Newbie non CO2 tank

[Mystikboy]

Hey UA, I'm not too sure that excel is generally photosensitive

http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...l-storage.html

Probably only UV

http://www.seachem.com/support/forum...read.php?t=385

So I think it's best to keep it away from sunlight and UV emitting lights.

[Urban Aquaria]

Yeah, i should re-word my post, i meant more specifically UV sensitive... if its kept in a shaded cabinet or box, no issues, but if placed where its exposed to sunlight (ie. from a window) then it will degrade faster over time.

[amaninus]

I see. Thanks for the advice guys. I just injected 1ml into my tank. Let's see how it goes.
I'll just keep the excel bottle away from sunlight. I guess it should be fine.

So its not like every time I want to inject excel, i draw from the excel bottle the amount I need? It seem like u decant a small quantity into a small bottle and drops in when u want to.

[mercur1al]

I see. Thanks for the advice guys. I just injected 1ml into my tank. Let's see how it goes.
I'll just keep the excel bottle away from sunlight. I guess it should be fine.

So its not like every time I want to inject excel, i draw from the excel bottle the amount I need? It seem like u decant a small quantity into a small bottle and drops in when u want to.

I guess each of us have our different methods. For me, i leave it in the original bottle in a cupboard away from heat and tie the syringe to it. When i dose daily, I just extract what i need, and use the syringe to dose directly.

[Urban Aquaria]

Its definitely easier to dose from a separate bottle or syringe... excel only lasts for up to 24 hours in a tank so it should be dosed daily for best effect.

Opening the original excel bottle every day can be a hassle due to the child-proof cap, sometimes it doesn't "catch" and takes more effort to open (especially if its worn out from being opened many times before).

[amaninus]

Both tanks are fine, but being low tech. Growth is really slow. Stem plants are fine, but foreground carpeting plants plod along slowly.

For the smaller 1 foot tank which i set up recently with the intention of purely keeping shrimps, i got a pair of guppies for now since it was pretty boring to look at. I count 7 fishlets now... Lol

I have 2 of those 1.8 gallon tanks. 1 betta in each tank. Do you remove guppy waste? Or you use them as "fertilizer"? For my case, the waste or unconsumed food is growing moldy or fungus. Wonder if it is giving out ammonia?

[mercur1al]

I have 2 of those 1.8 gallon tanks. 1 betta in each tank. Do you remove guppy waste? Or you use them as "fertilizer"? For my case, the waste or unconsumed food is growing moldy or fungus. Wonder if it is giving out ammonia?

Next to no waste at this moment, only 2 guppies and 7-8 fishlets.

I used some seasoned media in my hang on filter, so they cope with the ammonia pretty well, if any.

Best to remove unconsumed food bro, they give out a whole lot more ammonia. Don't overfeed your fishes, they do fine with small portions. I only feed my fishes once every 2 days, and even so, only the amount they cab finish in 5mins.

[amaninus]

Do note that excel is a photosensitive compound, hence it degrades quickly in the presence of light. So its best to store the excel solution in dispensing syringes or bottles that are opaque (not clear or transparent) to prolong their effectiveness.

I use small opaque dropper bottles like this...



Photo from google images.

I order mine from eBay, but i guess you can probably also get them from cosmetics shops or daiso.

Dropper bottles are common, but this opaque dropper bottle is not as common right? Else it's crazy shipping prices.
How much did u pay for this?

[Urban Aquaria]

Dropper bottles are common, but this opaque dropper bottle is not as common right? Else it's crazy shipping prices.
How much did u pay for this?

I ordered them from an eBay seller which offers free shipping... just checked and the listing is a still active, here is the link:

http://www.ebay.com.sg/itm/140672264759

Ordered the 10 bottle package for S$15+, so each bottle worked out to around S$1.50, could be cheaper with larger order quantity.

[amaninus]

I ordered them from an eBay seller which offers free shipping... just checked and the listing is a still active, here is the link:

http://www.ebay.com.sg/itm/140672264759

Ordered the 10 bottle package for S$15+, so each bottle worked out to around S$1.50, could be cheaper with larger order quantity.

Thanks for the link. I ordered 5 bottle pack.

I have been giving 1ml of flourish excel to my tank (26cm x 17cm x 19cm) every day. And LED light is turned on 8 hrs a day. But the plants inside are still turning yellow.

Any advice?

[Urban Aquaria]

Thanks for the link. I ordered 5 bottle pack.

I have been giving 1ml of flourish excel to my tank (26cm x 17cm x 19cm) every day. And LED light is turned on 8 hrs a day. But the plants inside are still turning yellow.

