jimired

thanks all I will do it slowy and then I may try the glass barier.

greetings all After the spring auction in calgary I planted some large vals in the back of the tank. The runners quickly spread within a few months I was agressively removing the small plants and runners from the forground. Now the vals have over run the back of the tank. reaching the top of the water level they grow along the surface and are reducing light in the tank. I would say they are about 50 % of the plant biomass. I want to safely remove some of them first. Later I would like to add a similiar but less agressive tall background plant. Thanks in advance

Whats a drop checker for? Water samples collection..?

Good topic.. Im struggling with ferts as well I added 6 aquatic solid fertilizer pucks into the substrate two months ago. On top of that I added Seachem's Comprehensive Supplement for the planted aqaurium. 0.07-0.01-0.37 I also added Flourishes Iron. I had good plant growth but algea every where in about two weeks, I have reduced it all to 1/2 that recommended. The algae is now under control and the plant gowth is slower to. Also I reduced my light to 11 hours per day. My humble oppinion, experiment and start low..

Im trying to increase CO2 in my 10 gallon. It has a three small oranda, 3 guppies and two zebra danios and one chineese pleco ( I have no idea what to do with thoose golfish other than leave em out for the nieghbors cat) one mature crytp, three crypt cuttings and 3-4 juvinile vals, one mature dwarf sword. I have been using the ladder that came with the kit for yeast CO2, now I heard that a diffuser will give me finer bubbles, but they just seem to blob out and are gone, not small at at all , bubble about the size of the hose. So is there a propper way to use a diffuer, or does it need more pressure that yeast system. Ill just go back to the ladder for now Thanks in advance

You seem well versed. I just set up a planted / community tank a few weeks agao and things seems to be going OK. Im new to all this, but, here are my two pennies. Substrate- rinse , rinse rinse again, I was surprised after rinsing in the bucket how much clay/fines came off in the tank with the eco. I used a water well drilling sand (sil 9), cheap, finer than gravel, but still easy to vac, dosn't jump up into the tube. 1/3 eco complete 2/3 sand I put plant food chunks right in the substrate. I then added ferts after as well, dont do that, lol, algea heaven, use one or the other, easy on the iron, For carbon Im down at 3 ml of excel flourish daily in a 55 gal with medium to heavy planted tank and getting good growth. Aquascaping: low ones up front, long ones in the back and rear corners, it is realy personal choice. here's a good link with great planted tank ideas. http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2007.cgi

Overdosing wioth flourish seems to be a common recommendation? Comments?

What ???!! Read an Article!! Ok OK ill read, guess Ill grab a test kit to. is there a lfs on Calgary west side? thanks again

You were right about algae, I now have lots of algae. I have stopped with the Iron. The light for the red plant will have to wait. Should I continue with the flourish excel? What about light time? How to get rid of the algae growth? I wil begin scrubbing and cutting this seekend. Oe should I, Will anything eat this stuff? mmmm green hairy algea. see attchments thanks in advance

how much flourish Iron is enough for 5 red clippings from the auction in a 55. there is growth just not ornage, upped the iron to 2ml (1/2) cappfull a day. Also I must have av lazy pleco because Im getting green algea on the glass of a 10 gallon with hagen ladder, and about 4 vals & amazon sword (poking throught the top). I do not want to start scraping.. thanks in advance

thanks all!

What do you set for the time of day for your lighting? Does the ambient light have any effect at all?

10 days ago? Lemme guess- the CAS auction? indeed it was I was the fool in the front that bid on everything that came up.

Thanks all. I think I will upgrade the lights and canopy then first and stick with excell for a little longer. maybe Co2 next winter thanks again..

JimiRed New poster here, I have a 55 and have planted in pretty heavy 10 days ago 2 large vals, 6-8 smaller valls, 3 combaba, 4 crypts, java moss on drift wood, 4 small red plants clippings, 1 med red plant 3-4 others I am wander about the CO2 for this tank here it is.. I have none right now. My tank : 55 gallon /208 litre 48 ¼ 12 ¾ 20 ¾ 1-54 Watts 6,700 K 1-54 Watts 18,000K 12 hrs(10-10) 15 lbs black fluorite 15 lbs red fluorite 50lbs coarse sand/fine gravel 3 ” substrate total 4 pieces drift wood Malaysian, simmered tannins out. HOB two spout Whisper power filter 60 ½ tablespoon salt per five gallon Nutrifin aquaplus condition, as prescribed Nutrifin cycle conditioner, as prescribed Flourish Excel 5ml /day Flourish Supplement weekly Flourish: iron weekly 8 medium plant food pellet/puck (aquatic) Amonia 0 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 5ppm The cost of a co2 system . I was quoted: regulator $150 pH meter with selenoid shut off $160 9 lbs C02 bottle with 1st fill $200 glass difusser $50 misc $40 $600, that, my fishy friends, is insane. Its a lot of excel Here is my question Is it nessessary? what will happen without a bottle system? what about a yeast system? Can I get this cheaper? your shoot from the hip oppinion thanks in advance.