Monte Carlo carpet first attempt Mini M

**guang1986** · 11th May 2015, 13:57

Hello to all,

After failing twice on glosso and HC due to algae infestion and lack of experience, I decided to try out monte carlo and "repens"
I need advise on dosing to prevent another failure due to algae. (this is my third attempt)

Tank size 20L 36x24x26
Aquasoil and power sand S
aquasky 361
intense co2 diffuser
fluval c2 HOB filter

Monte carlo and repens from tropica 1-2 grow!

New tank is just 3days old
http://i.imgur.com/qEHF0Ab.jpg

My routine will be 50% water change daily first week
30% water change every 2 days with 2 pumps of Brighty K daily (2nd week)
20% water change every 3 days with 2 pumps of brighty k daily (3rd week)
20% water change once every week.
(pls feel free to correct me)

My CO2 runs 24/7 at 1.5bps (drop checker light green)
lights on from 8pm to 12am (4hrs)
temp: always around 29 to 31C

pls feel free to share your ideas. Thanks alot!!

**ZIr** · 14th May 2015, 14:29

I managed to carpet with the Tropica Monte Carlo successfully but used Seachem line of ferts. Never tried Brighty K, so can't help much there. But perhaps you can increase your photoperiod to at least 6hrs? Your temp's a bit on the high side too. Maybe get a fan if you don't have access to a chiller.

**uglyduckling** · 14th May 2015, 18:44

My tank temp is around 28-30, Monte Carlo can still thrive.
You have co2 24h so why not increase lighting period to 8h/day? Dose excel daily is enough to prevent algea. With ADA aquasoil and power sand, no need to add more fert at the beginning.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**chazrt** · 14th May 2015, 23:15

My previous Mini M set up was very similar to yours. MC and Repens grew well with 1 pump of Brighty K daily.

Kept my lights to 5 - 6 hrs.

**guang1986** · 15th May 2015, 11:59

Thanks for sharing.
Here's a pic taken on day 4. added a poorly made weeping moss "tree"

. Some of the repens starting to turn white/yellow. Whats happening?

Co2 seems to be more than sufficient and i was told not to add any ferts. water changes are made daily as well.http://imgur.com/w5mpMQr

**Urban Aquaria** · 15th May 2015, 12:56

Originally Posted by guang1986

Thanks for sharing.
Here's a pic taken on day 4. added a poorly made weeping moss "tree"

. Some of the repens starting to turn white/yellow. Whats happening?

Co2 seems to be more than sufficient and i was told not to add any ferts. water changes are made daily as well.http://imgur.com/w5mpMQr

Its only a few days since you added the plants... most likely the older emersed leaves are melting away, its part of the transition process. New healthy adapted submersed leaves should eventually grow out to replace them.

**guang1986** · 18th May 2015, 10:56

Dear Shifus

Heres 2 new pictures of day 8.http://imgur.com/TK3h4Oo http://imgur.com/1gfPnNj

More than 50% of my repens melted for some reason? and it seems to be spreading to other healthy plants. I tried trimming and removing those that are totally melted. I have been dosing brighty k daily and added alittle excel hoping the situation will improve but in vain. I also increased my Co2 to 2bps. What could be happening here?

**Urban Aquaria** · 18th May 2015, 13:01

While it seems that you have more than enough Co2 levels in the tank based on the drop checker color and 24/7 injection timing (do make sure that the Co2 bubbles are not entering into the drop checker and causing false readings, reposition it at various positions to check)... the plants do still need light to grow, so you can try increasing the photoperiod to 6 hours, otherwise the current 4 hours photoperiod will only generate a short duration of photosynthesis, so the new plant growth will be much slower.

Continue trimming and removing the damaged/melting leaves, they will not recover and some already have visible filamentous algae starting to grow on those parts that are rotting, so you need to constantly maintain them.

**guang1986** · 18th May 2015, 14:24

Thanks Bro Urban

Will remove all melted parts and increase lighting to 5 hours and see how it goes. Hopefully the current situation will improve over time.

**guang1986** · 26th May 2015, 11:02

Greetings everyone...

This is my tank on the beginning of third week.
Pic: http://i.imgur.com/qCVqSVA.jpg

100% of my repens melted. No choice but to remove them. Weeping moss turning dark brown and shedding. Although monte carlo spreading seems to slow down, some of the leaves are beginning to melt (hope that this is normal).
Added some plants behind the back but not sure about the name.

How can I save the moss? No fertiliser regime started yet except daily dose of brighty K and Seachem excel. I have a bottle of tropica specialise though, was told to start dosing only after 1 month.

Thanks.

**fireblade** · 26th May 2015, 12:15

looks like your monte carlo is attempting well and spreading.. noticed that your moss is turning brown from 8 onwards.
tank temperature is a bit on the high side for moss to grow.
since you are using HOB filter, CO2 distribution might not be sufficient to cover the whole tank area.

**Urban Aquaria** · 26th May 2015, 14:59

Yeah, from the photo the Co2 bubbles from the atomizer seem to be just floating up to the surface and mainly concentrated on the left side of the tank... while on the right side, there are no or few suspended bubbles.

Ideally for such systems, the filter flow should push and circulate the Co2 bubbles around the tank so that they cover the entire tank, not just one side. Maybe try to reposition the equipment to create better circulation and Co2 distribution.