spotted algae

[PeterGwee]

nbk, 1-2ppm of phosphate would not have much effect on the carbonate and pH. What is your tank size? Adding 20 more tetras is fine if you have a large tank like 5-6ft but planted tanks do better with low bioload as the ammonia factor screw tanks up. After going through many test kits, I finally found my problem of high nitrate...LOL..my fish load is too much(too eager to stock up on enough algae crews and forgot about the bioload.....[]) I will always have algae unless I keep up with water changes at 2X 50% water change each week and dose P,K and traces back after each water change while maintaining good CO2 level. Much more work unless you want to do it though. Do consider carefully or you will regret.

[nbk3]

[:0] my tank only a 2 footer , but with high nitrates , would'nt the plants florish if the other nutrients are also provided ? []

cos i intend to go NA tml , get some yamatos maybe 3 or so, Biohome and also some decent Black filter media (can see the other thread) . Tetras would also be nice since i'm going there and i feel my tank has been cycled and should be safe

i'll be seriously considering your advice [:] cos at the moment i have 8 tetras , i'm feeding them only once every day , and the shrimps (supposedly malayan) sometimes come out to get the bits that have fallen down to the gravel

my only SAE seems to be rather happy to be there [] , sucking on almost everything , chasing other tetras around but not attacking em.

[PeterGwee]

Your bioload is fine except for the SAE which will be too big for your tank when it grows older. Do not add any more is my personal advice to you. Get your CO2 right first and then dose K(20-30ppm), P(1-2ppm) and traces (3.5ml 2-3X per week) and that should get your N down...if it does not, double check your CO2. Everything should work with your current bioload provide you have fast growing plants and lots of them. How many shrimps do you have then?

[nbk3]

K , P n traces , i did not actually measure how much , but i just used a straw to get abit of each about 1 cm or so in a normal straw . Btw , this few i got from Jason

fertilizers i normally dose only after i change water , one thing is that its easier to do everything together at once ,rather then have a schedule for everything []

i got some Calcium nitrite from my good forum fren , Garlic , too , and i also dose it , i also use a straw , he made it into a solution and i normally take about 1/4 of the straw ( i think about 2ml??) and mix all of em together , then slowly drip it into the tank

i dun seem to be missing out on anything else right ?

at the moment it seems about 7-8 shrimps,which are supposedly malayan shrimps, some big some small

btw , any idea as to what would eat dying leaves ? []

[PeterGwee]

Well...I can't say anything anymore..you need to read up or you are heading for a crash. []

[Nannostomuss]

throw snails in it lor surprisingly it help alright it definitely helps.Those snails origin from the plants which i bought.
In fact it actually removed those spotted algae and hair algae.Clean without a trace.Normally such cleaning process is done at when its pitch dark.
(bear in mind)
Such act could start a snail manifestation
just throw a couple puffers in ,controlling the population

[nbk3]

i didnt measure cos i was ... well.... lazy []

i guess i'll need to start measuring the next time round []

[naturetan]

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On 7/31/2003 12:21:15 AM

Adding 20 more tetras is fine if you have a large tank like 5-6ft but planted tanks do better with low bioload as the ammonia factor screw tanks up.
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I don't see any problem with adding up to 30 tetras for a 2 ft tank. In fact, I've increase my bioload to 34 tetras for 2 ft tank and to date, no new algae issue are found.

IMO, what is crucial for ammonia issue is that plants suck ammonia much faster than NO3. What's not taken by plants, the filter will take over to convert it to NO3.

Unless the tank filter flowrate is much < 3 times tank volume, perhaps due to no maintenance, decaying matter, or wrong filtration, then ammonia and nitrate will be a great problem.

However, I agreed that having too high a bioload, like >40 tetras for smallest size 2 ft, might pose a problem, since it's beyond what the plants and filter can work with.

[nbk3]

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On 7/31/2003 1:26:41 AM

throw snails in it lor surprisingly it help alright it definitely helps.Those snails origin from the plants which i bought.
In fact it actually removed those spotted algae and hair algae.Clean without a trace.Normally such cleaning process is done at when its pitch dark.
(bear in mind)
Such act could start a snail manifestation
just throw a couple puffers in ,controlling the population
----------------

snails ?? hmm..... there were a few small ones i remembered , but i dunno where they go liao , might have been eaten , who knows

and certainly i aint gonna get those Large snails , no no . too eeky for me

and also i think puffers are aggressive mah , confirm my tetras gone case []

[nbk3]

Edit Update : The nutrients in my above post was written wrongly , i've edited it since.