Planted tank for Dummies

[kc]

After going thru all the chemistry lessons in this forum, I think I qualify to be classified as a dummy.

Is there a section for dummies, like me? I have been keeping planted tank for 4 years already. The plants in my tank are so, so only. Mosses and red plants don't do well (I keep plants that can grow well in my tank). Algae come and go.

Now that I have upgraded to a solenoid co2 regulator and improved my lighting to 2.4 wpg (previously 1.8wpg), I would like to take lessons from you guys.

I'm using Dr Mallick's LushgroAqua and micro. Is the current nutrient that I'm using sufficient?

Do I have to go thru all the chemistry lessons such as adding KNO3, KH2Po4 and finding out how many ppm for this and that. If we can simplify these things, this hobby will bloom.

[Sleepy_lancs]

I wish there were a simple algae free method to get the tank running but hey, life is full of ups and downs. That makes it interesting.

For all those NO3, P04, Iron and blah.. you might want to download chuck's calculator. Easy to use and just add according. Monitor your water condition using test kits and it should be okay. Well if you don't know what to do... just ask. Plenty of people here will share their experience with you.

[PeterGwee]

KC, you might want to try Thomas Barr's estimative index method which works great and does not require much testing except for the pH/KH (CO2 level). Personally, I have had algae problems like most folks in the start but with more reading of Tom's articles both in several plant forums, I went on to try the estimative index method and now, I have no sign of algae...maybe those micro ones lurking around though.

Maybe you can give me some details of your tank for me to help you.
Tank size:
Amount of light:
Type of light:
pH:
KH:
Amount of water change done per week or fortnightly?
Critter load:
plant load: (Heavily planted, Moderate, light)
Type of plants:

Regards
Peter Gwee

[heavenhell]

hi, sorry to interrupt. Where can i get info on Thomas Barr's estimative index method tat u mentioned? Thanks.

[PeterGwee]

Here is the article link to the estimative index method.
Estimative index article from Tom Barr

[kc]

Peter,
Here are my statistics. Please give your best shot.


Tank size: 80cm x 35 x 45 (120L)
Light 2 x 36 PL
Co2 1 bps using solenode regulator.
PH 7
KH 2-3
Dr Malick Lushgrowth Aqua and Micro as recommended spread over 3 time per week.
Cirtter:
1 rummy nose, 1 golden algae eater, 2 cory, 1 cherry barb. 3 lamp eyes, 3 rainbow fish, 5 platties, 3 cardinal tetra and 10 -15 shrimps (yamatos and malayan ).

Amount of plants - moderate.
Type of plant. MM (bottom leaves brownish), Java fern(ok), APP (ok), Nuplar Japonica (ok), Blyxa Japonica (ok), riccia (bottom and floating, ok), echirodorus quad (ok), chrismas moss( NOK ,black stem, 'leaves' not triangular) and villisneria (ok).

Thanks

[Sleepy_lancs]

Hmm.. at PH=7 and KH = 2, you would only have 6ppm of CO2 and at KH = 3 with the same PH, you would only have 9ppm. Its rather too little of CO2 IMHO.

You might want to increase your CO2 to bring the the PH down to about 6.8 and KH around 4 to give about 19ppm.

If you want the tank to be a fizzy drink, bring it up to around 30ppm without fish gasping at the surface. Beware that this will make you very busy cutting the plants due to fast growth rate.

PS: Do changes over a week. Not all in a day. (VERY IMPORTANT!)

[PeterGwee]

KC, your CO2 is a tad too low. For a KH of 2, you would need to drop the pH down to 6.3-6.4. If the KH is 3, the pH should be kept within 6.5-6.6. All this pH drop should be done using CO2 only.

Personally, I have no experience with Dr Mallick's Lushgro Aqua and micros product so I would not comment much on that. But for flexibility likewise, you might want to get and add stuff like KNO3 (NO3), KH2PO4 (PO4), K2SO4 (Potassium aka K) and micros separately as different tank require different amount of nutrients.

I would suggest this method for you if you don't mind large water changes though. Please note that the method would not work well if you do not keep the CO2 in good range for the entire photoperiod.

1)Prune and scrub the tank nicely while removing any traces of algae or dead looking leaves. If pruning seems excessive, you need to add in new plants. Key thing is to plant heavily from the start.
2)Clean filter if you stir up loads of dirt.
3)Do 50% water change
4)Add 1/4 teaspoon of KNO3 2x per week
5)Add 2 rice grain of KH2PO4
6)For the traces, you might consider adding 5-7ml of it 2x per week for a start and monitor the plants as I have no experience with Dr Mallick's micros.
7)Repeat the whole procedure every week and you should see good plant growth.

