....I am starting to think that to fight algae, dissolved co2 would be better. Any opinions...should I switch from microbubble-mania to an inline diffuser? Or is there a 'surer' way to get dissolved co2....aquamedic or something?

Thanks for any help, as I try to achieve an algae-free tank (aaaaah, the constant struggle )

[Wingsdlc]

This info was taken from: EI light: for those less techy folks - Barr Report

20-40 Gallon Aquariums
+/- ¼ tsp KN03 3x a week (7.8 ppm N, 4.93 ppm K)
+/- 1/16 tsp KH2P04 3x a week (2.28 ppm P)
+/- 1/16 tsp K2S04 3x a week (1.47 ppm K)
+/- 1/16 tsp (5ml) Trace Elements 3x a week
50% weekly water change

Above is what the site suggest for your tank. Below is what it suggest for mine (I added all the PPM from Chucks Calculator). I am running a bit light on my KNO3, heavy on the KH2PO4, and dosing Fe with the Micros.

I don't think you are running too heavy on the P. According to EI, P does not cause algae issues. The one thing I see your not dosing is K2SO4. It probably wouldn't hurt to start this. That might be where the yellow leaves are coming from. I know KNO3 has it but your plants might want more of it. A little more iron might not hurt. I know Flourish has it in it and so does the Flourite that I am also using but I wanted to see what would happen if I gave a little extra. I don't think it hurts but I don't know if it really helps much.

40-60 Gallon Aquariums
+/- 1/2 tsp KN03 3x a week (11.37 ppm N, 7.69 ppm K )
+/- 1/8 tsp KH2P04 3x a week (2.87 ppm P)
+/- 1/8 tsp K2S04 3x a week (2.32 ppm K)
+/- 1/8 (10ml) Trace Elements 3x a week (using Flourish, and Flourish Iron)
50% weekly water change

As for the best way to get CO2 into your tank I am not sure. I am using a Glass Diffuser right now. CO2 Glass Diffuser It seems to work pretty well. I think the main difference from what I am doing to what you are doing is the filter output. I have mine just jetting out without a spray bar. Then I have the Glass Diffuser under it so it catches all the bubbles. Does your spray bar catch most of the bubbles to push them around the tank?

What size filter are you running on this tank? What is your fish load like? How often do you feed? Whats your light cycle at? How much N do you have before the water change?

When trying to figure out the cause make sure you only mess with maybe one or two things at a time to see if it helps or hinders. If you mess with too much at once then it is hard to track what is helping or hurting.

Best wishes... I know aglae is sucks!

[Y0uH0]

I love the assortment of colours and the look of the white sand. Looking great!

[esarkipato]

Thanks, Derrick. Just tryin' to grow some colorful weeds!

Wingsdlc, thanks for the helps.

Yea, the co2 tank went dry after roughly 9 months. It's a 5 lb tank, not a 10 lb as I previously/incorrectly stated. AS for the Blyxa...I got that from.....BSS (thanks Brian). I keep seeing photos of this plant getting HUGE....so I will definitely have some for trade or whatever not too long from now!

I am dosing K2SO4! Actually, way too much according to the EI schedules above!
DAY1: 50% WC, 1/4TSPN KNO3, 1/2TSPN K2SO4, 1TSPN MGSO4, 8 ML PO4 solution (should be 2ppm)

For the CO2, I think I'll take a double approach. I'm going to build a venturi internal reactor using a powerhead, and also probably use the microbubble diffuser below the spraybar of the filter.

The filter, by the way is an XP3..... It's way to big, and I love it!

Fish load is now 9 glowlight tetras, 4 black neons, 1 angel, 5 cories, 6 otos. I think that's it, probably feed 'em 5 times a week.

Nitrates on saturday @ WC were around 10. I think I am going to cut the nitrates way down, estimate it to about 1/16 of a teaspoon 3x a week.

Light cycle is about 12 hours --??-- I will have to check that. I know it could be less....110 watts over 29g is quite a bit....

