Plants need ID please

research my friend.. Research.. Before adding new plants or adding excel to a new tank check online to see if it'll melt it..

 

Guys theres a much safer option out there than Excel (anti-freeze) - Have a look here - http://www.microbelift.com/products/home-aquarium/planted-aqaurium-products/bio-carbon/ - Ask any of the sponsors to order it for you

 

Thanks @Henk Hugo, there seem to be so many products out there, it's a little overwhelming for a noob like me - especially when the lfs has limited stock and doesn't know plants well enough.

@lc3786455, I am still a little apprehensive about going with CO2 (I've only been keeping fish since August-ish). The only plant I have that actually needs it is the reineckii, so I think I'll spend a little longer researching this. If I lose that one plant, then so be it...

If I do put extra lights in, would a young pleco manage to keep the algae growth under control?

I will definitely be getting the Flourish Comprehensive and Potassium this weekend. At least I can help the plants out with something so long.

 

hey GG13
there are so many different types of algae. i know of the top of my head that he will not eat BBA,GSA thread algae staghorn algae and clado. might be some others but have a read here...
http://www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_freshwater_algae.php
the pleco is good at eating brown diatom algae and i think green dust algae..?

 

I think I've got diatom algae already... There are a few brown patches on the glass and a layer of it on the décor. I have left it though, because I've noticed my Cories often munch it. It doesn't seem hairy though, and it hasn't taken over any of my plants.

 

mmmmmmm... normally happens if you tank is still cycling should go away once the cycle is done. this is the nice algae compared to the rest lol.

 

Awesome Thanks for all the help...

 

So, I found the box that my light came in... It's a 20W T8 but it is 18,000K. @lc3786455 , you said to not go above 10,000K, could this be what's "burning" my plants? Also, I started dosing the Flourish potassium and comprehensive on Monday morning. How long do you think before I notice an improvement?

 

Hi GG13

always if you trying some new fertz give your system two weeks to see if anything has changed..and take it from there.
18000K is very high perhaps that is the problem, your plants are most likely struggling to use that light to photosynthesis as there is not much usefull light in 18000k as there is in 8000k takashi amano uses 8000k MH on his tanks and his work speaks for its self.
http://www.aquascapist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/NatureStyle_PlantedAquarium1.jpg check this out!!

go out and get a skywhite 8000K they come in t8 and its available any light store will be very cheap under R50

 

have a look at this site very usefull stuff... the lighting is T5 but all should be available in t8 just to give you an idea.

http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/lighting.htm

HTH

 

I would look at getting some of the Geiseman 6000K Midday tubes. They are awsum and worth every cent.

 

oh and i am actually buys fitting sylvania grolux tubes to my light fitting as i type - just waiting for it to cool down - but once again these tubes are only temp till the Geiseman Floras arrive.

 

Geisemann lights look awesome, but they're impractical at the moment. One day when I'm in my own house... I'll have a look at the Skywhite in the meantime. Thanks guys

 

i actually replaced my 2x midday 6000k 2x lifeglo 6700k with gro lux and skywhite my plants really like the change. but its up to you. GG13 if you were in cape town i would give them to you for free. but they t5 though and 6months old.

 

Henk if you keen you can take the tubes..?

 

I have already ordered my Geisemans so i'm just using the Salvania growlux has a stop gap till the other globes arrives.

 

But alas, I am not... Thanks for the thought though

 

hey @lc3786455 , I had a look at that website, thanks. It's interesting how much difference a light makes. And here I thought a light was just a light...
The combination of the Osram Skywhite and Sylvania Gro-lux looks pretty good, imo (although the Phillips de Luxe Pro looks good too). Just the right amount of red to bring out that piece of wood and the plant behind it. The wood seems to go green in the other pics. This definitely gives me something to think about...

 

No 2 is Ludwigia and not Hygrophila polysperma, this is essentially a cold water plant.

Excel flourish does not produce CO2, it contains glutaraldehyde, which we have discussed on this forum as well. It gives the plant carbon, but it also has a very negative side to it in my opinion as this is related to formalin, also called formaldehyde, which is seriously toxic and reacts with proteins so it has a negative side for fishes as far as I am concerned.

jdt, Egeria densa is a blacklisted plant and is banned on this forum.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

Thanks Prof.
Gosh, there is a lot to learn...

Not counting Henk (no offense - clearly you're a believer :cheesy, what is everyone else's take on the Microbe-lift range? Which sponsors in Jo'burg stock it?