[mightymizz]

Tank is 1-2 months old.

Stats:
Tank- 29g
Lighting- 1 Finnex 30" Planted Plus
Hours: ON 6-10am, and 4-8pm to be able to view tank while not away.
Substrate- Activ Flora
No CO2
eheim 2215 (only source of flow also)

Dosing:
Macros- Every other day, 5ml
Micros- Every other day, 5ml
Excel- 4ml daily, 12ml on Water Change day
Water Change: 50% weekly

Here is the amounts of Ferts I added to a 500ml bottle:
KNO3- 58g
MGSO4- 20g
KH2PO4-10g
K2SO4-30g


Also, CSM + B at 40g in separate 500ml bottle.




Questions:
1. I have some algae growing that I tried to show. Some is green spot algae on the glass, some is hanging from the plants (see Pics). I am not concerned with my aquascaping as I put in a lot of plants and hoped they would just start to grow and out compete the potential algae. Is there something I might change to help stop the growth of algae?

2. Any other thoughts on dosing amounts, lighting schedule, general observations? Some of the plants don't seem to be thriving either, or their coloration doesnt look the best (in my rookie perspective).?

Here are the pics.

Full Tank


Funky algae


Right side of tank


Left side of tank


Funky algae growing off of leaves


Thanks!

 

[DefStatic]

Going to keep an ey eon this, as you have a fairly similar setup to me.

The thing is, and maybe it is because of how many plants you have, I thought EI dosing on a tank with no CO2 and not quite high light was supposed to be once a week after a water change. Also, where did you get your calculations and are you going by 29 gallons or how much water is actually in the tank?

Thanks!

 

[mightymizz]

I have used the EI dosages to make up the 500ml bottle, but am dosing every other day to make up for the fact that I'm not dosing CO2. Maybe I'm still dosing too much?

I based the water amount by the tank size alone. I understand that there aren't 29 actual gallons, but just to have a stable number to work from rather than guessing and that number fluctuating.

As far as the calculations, I used the peta calc and recommedations from the "EI dosing explained thread".

 

[xxUnRaTeDxxRkOxx]

Nice looking tank, I agree with how are you getting the calculations for the ferts from? Because what I'm getting from my calculations is higher then what you're dosing.

To DefStatic: You're referring to a low light setup that should be dosed once a week EI, but for someone with medium lighting and above EI weekly schedule is best because of the amount of lighting increases a plants photosynthesis process, the higher the light, the faster the process.

As for a lighting schedule, mine come on a 9:30am, and shut off at 4:30pm which is 7 hours of high lighting with a burst of light between 11am-1pm to simulate high noon sunlight.

 

[DefStatic]

Nice looking tank, I agree with how are you getting the calculations for the ferts from? Because what I'm getting from my calculations is higher then what you're dosing.

To DefStatic: You're referring to a low light setup that should be dosed once a week EI, but for someone with medium lighting and above EI weekly schedule is best because of the amount of lighting increases a plants photosynthesis process, the higher the light, the faster the process.

As for a lighting schedule, mine come on a 9:30am, and shut off at 4:30pm which is 7 hours of high lighting with a burst of light between 11am-1pm to simulate high noon sunlight.

Yeah I just re-read one of the articles I am using for figuring out Ei dosing and it said 3 times a week. The other article I was looking at was for even lower tech.

 

[Shremph]

Nice looking tank, I agree with how are you getting the calculations for the ferts from? Because what I'm getting from my calculations is higher then what you're dosing.

To DefStatic: You're referring to a low light setup that should be dosed once a week EI, but for someone with medium lighting and above EI weekly schedule is best because of the amount of lighting increases a plants photosynthesis process, the higher the light, the faster the process.

As for a lighting schedule, mine come on a 9:30am, and shut off at 4:30pm which is 7 hours of high lighting with a burst of light between 11am-1pm to simulate high noon sunlight.

The average fert calculator (YANC etc); if you choose "EI daily" instead of "The Estimative Index" to do the calculations via the drop down menu, it will produce his results.

 

[xxUnRaTeDxxRkOxx]

The average fert calculator (YANC etc); if you choose "EI daily" instead of "The Estimative Index" to do the calculations via the drop down menu, it will produce his results.

But he's not dosing everything daily, he's dosing every other day, and it says "Dose these levels 2-4 times a week for EI" which means he's under dosing his tank which would be the reason for some of the plants not growing, and looking unhealthy because there's not enough nutrients being supplied to the tank.

So my thoughts are he's better following "The Estimative Index" because it's made for his dosing regime of every other day with a weekly 50% water change.

 

[Shremph]

But he's not dosing everything daily, he's dosing every other day, and it says "Dose these levels 2-4 times a week for EI" which means he's under dosing his tank which would be the reason for some of the plants not growing, and looking unhealthy because there's not enough nutrients being supplied to the tank.

So my thoughts are he's better following "The Estimative Index" because it's made for his dosing regime of every other day with a weekly 50% water change.

Just stating what regimen he was following since you asked in your post. Its obviously not the correct dosing scheme.

Sent from my Nexus 5

 

[jbig]

how is the flow in your tank with just the eheim? I can't speak for the green spot algae, but increased/better flow in your tank will help with that algae in the last picture. it's a little blurry but that looks like it could be staghorn.

 

[Matthew RJ]

I thought EI with no CO2 was a no no.

 

[DefStatic]

I thought EI with no CO2 was a no no.

Nope, although you are not the first to believe that. It seems there used to be a mindset that it was not a good idea. However, there are many documented cases of using the EI dosage for low tech, low light and low tech med light.

The addition of CO2 (with high lights) just changes the EI dosage. Plants need nutrients regardless.