Any advice?

Well, plants need a balanced combination of good light, Co2 and nutrients to grow well.

Excel is only an alternative carbon supplement... so its possible your plants may be encountering nutrient deficiency, hence the yellowing leaves.

Check this chart to diagnose the plant's nutrient deficiency: http://infographics.myaquacalc.com/w...y-labeled2.jpg

[amaninus]

Well, plants need a balanced combination of good light, Co2 and nutrients to grow well.

Excel is only an alternative carbon supplement... so its possible your plants may be encountering nutrient deficiency, hence the yellowing leaves.

Check this chart to diagnose the plant's nutrient deficiency: http://infographics.myaquacalc.com/w...y-labeled2.jpg

Thanks for the chart. I have no idea what deficiency is it? The symtoms lack of iron, magnesium, phosphate And nitrogen looks the same to me.

Before I can handle the nutrient deficencies, I spotted something crawling in the tank. Its snails. I did not buy any snails but they are all over the place. Will they cause harm to the plants?

[Urban Aquaria]

Thanks for the chart. I have no idea what deficiency is it? The symtoms lack of iron, magnesium, phosphate And nitrogen looks the same to me.

Before I can handle the nutrient deficencies, I spotted something crawling in the tank. Its snails. I did not buy any snails but they are all over the place. Will they cause harm to the plants?

If you find it tough to isolate the exact nutrient deficiency, then just dose an all-in-one micro/trace fertilizer solution... ie. Tropica Premium or ADA Green Brightly Step 1 or Seachem Flourish Comprehensive etc. That should help to fill in any gaps in the plants nutrient requirements.

If your tank has been running for many months and you suspect the soil nutrient levels have depleted, then maybe have to dose additional nitrogen and phosphate too, or perhaps feed your fishes abit more food in help increase those nutrient levels.

As for the snails, i can't see it very clearly from the photo, but i'd guess they are probably just pond snails. They usually hitchhike in on new plants so quite common in planted tanks. Those snails will eat algae, dead plant matter and leftover foods, as well as some delicate leaved plants, but most of the time they are relatively harmless. The only thing is their population can grow very quickly if there is alot of food for them to consume, so it can become unsightly when they start to overpopulate the tank (which is also a sign of overfeeding).

If you don't like the snails, just manually remove them whenever you spot them, that usually keeps their population under control.

[amaninus]

If you find it tough to isolate the exact nutrient deficiency, then just dose an all-in-one micro/trace fertilizer solution... ie. Tropica Premium or ADA Green Brightly Step 1 or Seachem Flourish Comprehensive etc. That should help to fill in any gaps in the plants nutrient requirements.

If your tank has been running for many months and you suspect the soil nutrient levels have depleted, then maybe have to dose additional nitrogen and phosphate too, or perhaps feed your fishes abit more food in help increase those nutrient levels.

As for the snails, i can't see it very clearly from the photo, but i'd guess they are probably just pond snails. They usually hitchhike in on new plants so quite common in planted tanks. Those snails will eat algae, dead plant matter and leftover foods, as well as some delicate leaved plants, but most of the time they are relatively harmless. The only thing is their population can grow very quickly if there is alot of food for them to consume, so it can become unsightly when they start to overpopulate the tank (which is also a sign of overfeeding).

If you don't like the snails, just manually remove them whenever you spot them, that usually keeps their population under control.

That's good advice. Easy to carry out too. I will do it accordingly.

Will google more about macro and micro fertilizer.
Thanks UA.

[Hund Wong]

thinking of starting a planted betta tank as well
thanks for the inspiration

[amaninus]

thinking of starting a planted betta tank as well
thanks for the inspiration

It's a lot of knowledge required for the plants. Thank goodness that there are knowledgable and helpful people here.

Good luck in your new tank and do share with me your set up.

[Hund Wong]

Trying out

[amaninus]

Trying out

Wow. That's a big rock. Must have cost a lot.

What plants are those in the middle? Glosso?

[Hund Wong]

Bought the tank and rocks from a fellow bro on aq since he decomm
so got it each rock at $4
and the tank at $10

as for the plants , i'm Trying to carpet "monte carlo"
and a piece on moss on rock at the corner

[amaninus]

Bought the tank and rocks from a fellow bro on aq since he decomm
so got it each rock at $4
and the tank at $10

as for the plants , i'm Trying to carpet "monte carlo"
and a piece on moss on rock at the corner

Wow. That's good. I got a smaller rock at $15 I think. They go by weight. Is yours going to be low tech?

Looking forward to your completed tank.