Still a problem! - Page 2 - Aquarium Advice

FishEggs · 06-30-2009, 12:10 PM

sorry i always get those micro's and macro's mixed up. Thanks Joy

mgamer20o0 · 06-30-2009, 03:48 PM

i would try using 2 smaller bottles of co2 and swaping them out every week. this way you have a fresh batch going. it could also be that there is a imbalance of ferts or lacking of ferts which is slowing down the growth of the plants. if thats the case there is prob a excess of one of them and the algae is using that to grow.

you will get there it just takes time.

timwag2001 · 06-30-2009, 09:47 PM

is the iron in your water high?

Yellow Eye Tang · 07-01-2009, 11:36 AM

Thanks everyone. I cleaned as much of it up last night as I could. I'm going to try to find an iron test kit today and see if I can find anywhere here in town that sells the root tabs. Anyone have a brand name ect. for the root tabs or some sort of dry fert I could use along with the florish excel, API leaf zone mix?

Yellow Eye Tang · 07-01-2009, 03:33 PM

Ok, you all talked me into it! I just got back from the LFS and they believe that I need a different substrate for these plants. I bought a bag of black florite and I'm going to mix it with the eco-complete. I'll try to leave the C02 running as is and re-plant everything. Quick question is, does anyone know the rock in my pictures at the beginning of this thread. If it IS indeed limestone (which I'm truley not sure of) should I remove it completely or will it be ok in the tank? I'd like to keep it but was told my rams wouldn't like it if it's limestone and the plants may not like it either. Well,... I will post pictures when I get this all redone tongiht. Thanks again for the tips!

woofer00 · 07-01-2009, 07:04 PM

SeaChem makes FlourishTabs that work pretty well, just need to put in new ones every 3 or 4 months (so they say). I'm kinda suspicious of whether you really need new substrate or not, plenty of people get by with normal non-special pea gravel as long as they dose the water column with ferts and/or put in root tabs. Substrate, especially fluorite and eco-complete, are high ticket items for any LFS.

It's hard to say if it's limestone or not based on image alone since it looks like there's algae on there. Try removing a piece and putting drops of vinegar. If it bubbles, it's probably some variant of limestone.

Yellow Eye Tang · 07-01-2009, 07:31 PM

Ok I heard of the vinegar thing... so if it bubbles it IS limestone and if it does not bubble its ok? On initial pour of vinegar there is a couple of bubbles and as it sits nothing.

FishEggs · 07-01-2009, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellow Eye Tang

Ok, you all talked me into it! I just got back from the LFS and they believe that I need a different substrate for these plants. I bought a bag of black florite and I'm going to mix it with the eco-complete. I'll try to leave the C02 running as is and re-plant everything. Quick question is, does anyone know the rock in my pictures at the beginning of this thread. If it IS indeed limestone (which I'm truley not sure of) should I remove it completely or will it be ok in the tank? I'd like to keep it but was told my rams wouldn't like it if it's limestone and the plants may not like it either. Well,... I will post pictures when I get this all redone tongiht. Thanks again for the tips!

i believe i tried to talk you into just spiking the gravel with root tabs. but you might like the look of the new substrate. i have eco complete with some pea gravel scattered on top and i like it very much.

mgamer20o0 · 07-01-2009, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellow Eye Tang

Ok, you all talked me into it! I just got back from the LFS and they believe that I need a different substrate for these plants. I bought a bag of black florite and I'm going to mix it with the eco-complete. I'll try to leave the C02 running as is and re-plant everything. Quick question is, does anyone know the rock in my pictures at the beginning of this thread. If it IS indeed limestone (which I'm truley not sure of) should I remove it completely or will it be ok in the tank? I'd like to keep it but was told my rams wouldn't like it if it's limestone and the plants may not like it either. Well,... I will post pictures when I get this all redone tongiht. Thanks again for the tips!

i am sure they can come up with a whole list of other things you need to buy them from. the substrate isnt the problem. not going to say it was a complete waste but they just talked you into buying it.

Yellow Eye Tang · 07-02-2009, 06:48 PM

Well, tehnically, there was a girl in there that is ALWAYS in there. She has several planted tanks and gives the LFS owner a lot of her stuff. I had never talked to her but this time she saw me staring at the Sechems florish tabs. I guess it was her that acually talked me into this approach. She acually was very nice and informative just as all of you always are. She said she has never even used Co2 which was kinda wierd but she said she uses this florite mixed with eco complete and had never had an outbreak of hair algae??? Trust me I'll always listen to you guys first but i DO love the new look. I'm gonna put on the black background and will take pix. I still bought the root tabs and was wondering if its too much to put those in as well? Thanks a million for all of your help.