 

[Matthew RJ]

I've got the ferts just waiting to go, but no CO2. yet I'm using t5 lights, and have lots of reading still to do.
I'm also watching this thread with interest.

 

[greaser84]

One thing I notice is the tank is only 1-2 months old, I'd say your plants haven't fully established themselves yet. What are your water parameters? If your still cycling then its to early to tell if there are going to be problems. Algae in a new tank is pretty normal in my book.(which isn't very long and has mostly pictures!:icon_smil)

 

[mightymizz]

Yeah, I wondered if it was because my tank is new. At the same time, I am not sure if I am dosing enough, too much, or too little.

I have no idea if flow is "acceptable" with just the Eheim 2215, or if more experienced fish folks would recommend more flow.

I'm also not sure if my light on schedule is ok, or if I should only have the lights off time be more like 2 hours in between the on periods instead of my current schedule.

 

[xxUnRaTeDxxRkOxx]

I thought EI with no CO2 was a no no.

Because he's dosing Excel which is a liquid form of carbon it should be treated as if he has co2 so again following the estimative index on the calculator is going to help him with continued, and steady growth of his plants.

The Ehiem 2215 is sufficient for providing the flow needed for a 29 gallon tank, as for the lighting photo-period I've found between 7-9 hours is sufficient lighting period. But I prefer to use a T5HO Quad lighting system for my planted tanks because it lets me use different lighting nanometer spectrum's; Like right now on my 45 gallon long tank (48"x12"x19") I have a 48" Odyssea T5HO Quad 4x54w lighting system (which will be replaced by aquaticlife) but for the bulbs I'm running 1x6500k, 1x12,000k white actinic bulb, 1x3000k bulb, and 1xWavePoint Ultra Growth Wave bulb.

My lighting period is this

9:30am the 6500k & 12,000k bulbs turn on, at 11:00am the 3000k & ultra growth wave bulbs turn on giving the tank a light burst to simulate high noon lighting, at 1:00pm the 6500k &12,000k bulbs turn off, and at 4:30pm the 3000k & ultra growth bulbs turn off.

So why am I doing this kind of lighting; because plants have 2 different chlorophyll stages, chlorophyll A responds to 460nm, and chlorophyll B responds to 660nm. The 12,000k white actinic bulb supplies the 460nm for the plants, and the 3000k supplies the 660nm for the plants.

 

[mightymizz]

Good to know on the lighting.

Like I said, Currently my lights come on for 4 hours, off for 5, then back on for 4 hours, then off again until the next "day". So in one day they are getting a total of 8 hours, but with a 5 hour break inbetween.

 

[mightymizz]

UPDATE with more pictures!

Ok, So I don't feel like I got much response to whether or not my tank setup with lighting schedule, dosing schedule etc, is in the "ok" range for a NO CO2 setup.

I am still getting green spot algae, and am not sure what this other algae is (if it is algae), and many plants not growing well with some just melting away. Any thoughts from you guys more experienced with low-tech tanks??

Here are the Pictures with highlighted areas and questions. THANKS

Feel free to click on pictures to expand them.

1. Is this algae, and what kind?


2. Here is more of the "algae" from picture #1, with this picture showing the "green spot" algae.


3. More green spot algae, and a bigger picture of the plant.


4. This plant's color just looks off. Or is it just me?

 

[Zapins]

The algae in the first photo is cladophora. It grows like a plant and is not caused by anything that can be pinned down for certain. It is easy to kill if you take peroxide from the pharmacy store and use a syringe to apply peroxide directly to the algae underwater. 3 mL/gallon of tank water is the maximum you should dose in one day. It won't harm anything in the tank except the algae and breaks down very quickly.

As far as the spot algae goes. There is a lot of conjecture on what causes it but not a lot of solid evidence to back up those ideas. Some people believe it is related to low phosphate levels, and if you raise them spot algae goes away. Though I have never found this to be a reliable way of getting rid of it. I've found that in general when plants are healthy and growing fast, densely packed, etc. algae doesn't really appear as often. We aren't sure why algae dies off the more mature a tank gets but it seems to be a pretty reliable way of keeping algae away.

The field of algae isn't extremely accurate or well understood. Even the scientists who study algae seem to argue back and forth what causes it to bloom. Nobody on the forums has totally figured out how to never get algae or what causes each species to bloom and others not to as far as I have read. The best you can do is treat the algae using chemicals that kill it and make the conditions better for the plants so it doesn't have a clean shot at taking over your tank. When plants do well they seem to out compete the algae for whatever reason, with the exception of a few species of algae (clado being one of them).

Are the new plant leaves growing out more pale than the old leaves? It is hard to see as the difference might just be blown highlights in the photos you posted. If they are more pale then this may be an early sign of iron deficiency. What are you adding for iron?

 

[mightymizz]

Thanks Zapins for the help!

Here is what I am dosing currently with no CO2
Dosing:
Macros- Every other day, 5ml
Micros- Every other day, 5ml
Excel- 4ml daily, 12ml on Water Change day
Water Change: 50% weekly

Here is the amounts of Ferts I added to a 500ml bottle:
KNO3- 58g
MGSO4- 20g
KH2PO4-10g
K2SO4-30g


Also, CSM + B at 40g in separate 500ml bottle. 5ml alternate days than Macros

First page of this thread shows tank photo's also.

Here is another picture of this plant (don't know the name) that is melting as seen in the photos.

 

[Zapins]

Helanthium bolivianum Latifolius is the plant (chain sword). It looks like it could be early nitrogen deficiency. Those leaves are older leaves right?

You are adding 3.24 ppm nitrate to your tank every time you dose. This may not be enough anymore now that the plants have grown in more.

Do you have a pleco in the tank?