New Planted Tank

[vraghu]

Hello All,

Started a New Planted Tank , 2 weeks ago. here are the specs.

Tank Size -- 4Ft x 2Ft x 2Ft.
Substrate -- ADA Amazonia II
CO2 - Pressurised. 2 BPS.
Lighting - 54Watts x 4 T5 HO , 10 Hrs / Day.
WC -- Weekly 50%.
Dosing - Dry - 1/4 TSP KNO3, 1/2 TSP K2SO4 , Daily.
Plants - 40 to 50% Covered , Mostly Stem , Rotalas, Cyprus,Dwarf Hair Grass,Reinickii, Vivipara, Macaranda, so on..

No Fishes added so far..

For the last 1 week iam seeing Some Algae , looks like Hair Algae , which looks like thread, long and can be pulled out by hand.. still it grows back within a day or two.

Do i have to reduce the light or Dosing ?

Please Help..

Regds
Rags

[jacian]

As your tank is only 2 weeks old, I suggest you cut your lights duration to 6 hrs daily first. You may want to stop your fert dosing as well. Also, I notice you only dose KNO3 and K2SO4, do you have any plan for the micro nutrients?

[vraghu]

Hello Jacian,

Forgot to tell , i dose 2ML Micro after lights out..

[PeterGwee]

As mentioned by Jacian, you need to dose micros as well in order for the nutrients to be non-limiting. At what rate are you dosing KNO3 and K2SO4 daily? You don't need that much if you are dosing at 10ppm per dose.

New ADA substrate tanks requires frequent large water changes during the start due to the NH3. You also need to get a handle on the CO2/current which I think is part of the issue as well. Get a dropchecker and see if your CO2 is adequate or not plus if your tank has good current throughout.

Dosing regime recommended
1.5 tsp of KNO3 2x a week
0.25 tsp of KH2PO4 2x a week
30ml of micros 2x a week
50% or more weekly water change
30ppm of CO2 with good amount of flow through reactor and tank
Water changes for initial start 2x a week 50% for 2-3 weeks

Regards,
Peter Gwee

[vraghu]

Hello Peter,

CO2 is supplied through Aquamedic 1000 External Reactor , where the outlet is connected to a EHEIM 2217 Filter with Spray bar.

Regds
Rags

[PeterGwee]

Hello Peter,

CO2 is supplied through Aquamedic 1000 External Reactor , where the outlet is connected to a EHEIM 2217 Filter with Spray bar.

Regds
Rags

Your in tank flow/mixing is definitely not enough with a AM 1000 reactor coupled to a eheim 2217. You need to get yourself a bigger pump to drive that CO2 reactor as well as a bigger capacity filter or 2 to mix the water well in the tank. Your current setup does not provide good tank mixing.

Regards,
Peter Gwee

[vraghu]

Oooppps !!! time to invest money in EHEIM 1250 External pump then !!! !!