First high tech planted tank corner

[Realcaster]

Is amazing that you actually spend time observing which are the active snails. . I usually just chose the most colorful one .

currently, I have like 25 Nerite snail in my 4 ft tank and 4 bigger snail(don't know the name, it have stripe and 5 times bigger) Nerite used to die easily in my 2ft tank, but surprising in my 4ft tank all survive for more than 4 weeks now. Probably due to more stable tank parameters.
C328 uncle told me to get some of those bigger snails and they don't multiply and don't die easily. I am pleasantly surprise they are extremely hardworking and good at clearing algae on drift wood and tank walls, some even manage to climb on mini nana leaves

[jackychun]

Is amazing that you actually spend time observing which are the active snails. . I usually just chose the most colorful one .

currently, I have like 25 Nerite snail in my 4 ft tank and 4 bigger snail(don't know the name, it have stripe and 5 times bigger) Nerite used to die easily in my 2ft tank, but surprising in my 4ft tank all survive for more than 4 weeks now. Probably due to more stable tank parameters.
C328 uncle told me to get some of those bigger snails and they don't multiply and don't die easily. I am pleasantly surprise they are extremely hardworking and good at clearing algae on drift wood and tank walls, some even manage to climb on mini nana leaves

Haha. Those active one is the one constantly eating the algae on the glass. You can see them moving around with the mouth grazing unstoppable.




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[fireblade]

in the shop, try to choose those snails that are stuck to the tank wall and not those that are on the bottom...

[Ryan Peh]

in the shop, try to choose those snails that are stuck to the tank wall and not those that are on the bottom...

I already plucked those that were stuck on the tank wall... But they still die when they were dropped into my tank.

But those that manage to survive the acclimation usually live a long life in my tank!

[Urban Aquaria]

Hey guys, any suggestion for a cheap and good mini surface skimmer?

You can try the Ocean Free Surf Clear, it works well.

Check out my review on it: http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ree-Surf-Clear

[Ryan Peh]

You can try the Ocean Free Surf Clear, it works well.

Check out my review on it: http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ree-Surf-Clear

Ooooo looks good! But that's gonna be another $30 spent in the hobby.... And btw the plants in my sand-themed tank don't seem to be growing much. The Monte Carlo did melt and grow new leaves but they're not really carpeting. The hair grass don't seem to be carpeting either but the stem plants did grow taller and I have given them a trim.

Does using squashed/compressed soil make it harder for plants to carpet?

[Urban Aquaria]

Ooooo looks good! But that's gonna be another $30 spent in the hobby.... And btw the plants in my sand-themed tank don't seem to be growing much. The Monte Carlo did melt and grow new leaves but they're not really carpeting. The hair grass don't seem to be carpeting either but the stem plants did grow taller and I have given them a trim.

Does using squashed/compressed soil make it harder for plants to carpet?

Well, sand doesn't have much nutrients so you will need to fertilize it alot more compared to active soil substrates. Most likely the slower plant growth you see in the carpet plants is due to low nutrient content.

Maybe you can try inserting root fertilizer sticks/tablets into the sand amongst the carpet plants to supplement them with much needed nutrients and encourage faster growth.

[Ryan Peh]

Well, sand doesn't have much nutrients so you will need to fertilize it alot more compared to active soil substrates. Most likely the slower plant growth you see in the carpet plants is due to low nutrient content.

Maybe you can try inserting root fertilizer sticks/tablets into the sand amongst the carpet plants to supplement them with much needed nutrients and encourage faster growth.

There's no plants in the sand area! The plants are all planted on ADA soil. But the ADA soil was used for awhile back when I was still trying to set up the iwagumi scape and through the period the soil granules broke down and became a little muddy. The soil is pretty compressed compared to when they were granules. So I was wonder if that could cause growth problems...

[Urban Aquaria]

There's no plants in the sand area! The plants are all planted on ADA soil. But the ADA soil was used for awhile back when I was still trying to set up the iwagumi scape and through the period the soil granules broke down and became a little muddy. The soil is pretty compressed compared to when they were granules. So I was wonder if that could cause growth problems...

