digitallinh
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2011
- Messages
- 47
So here is my story:
I'm pretty new to the hobby, started my 29 gallon planted aquarium less than 2 weeks ago. Its been a few days since my first planting and stuff is definitely growing!
Here is my setup.
Light : 2 x 24 Watts Zoo-Med Aquasun T5HO about 20-22 inches above the substrate. According to the PAR data, this puts me at "high" light, but considering the poor quality of my reflector, I am under the assumption that this is actually "medium" light.
Co2 : I am planning to dose Excel. Trying to avoid a pressurized co2 system if at all possible, cost is not the issue. It is for purely aesthetic reasons as I don't want any extra equipment around my aquarium.
Substrate : 2 bags of Eco-complete Red mixed with a bag of fluorite. Mixed for color variation and no other reason.
Nutrients: I'm currently only using Seachem's flourish, which covers most of my micros.
My temperatures are generally around 79 F, PH at around 7-7.5.
My Bioload is as follows:
10 Rasbora
1 Pearl Gourami
6 Kuhli Loaches
4 Yo-Yo Loaches
The Questions
1. Do I have too much light for an excel only setup?
2. I am aware of the macro nutrients - Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium. I know I will probably have to inject some K, but are Nitrogen and Phosphorous necessary given my bioload and the available nitrates?
3. Is there an obvious algae situation here?
--
I see a lot of people dose dry ferts almost indiscriminately, and I am wondering if I should follow this strategy. My big thing is having to do a 50% water change every week, I would prefer to keep it at 20-25% max.
I guess my goal here is to create a balance between fish waste and plant consumption. Where nitrates/phosphorous from bio waste slowly rise and are taken up by the plants, thus creating an equilibrium, with as little outside (carbon/water/potassium are almost unavoidable) help as possible.
Here is a picture of my tank, planning to fill in the tank with some hairgrass, some blyxa, some more different hygros/lindernias later this week.
Any help would be appreciated.
I'm pretty new to the hobby, started my 29 gallon planted aquarium less than 2 weeks ago. Its been a few days since my first planting and stuff is definitely growing!
Here is my setup.
Light : 2 x 24 Watts Zoo-Med Aquasun T5HO about 20-22 inches above the substrate. According to the PAR data, this puts me at "high" light, but considering the poor quality of my reflector, I am under the assumption that this is actually "medium" light.
Co2 : I am planning to dose Excel. Trying to avoid a pressurized co2 system if at all possible, cost is not the issue. It is for purely aesthetic reasons as I don't want any extra equipment around my aquarium.
Substrate : 2 bags of Eco-complete Red mixed with a bag of fluorite. Mixed for color variation and no other reason.
Nutrients: I'm currently only using Seachem's flourish, which covers most of my micros.
My temperatures are generally around 79 F, PH at around 7-7.5.
My Bioload is as follows:
10 Rasbora
1 Pearl Gourami
6 Kuhli Loaches
4 Yo-Yo Loaches
The Questions
1. Do I have too much light for an excel only setup?
2. I am aware of the macro nutrients - Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium. I know I will probably have to inject some K, but are Nitrogen and Phosphorous necessary given my bioload and the available nitrates?
3. Is there an obvious algae situation here?
--
I see a lot of people dose dry ferts almost indiscriminately, and I am wondering if I should follow this strategy. My big thing is having to do a 50% water change every week, I would prefer to keep it at 20-25% max.
I guess my goal here is to create a balance between fish waste and plant consumption. Where nitrates/phosphorous from bio waste slowly rise and are taken up by the plants, thus creating an equilibrium, with as little outside (carbon/water/potassium are almost unavoidable) help as possible.
Here is a picture of my tank, planning to fill in the tank with some hairgrass, some blyxa, some more different hygros/lindernias later this week.
Any help would be appreciated.