Zoom's 38l Nano

Small tip for glosso and hair grass to spread faster. When the runner settles where it was going and new leaves form, take
a scissor and cut the runner so it separates the main plant from the new one. This
forces the main plant to generate more runners as it does not continue with the ones it
already have. Do not remove the new runner plant, just cut the connection.

 

O and Ashley your Excel dosage is wrong. You should add 0.25ml every day.
You should not have a problem dosing that with a small syringe.

 

Just a small update since it's been a while.

I did attempt a moss wall... but there was more algae on the netting than moss. So I tossed that. (Sorry, no pics... I don't show stuff ups.)

Tank wasn't cleaned last week cause of illness. Had to do a fairly big WC this avie. The algae on the glass had reached a point where I couldn't see the lonely snail in there stuck on the glass. (Embarrassed grin).

Decided to "mow" the lawn again.

Glosso seems to be taking a while. It has sent a huge amount of runners into the grass, and taking a bit of strain where I actually planted it. But time will tell. Had 3 guppies in there for 2 weeks. Took them out now because I wanted to fiddle around with different doses of chemicals and try and find a balance with the usage of fertz, and the amount of algae I am constantly getting on the glass. I could lesson the amount of time the lights are on, however it's on 7 hours already, and if I go any less than that, I fear I may start impacting the plants. Oh, yes, I said I "wanted" to start playing with different doses, but after I had removed the guppies and started emptying the tank, I discovered a whole bunch of guppy fry. (Typical).

 

What algae type are you struggling with Ashley?

 

It's a green one.

Seriously, I actually don't know. It start on the glass... so I initially thought it was GSA. But it's not spots, the entire glass gets covered in it. Then is starts on the substrate. It's like a green slime almost. Comes off the glass easier that GSA. The comes off the gravel with a simple vacuum.

 

maybe stop with the ferts for now? im sure ur pfp is still leaching nutrients into the water so thats why u have a algae issue? try a water test.. im sure it may be that u have an excess amount of nitrates?

i usually dose when i see a difficiency..

 

I know this sounds silly,but next time remove some and then smell it.BGA will have a distinct earthy smell.

 

That looks horrible (sorry I had to)

I had that algae twice. Once I drained enough out of my tank to let the top of my moss tree stick out. Must have been for a few minutes.
The next day I found the top of the tree covered in it. The endlers quickly ate it all though.

The second time was in a spot in the tank where there wasn't a good flow. Not movement I mean flow.

I have another little test tank running with no fish. No heater either. I dose with Excell and Comprehensive. Light is about
3W/G. I have a filter in there that stirs things up quite a bit and so far absolutely no algae.

Have wondered if water flow stops algae in a way?

 

@ Vis,hope this is not a high jack,flow plays a major role in combating algae.
Good flow will distribute nutrients and CO2 evenly and effectively through out the tank.
Nutrient deficiency also plays a part in algae causes.

 

hi Rudi, i always taught that excess amounts of nutients i.e nitrates, phophates cause algae problems.

 

not true.. if u see GSA - green spotted algae- on the glass or on the plants thats a potassium difficiency.. well thats the only one i know..

 

i am still trying to understand this whole algae thing, really. in the little reading i have done it is almost always recommended to grow some fast growing stem plants for example to out compete the algae, i assuming for nutrients here so the more plants you have, the less excess nutrients in the water for the algae to grab onto. please im just trying to understand i could be totally wrong just wanna broadern my knowledge a little bit. Ashley sorry for cluttering your thread.

 

yes what u learnt is 100% correct. but there is an exception to that rule which is that if u have gsa in ur tank its a potassium difficiency.. you will usually see this kind of algae combined with "pin holes" in the leaves of ur plants..some natures no salt or seachem potassium should fix it

---------- Post added at 13:11 ---------- Previous post was at 13:11 ----------

i'll admit though, i dono why GSA grows when theres a lack of potassium.. i just know that when i see it, i dose potassium and it goes away

 

No need to apologize @Linga . Algae is actually an amazing thing. There are many different types of algae, and each one grows under different conditions. Some under poor nutrition, some under excess, some under one element in excess. So basically when you get one, you need to research what your shortfall is. I'm just being too lazy to research and hoping someone (@Rudi) will answer for me. Heehee. Maybe I'll take a pic of the algae next week and get a definitive answer then.

 

Hey Ashley,you trying to put me on the spot?
@Linga,remember there's a big difference between high nitrates and phosphates in a fish only tank or a tank with a few plants,and high nitrates and phosphates in a tank completely covered in plants.In the heavily planted tank,we need the nitrates and phosphates as nutrients for the plants.In the fish only tank,there's nothing to absorb or use the nitrates and phosphates,and if we as aquarists does not do this with water changes,algae could take hold.
On the fast growing plants:It is often recommended to plant some fast growing stem plants,especially in the beginning stages of a new planted tank,but not for the reasons you are thinking.Fast growers are excellent ammonia scrubbers or removers.In any new or uncycled tank,ammonia is your biggest enemy,even when undetectable by your test kit,it can cause an algae bloom of note.Green water springs to mind.So by initially using the fast growers to help stabilize the tank,remove the ammonia,you give the other plants time to adapt to the new environment and root in place.After awhile you can remove the fast growers and replace with more desirable species.

 

Thanks Rudi, i am very new to planted tanks, so trying to absorb as much info as possible, as im starting a nano and dont wanna only be fighting algae the whole time.

 

Well I am sad to announce that in December this tank will be taken apart.

The tank rests on a silver tray, because the tank is on a wooden table, and I don't want any water to get on the table and cause any long term damage. I have noticed over the past 2 weeks that this tray fulls up with water and needs to be emptied every 5 days or so. I have checked the corners, and I have checked the piping to the small canister at the back, and I have determined that there is no leak there. It has to be coming from the base.

I cannot see this at present, because I have taped the bottom of the tank with black insulation tape to hide that grotesque appearance of a tank with polystyrene peering out from the bottom, and I really do not want to disturb it now... for fear than "all hell will break loose."

In a few weeks time, when the guppy fry inside are big enough to join my big community tank, I will have to take the tank down, and strip it. I will save the Glosso and grass and plant it into my main tank, however I will not be resetting up the Nano for now. My wife and I will be looking for a house from January onwards, and I think it will only be better if I start it up again in the new home.

 

oh no

 

Man I am sure the moving company will have a forklift to move that thing

 

Yeah, they probably would, but the forklift won't get up 3 flights of stairs!