Plants can still root in and grow in broken down soil, may not be as optimal as brand new loose soil due to reduced circulation, but its not a big issue. Most soil substrates in mature tanks will usually breakdown after a period of usage anyways.

In your case, the slower plant growth is most likely due to the used soil getting low on nutrient content... just have to add more fertilizer or add root sticks/tablets into the soil to rejuvenate it.

[Ryan Peh]

Plants can still root in and grow in broken down soil, may not be as optimal as brand new loose soil due to reduced circulation, but its not a big issue. Most soil substrates in mature tanks will usually breakdown after a period of usage anyways.

In your case, the slower plant growth is most likely due to the used soil getting low on nutrient content... just have to add more fertilizer or add root sticks/tablets into the soil to rejuvenate it.

Does having GSA on my tank wall indicate that I don't need to add much fertilisers? Or do I still have to add as per normal?

Because of the GSA, I have not been adding much fertiliser for that tank, assuming there is excess ferts in there...

[Urban Aquaria]

Does having GSA on my tank wall indicate that I don't need to add much fertilisers? Or do I still have to add as per normal?

Because of the GSA, I have not been adding much fertiliser for that tank, assuming there is excess ferts in there...

Well, GSA usually tends to appear when alot of excess light is shining on empty surfaces (ie. tank glass, bare hardscape, slow growing plant leaves etc). While GSA does consume some nutrients, they don't really need much of it to grow... hence reducing ferts tends to have a greater effect in slowing down plant growth instead.

One of the common ways to weaken GSA is to increase phosphate levels, which means adding more P and other ferts to support plant growth (contrary to common practice of lowering nutrients when dealing with other types of algae). At the same time, algae eaters like nerite snails are also employed to help clear the weakened GSA. Note that there is still no conclusive evidence that increasing P levels is the main solution (just increasing it on its own may not solve the issue), but it seems to be a contributing factor.

A combined approach using various methods will usually help to keep GSA at bay though, such that you'll only need to do some touch-up algae scraping every few months (rather than every week).

[Ryan Peh]

Well, GSA usually tends to appear when alot of excess light is shining on empty surfaces (ie. tank glass, bare hardscape, slow growing plant leaves etc). While GSA does consume some nutrients, they don't really need much of it to grow... hence reducing ferts tends to have a greater effect in slowing down plant growth instead.

One of the common ways to weaken GSA is to increase phosphate levels, which means adding more P and other ferts to support plant growth (contrary to common practice of lowering nutrients when dealing with other types of algae). At the same time, algae eaters like nerite snails are also employed to help clear the weakened GSA. Note that there is still no conclusive evidence that increasing P levels is the main solution (just increasing it on its own may not solve the issue), but it seems to be a contributing factor.

A combined approach using various methods will usually help to keep GSA at bay though, such that you'll only need to do some touch-up algae scraping every few months (rather than every week).

Ah I see... Looks like I have to start dosing more instead. Thanks for the insights UA!

[Ryan Peh]

Hey guys.. So I've noticed this issue for a few days now. Whenever I top up water for the both tanks, one of the tank always turn cloudy...



Nothing major seems to be affected but it's pretty worrying seeing the tank like this... Any idea why?

[Ivan Choo]

Did you use dechlorinated water to top up your tanks?

[Ryan Peh]

Yup I used dechlorinated water! Using Ocean Free dechlorinate solution

[jackychun]

Yup I used dechlorinated water! Using Ocean Free dechlorinate solution

It is just cloudy for a while then no more or it lasts for long bro?


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[Ryan Peh]

Cloudy for like 2 hours or so!

[jackychun]

Cloudy for like 2 hours or so!

I think when you are off the filter for water change and on again, some tiny debris and air bubbles just gone wild and cause the temporary cloudy water. So I think nothing to worry about.


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[Ryan Peh]

I think when you are off the filter for water change and on again, some tiny debris and air bubbles just gone wild and cause the temporary cloudy water. So I think nothing to worry about.


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Not water change! It's just topping up of water on a daily basis!

[jackychun]

Not water change! It's just topping up of water on a daily basis!

It happens to only one of your tank. I think need to wait for the sifu to come and advise already.

For me, I never topup the water. Just once a week do water change and fill to the top.


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