help! New tank in crisis!

[persephone]

hi all,

am a newbie to planted tank but got inspired after seeing some of my friend's tank.

However, after the tank was setup for 3 weeks, there doesn't seem to be any growth.
Everything just looks to be frozen there and recently it started to have slight alage on the rocks surface.
Getting worried at tank condition, can someone help?
Is something wrong?

thanks in advance!!



current setup
Hardware
-24G nanocube
-Co2@ 1 bubble per 2-3s, 4 hrs a day
-24W blue/white light 6hrs a day
- water temp 28-30 degs


Plants
- java moss
- japonica
- tenallus
- and a tallplants wif spiral leaves in the background

Fish
- 10 tetras
- 6 cherrys
- 2 yamatos
- 3 corys

[Shadow]

your light is too low, increase your light by 3 times, get at least 3W/g to have fast grow . Get 2W/g if you go for low tech. Aquatic plant does not use blue light, they use red spectrum for photosintesis instead. Your CO2 on time must be longer or at least the same as your light on time. CO2 rate too low. Typically light on for at least 8 hrs, except for the first few week.

What method do you use to disolve the CO2?
How is your ferteliser dossing regime?

[eddyq]

Install a fan to cool water, add more CO2, insert roots monster if there no base fert.

[|squee|]

Welcome to AQ persephone.

Do these changes:
1) Set the CO2 to be turned on for the same duration as the lights.
2) Change the blue light to a white one. Extend lighting duration to 8 hours a day.

Optional changes:
1) Fill up the tank with more plants to combat algae growth.
2) Start fertilising the tank with liquid fertilisers. An easy way will is to buy the Seachem line of fertilisers (get Flourish Nitrogen, Flourish Potassium, Flourish Phosphate and Flourish itself) and follow the instructions on the bottle.

Your tank is newly set up, so it's normal to see slow/stagnant growth and algae. Change 50% of the water weekly and make sure you don't add any more fish at this point. You need your tank to be more thickly planted if you want to support more fish.

Have you read the stickies on this forum? They helped me a lot when I first started out. Talk to your friend also to gain some pointers. Read about these forums a bit to get a general idea of everything or get answers to some questions you might have. It will take some time, but eventually you'll understand the mechanics of a planted tank.

[PeterGwee]

Look at the CO2 first. No nutrient regime would work well if the CO2 is poor. Light duration should not be less than 8 hrs or so.

Regards,
Peter Gwee

[persephone]

hi all....

many thanks for ur help!
yah, read the sticky notes and all... thanks thanks

thanks for all the encouragement!

will do the following immediately......
- increase light to min 8 hrs
- more plants
- no fish for the time being
- change to white light

juz bought a test kit, the pH is currently 6.4 approximately even though the co2 input is low.... must be no/low photosynthesis taking place.... am currently using diffuser for co2.

as for additional fans and fert to use, will monitor for the time being...
1) Mine is the nanocube.. tank is covered with a lid... have to find a place to install the fan.. hmmm
2) have to check out which ferts to use and the frequency, been reading up/browsing the brands in shops... need some time to digest the information first....

will update again after i follow up ur advice.
thanks again folks!

[Shadow]

the lower pH probably due to your substrate/gravel. which brand did you use?

24 gallon is quite big, my 2ft tank is only 18 gallon, your probably 2.5'

[Wackytpt]

Hi Persephone,

Do keep us update on the progress of the tank.

Please also refrain from using short abbreviation / sms language.

The forum strongly frowns on such language.

Your kind assistance is greatly appreciated.

[stetan]

Doesn't your nano cube comes with 2 inbuilt fans ?

[persephone]

hi all,

my apologies to the sms language. will keep to proper english....

I use ADA amazonia... had a hard time when I put water in the 1st time. had to be extra careful not to stir up/ break the granules

nanocube does come with 2 inbuilt fans... however, they are within a plastic casing. its more for cooling the light than to cool the water... was thinking to dismantle the plastic casing so that the fan can cool the water too.... but was worried about evaporation turning the light / LED circuitry rusty..... hmmm

I increased the light and co2 and bought some lobelia and cheap 1 buck plant to absorb the extra nutrients (if any). Think that my japonica just started to stand more sturdily and the lobelia is starting to open up the leaves and sprout some small leaves from the center stem.... keeping my fingers crossed... hope its not just my imagination.... regretfully no movement from my java moss yet....

all in all have to thank you folks for the great advice!

[|squee|]

If the Java moss starts growing you will see light green tips from existing fronds. Good luck!