For now....I plan on reducing nitrates (that won't affect algae much, I don't think) and also try to increase co2 by using the new reactor.

Also, I just noticed that I'm probably overdosing on my micros. That could easily cause the algaes too. Maybe I'll reduce those, but like you said Doug one thing at a time!

[Wingsdlc]

It sounds like we are running very similar systems. One difference is lighting. You are running almost 4wpg all day while I am running about 3wpg all day with a second light kicking it up to 6.5wpg for about an hour.

Keep us posted to see what your changes do. It might take a while before you actualy see a change. (few weeks or more?).

Are you going to the auction this Sat?

[esarkipato]

Long time since updates. Pictures to come later 2nite, hopefully. First an update on the tank's troubles:

Since last post I've tried several co2 diffusion methods, but couldn't get the microbubbler and the internal reactor working at the same time (need a better manifold-not plastic ). Right now I am using the Red Sea 500, 'cause I got a good deal on it. CO2 diffusion seems very good.

I've also started to pre-mix my CSM+b+fe. I can get the mixture later if there's interest. I think this helps, since that stuff is very *heterogeneous*, as in lots of different particle shapes/sizes/colors/etc. By mixing larger amounts together you probably get a closer representative to what the mix is actually composed of.

To follow up on old issues:
-Algae growth occurs on older leaves. See this picture from page one, particularly the older leaves on the L. 'cuba'. That stuff looks more like staghorn/hair algae. If the older leaves don't get this algae, they just kind of shrivel up and fall off! (R. Macranda, Alt. Reineckki)This is still occuring, and the hairy/staghorn algae tends to grow on most plants, esp. java fern's older leaves. Male Flagfish keeps it trimmed up nice though.

-Algae also on the glass, some spot algae/dust algae but it looks now like it also grows in very short strands....Haven't noticed the short hair algae lately, very little spot algae. Keeping up the PO4 dosing!

-Algae on the wood and java fern aerial roots, some older leaves of marselia. This stuff looks like BBA.Lots of BBA these days. Pictures to follow, especially on the Marselia. Not sure of cause. I might suggest that when a lighting period is too long, the plants might stop out-competing algae for nutrients. Cause could be that the water contains far less co2 at the end of the day than, say, in the middle. My first attempt at a solution to this problem will be to reduce lighting period. 12 hours seems way to long anyways.

-Newer leaves sometimes look yellow, or at least lack color. Mostly found in the Ludwigia glandulosa, so it could be getting shaded.Suspect this is due to shading, and some Iron deficiency. My hope that the pre-mixed CSM+B+Fe will help distribute more iron more regularly, and I need to keep up the trimming

Now for a question: what are the effects that an old/aging compact fluorescent bulb might have on plant/algae growth? I think my bulbs are about 1 year old each, so it may be time to replace. I'm wondering if a weakened intensity may actually cause some algae problems....one way or another?

[esarkipato]

A full tank shot: M. Umbrosum soaks up all the light. How can I make the contrast/brightness of this photo even out? Using Photoshop?

Close up of the MArselia, w/ BBA. It grows like a weed on older clovers, and it would take hours to pick out the leaves individually. I need to nip this thing in the bud.

Gratuitous shot of the Micr. Umbrosum. Pretty healthy!

A different view of the whole tank.


Looking at these pictures.....I'm starting to think there's too much java fern! Plus, I suspect some of the algae issues stem from the old (3 years) driftwood.

[Subotaj]

very nice one.
i like it.

[AquaGhost]

Beautiful tank! I really like the red plants you have!

[esarkipato]

Subotaj thanks for the compliment!

AquaGhost, appreciate the encouragement. The top leaves of the redder plants look good....but the lower ones are very unsightly. All the lower leaves (excepting the top couple) get algae, curl up, or fall off!!! It's really frustrating and I have no clue why this happens. ANd that's on top of my BBA infestation!! I guess this goes to say looks can be deceiving!!