help for a novice....

[scang7]

am new to planted tanks and wondering if the stuffs that i am having in my tank is sufficient.. please comment..

i am presently using UGF (realised it is not suitable for planted but too late to change.. stuffs all in). This does not allow me to have a substrate so trying to compensate by adding liquid fert. I am dosing 2.5 ml of serra florena daily and am using DIY CO2 via a bell. in additon i have 2 FLs. one is 6500K and 7000k.. please advice.. thanks

[bclee]

I think soon someone will request you to fill out your tank parameters in this form.

BC

[Allen_1971]

[] [] []

[scang7]

Beginners Info Sheet
++++++++++++++++++

Tank Dimensions (LxWxH): 2x1x1
Lighting Intensity(No of Watts) : 2x 15
Type of Lighting (FL/PL/MH) : 2 FLs
No. of Hours your light is on: 10
CO2 Injection Rate (bps) :
Type of CO2 (DIY/Liquid/Tank) : DIY
Substrate Used : none
Liquid Fertilizers Used : serra florena
Frequency of fertilization : daily of 2.5ml
Tank Temperature :
Type of Filter (overhead/internal/canister) : UGF
Filter media used :
How long has your tank been set up : 2mths


Chemical Properties (Fill what you can)
---------------------------------------

Carbonate Hardness (kh):
Total Hardness (gH):
PH :
NH4 (ppm):
NO2 (ppm):
NO3 (ppm):
PO4 (ppm):
Fe (ppm):

Bioload (Your Fish and Plants)
------------------------------
20 x neon tetras
2 x platies
7 x guppies
1 x spotted catfish

java ferns
java moss
nana
Hygrophila polysperma
Microsorium windelov
Ceratophyllum thalictroides (i think... the leaves of my plants come off easily and it is of a lighter shade of green)
could not identify the other plant.. has its leaves arrangement quite similiar to tt of the amazon plant but has a tint of red on its stem.
Describe your problem :

<problem description. If you have picture which could help then please post them>
the supposed Ceratophyllum thalictroides has no leaves from the mid section downwards.

i am trying to see if there are things to be improved(i think there are tons!!!!)to provide a better life for my plants and fish. please advice..thanks

[tawauboy]

are you using a power head to draw water through the ugf?
is the bell placed at the outlet of the pump?

my past experience with florena, is that it tends to promote spot algae. try to use half the recommended dosage.

[scang7]

not using a powerhead.. just the basic setup with the two vertical outlets. bell is placed near one of the outlets but lower (somewhere near the gravel)

[bclee]

scang, your's is a air pump type ugf... i presume.

These will lower the CO2 level not to mention the base fert prob. Maybe you can change to other filter type. You can leave the ugf plates there... just add another filter.

BC

[scang7]

correct.. the air pump kind.

will look into the filter prob.. what abt the liquid fert? do u think it is suitable or should get a change...

[juggler]

Since it is only a small tank, ever consider re-doing it to remove the UGF and add in base fertiliser for long term success?

If not, then consider what bclee mention above. Alternative is to get a powerhead to run your UGF so that CO2 is not wasted. And dose your plants with liquid fertiliser only.

[scang7]

thanks.. but not so sure abt how a powerhead works.. in co operatioon with my UGF...pls enlighten...

[juggler]

The powerhead just pumps water. There are those types with intake that can fit into the tubes leading to your UGF. So it works by sucking water out from below the UGF like when you were using air pump method. However, have to take care of gravel being sucked out and choking the powerhead (sorry -- have not thought of this part, maybe can put a sponge/wool somewhere along the UGF tube to prevent this).

PS: I have not done the above before but saw it demonstrated in a marine tank setup video.

[scang7]

thanks.. will look into it and maybe ask teh LFS if they can be of help...