Annakhil
Aquarium Advice Freak
So I thought pressurized co2 would take care of any algee but it seems like its exploding in my tank, I have 6 otos in there but it seems like a loosing battle
Annakhil said:I dose flourish complete once a week and yes my trates are at 5 now but I thought I want them low, the co2 is one bubble per 2 seconds
CorallineAlgae said:This confused the tar out if me for a long time. I was a saltwater guy for years before I ever tried freshwater so.. lol Plants actually need nitrates to grow well. 10-20ppm is much better for plants than 5ppm. It actually a fert.
Now as for ferts, once a week dosing is okay without co2 but once you have co2 going you'll want to dose more often, preferably every day. Plants will outgrow algae as long as they have the components they need to build new plant matter. If anything is in short supply the plant will stop growing and algae will take hold. With plants you want to look at your tank in terms of limiting factors or what may be in short supply for your plants. You have bright lights so light isn't limited. You have pressurized co2 so that should be fine as long as your drop checker is green from the time your lights turn on. You'll want nutrients in the substrate so root nutrients aren't limited, and fertilizers in the water so column feeding plants aren't limited.
There are more knowledgable people on here and some good articles and stickies to read about this. Algae will sometimes come up, especially in newer systems. Even experienced people have to fight it from time to time. Anytime you add some new element, like new lights, a new filter, a school of fish, different ferts, whatever... it seems like algae rears it's ugly head. *sigh* once you find the right balance of light schedule, feet dosing, co2 level and water change regimen it should get much better for you.
Annakhil said:Seriously thank you!!! No one has broke it down like that to me. I will start dosing daily and fogey some root tabs, only question I have is if I have a carpet of hc how do I put root tabs in after it fills in ?
Annakhil said:So I re-tanked two otos and an angel, just ordered my Milwaukee regulator just have to find a co2 dealer near me,before I buy a tank, insight be able to buy a used one from them for cheap.