Here is another pic. View attachment 287798
I don't use Co2. It looks like brown algae but it does not wipe off. It is not slimy or have filaments.
My ppm run about 250. PH is 6.8 to 7. Ammonia and nitrites are 0. Nitrates have been increasing of late to 40 so I have been doing 30% weekly changes and vacuuming well. Gh is 60 and Kh is 40.
AqueoN LED lights, 2 strips running 13 hours a day. I do not know the PAR.
Here is a pic from one week ago.
View attachment 287821
I have been slowing replacing my biological medium to Biohome mini and ultimate over the past 3 weeks. Removing the ceramic rings and bioballs a bit at a time.
I suspect I need to take the ornamental air bubbler out. This is robbing plants of co2.
I need to treat the plants with peroxide(3%).
Vacuum well and perhaps a 50% water change.
I think I may have way to many nutrients in the water.
My plants are in glass containers so I can remove them to treat them. I'm thinking I spray with a little peroxide and let it sit for a minute and then rinse in tank water?
The plants are all due for a new root tab as well. It's been almost 2 months since the last one.
What do you think? Sound like a good battle plan?
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Yes my plants are potted. Think of me as a woman who likes to move furniture. View attachment 287842
I know plants do not like to have their roots disturbed. This was my solution. So I could move them around, vacuum and focus the root tab ferts.
Not sure what you mean by defo? But I do think the lights are on too much and need to get a timer.
Yep I have a spraybar. But I still wonder if the flow is adequate.
I have no idea what my bioload is. I monitor weekly and no issues so far. This is the first time I have had this happen. No new fish. Just the new media.
My tap water is toxic, I'd don't even let my dog drink it. I use RO/DI water with Seachem Equilibrium to add back the needed minerals.
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Hahaha thanks for the new slang. I'm a California girl and had no idea what you meant.
My canister is supposed to run 265 gph. That's close to 9x the tank capacity of 30g. But I know they never seem to flow like advertised.
The pots are a bit of an experiment. The glass is 1/2 diameter so I am hoping there is a bit of flow in those little roots.
Thanks for your advise. I tore it all out as planned and honestly down in the bottom was an unspeakable horror the amount of uneaten food and crap. My nitrates are reading at 10 at the moment now that I have cleaned a good amount of it out and changed the water.
I also purchased a few tiger snails. My mystery snails really don't eat the algae. Hoping the Tigers will take care of it or keep it down. Once they get out of the bag they can get to work.
View attachment 287847
Now off to hunt through the garage. I know I have a timer out there somewhere.
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Plants are still in their little pots with fresh root tabs and the glass. I'm sure it seems positively sacrilegious to you. Or ludicrous.
I guess I am more of a fish tank with plants as opposed to a planted tank.
If my little experiment fails I will remove the victims and just invest in a broader range of Java and Anubis species. Anything with above ground roots.
Can't wait for lights on this morning to see if there is improvement.
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Not at all. If that's how you want to keep your plants that's your prerogative all I can do is offer my advice. ?
Hope it works out for you. Keep us posted.
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Thank you!
Just flipped on the lights and the fish are not gasping. So the air bubbler being removed hasn't had a negative impact on the fish.
The brown crud might have decreased but too soon to tell.
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