20 20’s 75 gallon - update 11-09-2008

[fishsandwitch]

dont expect changes within a day...

Use all the bulbs for less time. 2 bulbs is not intense enough for HC

[20 20]

My biggest concern with the shortened time period is the HC, as you say. I'm running 40 watts for 6 hours, and adding the 260 watt PC's (for a total of 300 watts, 4 wpg) for the middle 4 hours of that time. I think that's what you're suggesting...

[20 20]

I've been thinking about the high phosphate and nitrate readings. Should I stop dosing for a bit, until the levels come down? Maybe combine that with extra water changes? Not sure what the best way to handle this issue is, and would like some more advice.

Also, would it be OK to start adding oto's and maybe some amano shrimp? I was thinking of adding 6 oto's, and maybe 10 amano shrimp. Any opinions on whether that's a good idea or not, and if so, would those be good amounts to add?

[lauraleellbp]

IMO otos and Amanos are a great idea... but not till you get the nitrAtes under control. Otos especially are very sensitive to nitrogenous compounds. Water changes are always a good way, but you also need to understand the source (which is probably your dosing, but that's just guesswork on my part).

It's going to take some experiementing on your part; your specific plantload is going to grow differently and at a different rate than any other person's, so other than a general "educated guess" from someone else there's no way around the trial-and-error period that it will take to figure out just the right "balance."

Plus, there's usually more than one way to skin a cat as the old saying goes... so just try something that makes sense to you, and journal what happens

BTW- algae or no algae, the tank is looking great!

[20 20]

Thanks for the advice, it's greatly appreciated. I'll start with more water changes, maybe twice a week, and less dosing, and see what happens.

[20 20]

I haven't dosed macros for 3 days, and then I tested nitrates this morning. It was in the 20-40 range, probably closer to 40. Then did a 50% water change, and tested the nitrates again. This time is was solidly in the 10-20 range. Range is now good. I'll monitor the level daily, to see how it goes, before I start dosing again. My phosphate test kit was at the very end of testing liquid, so I don't really trust the super high readings I'm getting. I need to get a new kit, then I'll check the phosphate levels. I'm still dosing micro's on the regular 3 times a week schedule. I don't think the algae is getting any worse, so we'll see.

[@marko@]

stuffing the tank full of algae eaters will help you out a bunch, when they stop eating your algae will come back, but if you are fixing the source of the algae problem while they are eating it goes away a lot faster.

[20 20]

I want to get 6 oto's and maybe 10 amano shrimp, but I wanted to get my nitrate leveldown from the 40 it was at. I'm at that point, so hopefully this week I'll at least get the oto's. Any other suggestions?

[@marko@]

SAE. they are complete algae murderers (young ones anyway, the adults arent as good).

[20 20]

Any issue with them uprooting fairly newly planted HC? Also, I've read quite a few times about 'true' SAE's, and 'non-true' (I just made that work up). Any hints as to how to identify a true SAE versus a 'non-true'?

[@marko@]

yep, big issues with new HC. i just put HC into my 20L and i am constantly replanting it. they are clumsy with their tail (youll know what i mean if you see them swim). wait until the HC is pretty well established before getting SAE.

this is a pic of a SAE off google:

notice the stripe has a zig-zag edge and continues the whole lenght of the fish.

this is a chinese algae eater off google:

different colors and different stripe.

this is a siamese flying fox off google:

closely related to SAE but with visible differences in appearance (and behavior).

[20 20]

Thanks for the info!

[@marko@]

no problem

[lauraleellbp]

Just a word of warning- SAEs are known to become more aggressive and tend to eat fish food instead of algae once older... some ppl love them and never have issues with them, however.

[20 20]

No fish yet, but I did buy a new phosphate test kit. Sure enough, the old one, which was reading a solid 5.0 (or above, that's as high as that kit went) had to be bad. The phosphate level with the new one (Salifert) was 0.25, way to low. Nitrates were at 20, so that's good (I think). I think I read somewhere that the phosphate level should be around 2 to 3, can anyone verify that?