New to hobby-please help anyone

[Clementi]

I've no idea about the iron pills, but to each his own I guess. Plant fertilisation can go two ways: easy but expensive or hard but cheap.

If I do go for hard and cheap. What are the options?

[|squee|]

Hard and cheap will mean dosing according to the Estimative Index by Tom Barr, and using chemicals like potassium nitrate and potassium phosphate.

The hard part is actually understanding the above article. There's alot of measurement and science to it, but once you get it clear it's damn simple.

Perhaps you might want to read the above article once or twice, and search around abit regarding the estimative index.

A summary of the article will be: Dose KNO3 and KH2PO4 along with traces to account for all nutrients plants need. Excess is acceptable, and nutrients like nitrate are prevented from building up by 50% weekly water changes. CO2's importance is greatly emphasised.

[Clementi]

Hard and cheap will mean dosing according to the Estimative Index by Tom Barr, and using chemicals like potassium nitrate and potassium phosphate.

The hard part is actually understanding the above article. There's alot of measurement and science to it, but once you get it clear it's damn simple.

Perhaps you might want to read the above article once or twice, and search around abit regarding the estimative index.

A summary of the article will be: Dose KNO3 and KH2PO4 along with traces to account for all nutrients plants need. Excess is acceptable, and nutrients like nitrate are prevented from building up by 50% weekly water changes. CO2's importance is greatly emphasised.

Hi Terence,

The cheap and hard way very chim to me. How about the easier way? Any suggestion?

[Goondoo]

Hi Terence,

The cheap and hard way very chim to me. How about the easier way? Any suggestion?

giving up planted sounds easier....

[|squee|]

Ignore Goondoo

Easier will be to use commercial fertilisers sold in LFSes. Easy ones will be ADA, Dennerle, Ferka, etc. It's up to you to chose the brand you want and follow thier fertilisation instructions. Usually you have to get the whole range of their ferts if you want great plants.

[Clementi]

thanks will check it out at C328 this weekend. Any opinion on the seachem range? quite ex and wonder if its worth the price to pay.

BTW, I bot some rummy nose from C328 last nite. When I brought them back and sink it in my tank, I realised their tails are a little torn. Is this sign of illness?

[|squee|]

IMHO, seachem is just a commercialised version of the chemicals we use in the "hard but cheap" way. However, it's very easy to dose commerical ferts, because you need not care about what's in them.

Torn fins? Common in LFS-sold fish. Rough handling, transport issues, overcrowded holding tanks... if you want the best for them I'd say medicate using Melafix or something

[baranne]

Alternatively, you can just take good care of them. The fins should grow right back. No need to worry about illness unless you see them behaving differently from normal.

[Clementi]

So torn fins and tails are not sign of illness? What I did was put them all into a small tank and added much salt in it. Is this the correct way? Look at them this morning, not very active and mostly at the bottom of the tank. Can I now add them into my main tank or wait and see first?

[Wackytpt]

So torn fins and tails are not sign of illness? What I did was put them all into a small tank and added much salt in it. Is this the correct way? Look at them this morning, not very active and mostly at the bottom of the tank. Can I now add them into my main tank or wait and see first?

Torn fins and tails are not sign of illness.

Rummy are mostly bottom to mid dwellers

[hirowen]

So torn fins and tails are not sign of illness? What I did was put them all into a small tank and added much salt in it. Is this the correct way? Look at them this morning, not very active and mostly at the bottom of the tank. Can I now add them into my main tank or wait and see first?

Hi Clementi,

Torn fins and tails of rummynose usually due to overpopulation in tank..
Only guppies are more prone to fin rot diseases..


I heard of aquarium salt dipping method...but usually people do for 15 -30 mins only...
Try slowly add in ur tank water into the small tank..until it is double the amount...after 30 mins then u can add into ur main tank

[Phillipians]

dont ever add salt.... or ur fish will

[Clementi]

Oh, thanks guys. I need to go home and safe them now. TGIF!! I ll let you guys know.

[|squee|]

Actually what I'd do is just leave them in the tank and they'll heal over time, unless they start getting stuff like fin rot or something.

Take your time to decide on fertilisation. I've met a person who swore by Dennerle. Seachem ferts are more popularly used in the US imho and they've received rather good support there. For ADA ferts, well if you have the money to blow , but they do work I guess, judging from Amano's tanks. Can also try Ferka. Lots of brands for you to check out.

[Clementi]

Hi guys. 60% of my rummy nose didnt survive. The surviving ones are really active at the bottom of the tank. Lovely fishes.

However, last nite I found a layer of oil in my tank. I believe must be from my ice bottles. I normally freeze ice in bottle and place into my tank to maintain temperature around 28 degrees. So what can I do to clean up the oil. This morning as I left for work, my fishes are still ok.

[taz_boy]

Hi guys. 60% of my rummy nose didnt survive. The surviving ones are really active at the bottom of the tank. Lovely fishes.

However, last nite I found a layer of oil in my tank. I believe must be from my ice bottles. I normally freeze ice in bottle and place into my tank to maintain temperature around 28 degrees. So what can I do to clean up the oil. This morning as I left for work, my fishes are still ok.

i would suggest do a partial water change to see if u can rid the oil,
btw...ur DIY method to chill ur tank not that reccommended unless u really wanna take the effort to replace the ice bottle regulary, but sooner or later u sure get tired of it...
y not consider DIY a fan...

[Clementi]

i would suggest do a partial water change to see if u can rid the oil,
btw...ur DIY method to chill ur tank not that reccommended unless u really wanna take the effort to replace the ice bottle regulary, but sooner or later u sure get tired of it...
y not consider DIY a fan...

Thanks will try partial water change but rather difficult as it is floating on the surface. BTW, do you guys know any deterimental effect on the fishes?

Bot a fan over the weekend only reduce the temperature from 30-28 thus drop a few bottles to bring the temperature down by another 2 degrees. Fingers crossed and hope not many fatality when I get home tonite.

[|squee|]

The oil is just a layer of protein/bacterial colonies, pretty natural in planted tanks. There are no detrimental effects on fishes.

[Clementi]

The oil is just a layer of protein/bacterial colonies, pretty natural in planted tanks. There are no detrimental effects on fishes.

Thanks Terence, your feedback is timely. I was about to head home and do water change. So just leave it and the oil will go away?

BTW, do you guys out there think I am overloading my tank. Mine is 2 1/2 feet tank and I stock it with
30 Cardinal tetras
15 Silver Tipped tetras
7 Black widow tetras
6 Zebra Danios
3 rummy nose tetras
2 Otos

[XnSdVd]

Thaat... erm sounds like a little too much fish...