Sleepy_lancs, you should not control the speed of plant growth through reduction of CO2. Instead, you should do it through lowering of light levels instead or by using slow growers.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[Sleepy_lancs]

[quote:aadf7c76e6="PeterGwee"]
Sleepy_lancs, you should not control the speed of plant growth through reduction of CO2. Instead, you should do it through lowering of light levels instead or by using slow growers.

Regards
Peter Gwee [/quote:aadf7c76e6]

Errr.. I didn't tell anyone to reduce co2 to control the speed of plant growth. I merely said that with 30ppm of co2 expect fast plant growth.

[PeterGwee]

Oops..maybe I got your comments wrongly. But 19ppm is still a tad low. Try to error on the higher side for CO2.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[kc]

Thank alot guys!

Will get the ingredients and increase the co2 asap.

[juggler]

kc: You may want to try out the Excel spreadsheet Geoffrey and I prepared for Dr Mallick's Lushgro stuff

Let us know if you find it useful.

[kc]

Hi, KF!

It is precisely these Excel charts and all the scientific terms that I think will put off lots of people. Especially with people that are too busy with their study, work, children (you are the exception) and even dummy like me.

After, 4 years, I managed to get only 1 colleague to join me in this hobby.

BTW: Have you try the "HDB" moss? If the christmas moss in my tank do well, I will try the HDB" type again.

[Sleepy_lancs]

Hey Juggler,

put that excel sheet has a sticky thread. I think it will be useful to most people.

[clusterbx]

That excel sheet is really complicated.

Don't even understand the symbols..

I am really a dummy to these 'advanced level' of this hobby..

[heavenhell]

i dun quite understand the estimative method. i check frm pub website tat my water has 0.5-7ppm NO3, <0.1ppm PO4, <0.004ppm Fe. so frm there how much should i dose? Thanks

[Sleepy_lancs]

You need to use a test kit and get some figures of your tank water condition.

Basically, from the figures, you need to maintain the following

NO3: 5 - 10ppm
K: 5 - 10 ppm
PO4: 0.5 - 1ppm
Fe: 0.2 - 0.7 ppm

Stay within this range would be fine. However, look at your plants they will tell you much more. Sometimes you might need to move the range up or down depends on the types of plants you have. Hope this helps.

[geoffrey]

i check frm pub website tat my water has 0.5-7ppm NO3, <0.1ppm PO4, <0.004ppm Fe. so frm there how much should i dose?

Those readings are just guidelines...varies with area.

[juggler]

[quote:f38f9a38="clusterbx"]That excel sheet is really complicated.

Don't even understand the symbols..

I am really a dummy to these 'advanced level' of this hobby..[/quote:f38f9a38]

Paiseh - I have now updated it with the element's name.
If you are curious to know the nutrient deficiency syndrome, you can refer to this article http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_nutrient.htm

[juggler]

[quote:c85ec83cc2="kc"]Hi, KF!

It is precisely these Excel charts and all the scientific terms that I think will put off lots of people. Especially with people that are too busy with their study, work, children (you are the exception) and even dummy like me.

After, 4 years, I managed to get only 1 colleague to join me in this hobby.

BTW: Have you try the "HDB" moss? If the christmas moss in my tank do well, I will try the HDB" type again.[/quote:c85ec83cc2]

Hi Kim Cheng,

For me, it's precisely these kind of new things that make me try to learn more. Or at least put into use what I had learn back in school. The biology, chemistry, physics & technical classes (for my DIY projects).

Every tank is a challenge to keep it looking good. Even more challenging to trouble-shoot what is causing the algae problems and plant growth problems. I am still learning and discovering new and interesting stuff.

Over the last 3 years, I manage to get about 8 to 10 of my colleagues interested and they started their own planted tanks, even very simple and almost maintenance-free ones. Some of them don't bother too much about all these scientific stuff and still enjoy the hobby.

It depends on how much we want to pursue in this hobby. Whether we want a good planted tank or a great planted tank. The 20% difference may require us another 80% effort.

Haven't got to try the HDB moss. No more tanks after all the other Xmas Moss, Java Moss and Bukit Timah Moss.

I will look you up one day in Woodlands.