Hello all, my first post, so here goes:
My current setup:
A (currently empty) 55 gal planted tank with T5 6700K in 2 24" standard hoods. Lights are on for 9 hours. I had 2-3" of gravel, and used only distilled water. Java ferns were the only thing that seemed to survive. Marineland canister filter 350 with double bio-wheel.
Initially put some fertilizer pellets in the gravel, but nothing after that. After a few months a thick spider web-type algae started growing. Anything I did to remove it, was useless. It was back in a week or so.
Water testing (ammonia, nitrates, nitrites) always showed normal. I never had a large number of fish at any one time. I've had this setup (minus the 6700K lights) for more than 10 years and never had an algae issue til I brought in live plants.
I completely emptied my 55 gal., flushed it, then added 6-8 oz of bleach, let it soak overnight then flushed again. I trashed all the ornaments, gravel and all the plants (still have 3 fish, lost several during the winter power failure!)This is not something I wish to do again.
After some research on this site, it appears, given the light I have, I should've added CO2 injection and a proper substrate. Obviously I jumped in without doing enough research. Didn't know about the substrate, and CO2 seems a bit expensive and labor intensive.
I was hoping someone could convince me (and therefore my spouse) that live plants is worth the investment. Right now I am leaning toward returning to an artificial environment.
My current setup:
A (currently empty) 55 gal planted tank with T5 6700K in 2 24" standard hoods. Lights are on for 9 hours. I had 2-3" of gravel, and used only distilled water. Java ferns were the only thing that seemed to survive. Marineland canister filter 350 with double bio-wheel.
Initially put some fertilizer pellets in the gravel, but nothing after that. After a few months a thick spider web-type algae started growing. Anything I did to remove it, was useless. It was back in a week or so.
Water testing (ammonia, nitrates, nitrites) always showed normal. I never had a large number of fish at any one time. I've had this setup (minus the 6700K lights) for more than 10 years and never had an algae issue til I brought in live plants.
I completely emptied my 55 gal., flushed it, then added 6-8 oz of bleach, let it soak overnight then flushed again. I trashed all the ornaments, gravel and all the plants (still have 3 fish, lost several during the winter power failure!)This is not something I wish to do again.
After some research on this site, it appears, given the light I have, I should've added CO2 injection and a proper substrate. Obviously I jumped in without doing enough research. Didn't know about the substrate, and CO2 seems a bit expensive and labor intensive.
I was hoping someone could convince me (and therefore my spouse) that live plants is worth the investment. Right now I am leaning toward returning to an artificial environment.