Newbie setting up 30cm cube tank

1631 Views 14 Replies 5 Participants Last post by qwerty84, May 4, 2017

qwerty84

Discussion Starter · Apr 24, 2017 (Edited)

11

Equipments
30cm cube tank
18watt chihiros led light
Co2 solenoid regulator
Co2 & light on a 8hr timer
Matured Jeneca xp15 filter

Placing of the rocks

Added MC for carpet and P erectus on background

Top view

9 April 2017

19 April 2017
Lots of Algae, doing daily water change. Trimming & replanting the mc

24 April 2017
The MC are still not carpeting & still lots of algae
Increase bubble count from 1bubble per 3 to 4 sec to 1bubble per 2 second for co2
Outlet bar change to a rainbar and point in towards the water to reduce surface agitation and create water circulation

25 April 2017
I can't stand the green water, did a huge water change and scrub the side of the tank.

Water added

With co2 on

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qwerty84

Discussion Starter · #2 · Apr 24, 2017

Can anyone advise what am I doing wrong?

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jackychun

· #3 · Apr 24, 2017

8hrs lighting a days during initial setup is a bit too much. That can cause algae bloom. Also, do you have dimmable control on the Chihiros LED light? Can reduce the intensity of light to level 2-3 at the beginning then gradually increase in later stage where plants matured.

BTW, do you do any dosing of fertilizer so far?

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Nlewis

· #4 · Apr 24, 2017

Is the tank cycled? Do you have ammonia readings?

qwerty84

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 24, 2017

jackychun said:
8hrs lighting a days during initial setup is a bit too much. That can cause algae bloom. Also, do you have dimmable control on the Chihiros LED light? Can reduce the intensity of light to level 2-3 at the beginning then gradually increase in later stage where plants matured.

BTW, do you do any dosing of fertilizer so far?

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Yes, I have the dimmer. However previously when I tried it using lower light intensity the MC keeps growing taller and not spreading at all.
I will reduce the lighting to 6hrs, maybe i wont reduce the light intensity yet? my main concern is MC not carpeting, if able to reduce algae at the same time will be good

I'm not dozing any fertilizer yet. I'm using Japanese aqua plant soil. The soil has only been use for about 3mths.

qwerty84

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 24, 2017

Nlewis said:
Is the tank cycled? Do you have ammonia readings?

Unfortunately I do not have ammonia reading. However my filter was already used for few months before this,
I waited around 2 weeks before adding 6 guppies in too. Till date they are still happily swimming around. I assume ammonia to be at 0 or near 0.
Or am I wrong?

Nlewis

· #7 · Apr 24, 2017

If you don't have a test get, go get one. If that's new soil the tank will have ammonia spikes. This isn't good for the fish and can bring on certain algae.

jackychun

· #8 · Apr 24, 2017

qwerty84 said:
Yes, I have the dimmer. However previously when I tried it using lower light intensity the MC keeps growing taller and not spreading at all.
I will reduce the lighting to 6hrs, maybe i wont reduce the light intensity yet? my main concern is MC not carpeting, if able to reduce algae at the same time will be good

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IMO, at the beginning period, more important things are rooting must be established first. Strong light at the beginning when plants are not yet rooting well may benefit the algae.

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jackychun

· #9 · Apr 24, 2017

I can see algae mark on the glass wall as well. You can try to scrape it as much as you can before big water change (50-70%). At the same time, reduce the light intensity and duration. I hope it would help.

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qwerty84

Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 24, 2017

How about any tips for Monte Carlo to carpet instead of growing vertically?

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Couesfanatic

· #11 · Apr 24, 2017

Looks like the start of green water. If you have a UV light i'd try that. Let the monte carlo roots settle in a bit then trim.

qwerty84

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 24, 2017

Couesfanatic said:
Looks like the start of green water. If you have a UV light i'd try that. Let the monte carlo roots settle in a bit then trim.

Dont have UV light, will the UV light kill beneficial bacteria? maybe will go buy algexit to kill off the algae instead. I have been trimming and replanting the MC. Hope to see some improvement

Tnalp

· #13 · Apr 24, 2017

API has a master test kit for about 20$, that will allow you to test PH, High range PH, Amonia, Nitrate and Nitrite. The fundamental perimeters of your tank. You can go in a little more and pick up a GH AND KH test kit for about 4$. Also, a phosphate test will also allow to see where thats at. From what i have read a high reading in phosphate will permit algae to bloom. Get the liquid kits. Much more accurate than those strips. Read up lots of forms about parameters and what certain readings mean. Also, how they correlate. I am also new to the planted aquarium hobby and i can tell you that I've read SO much these past couple months. I think i put more effort into learning about this hobby than school haha. I am also cycling soil and i do a daily water change.. I don't even test it because the last time i did my ammonia was though the roof. That was with me being lazy and trying to only do water changes every other day. I would get a kit, cut the light to 6 hours, up your c02 and do water changes more frequently. Test your water so you know what to adjust.

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qwerty84

Discussion Starter · #14 · Apr 25, 2017

Amended timer to 6hrs a day
& did a huge water change. Increase co2 to 1bubble every 2second.
Updated pic on first post.

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qwerty84

Discussion Starter · #15 · May 4, 2017

03 May 2017

Green water issue seems to be gone after adding algexit in. There are however some melting of the MC, not sure if its due to algexit.

MC are still growing upwards instead of spreading. I added another 10watt led today, total 28watt now, trying for 1 week or 2 to see if there is any different.

Anyone facing same issue with me of MC not carpeting?

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