my first ADA 120P planted tank journal

[insomniaclush]

Re: my first ADA 120P planted tank journal

If all else fails, here are some really expensive nerites:

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=1075+1076&pcatid=1076

Just looked on a whim at their site, figured they would probably have some.  8)

And/or Aquarium World there on HWY 290 still has quite a few little nerites (mislabeled trapdoor snails)
for $1.69 ea.  worst comes to worst, release the rams horns!!! lol

[eklikewhoa]

Re: my first ADA 120P planted tank journal

Yep, Aquarium world has Nerites mislabled as trapdoors.

[finfan]

Re: my first ADA 120P planted tank journal

update - i have done at least 35% water change everyday the first week and have done one every other day since, the ammonia is now almost gone and of course nitrite is really high, hopefully that changes over the next few days, but the inevitable thing that i have been dreading has happened, i have green hair algae and some sort of read/brown algae, mostly on leaves and now seeing on the glass too, here are some other things, the only plant growth over the last 12 days (since the tank got water) has been the baby swords on the lines, they have all long roots going down to substrate, one touched already, and have given several leaves, but two of my nana rhizomes pretty much melted with leaves coming off, the rhizomes have been completey out of the substrate from the beginning just like the rest of the nanas but i am not sure why these two particularly melted, i hope they regenrate

i am dosing flourish excel with every water change, what can i do to keep a check on this hair algae and brown algae?  

i still can't put otos or other algae eaters because the tank is not cycled, i don't want to put BN because they almost skin swords!  i might get SAE's, ottos, and nerites (if available), but still have to wait until cycled,  i am still planning on doing water changes every other day or every two days until tank is completely cycled, but after that only weekly, please advice,


here are baby swords with some roots, these roots grow more than an inch a day!!


heres algae growing on glass


one of the swords not doing so well


NASTY hair algae super growth in two days


NASTY brown algae - seems like nana's are their favorite


brown algae taking hold in sowrds - see small dotting at this point


more brown algae on nana


i just hope it is not a complete takeover :(

[Mzungu]

Re: my first ADA 120P planted tank journal

Well, as I said, a tank without algae is pretty much impossible. And your tank is still new, so it will most likely go through the almost inevitable stages of algae growth. For example, diatoms are extremely common in new setups.

If I were you, I would remove all of the hair algae you can whenever you see it. Don't let that stuff get ahead of you.

As for the brown algae, try to remove all that you can by hand, as well (wiping tank walls, etc.). Snails and other "algae eaters" will keep that in check as soon as you can add them. But until everything is balanced and knows its place, in a sense, there will be fluctuations in growth of algae versus plants.

It actually seems that your swords are doing quite well! If you want, go ahead and pluck off the babies and plant them separately. With the adults, it just seems that some of the old leaves are dying. It looks like there are new leaves appearing, so I would just remove the dead/dying ones and go from there. For what it's worth, algae will take over old and dying leaves much more easily than new, healthy ones. So, I guess I'm saying that it's just a matter of doing all you can to remove any forseen advantages that the algae can have.

Good job with the water changes, though! You're dedicated! I'm glad the cycling seems to be almost done.  

[edmlfc]

Re: my first ADA 120P planted tank journal

I think Dan at HAW had some nerites. I remember we we're talking about them but I'm not sure if he actually had them in stock. Give him a call and ask. I have been using the excel and my hair algea is all gone. I also added the rosey barbs yesterday. Keep us update with the algea problem.

[edmlfc]

Re: my first ADA 120P planted tank journal

Btw: I belive the angels will eat the shrimp. I added ghost shrimp when I moved everything over and the angels hunted them down and ate every one of them.  :(

[finfan]

Re: my first ADA 120P planted tank journal

thanks for all the great advice guys, lets hope it stays within control, i will call dan and see if he has nerites, but i am assuming i can't get the snails or any of the algae eaters until i am completely cycled right?  i have a bn pleco in my other tank that is really good at eating all kinds of algae, but he seems to skin amazon swords in his attempt to eat algae, he can't do that to the nana's, anyone else had the same experience with bn pleco and amazon sword?

[edmlfc]

Re: my first ADA 120P planted tank journal

My bn did the same thing to my amazon swords before I moved him. I would probally skip the bn for now. And yes you must wait until the tank is cycled to add the nerites. If you notice a big problem with the algea after it's cycled I would get an oto, but I was told if there is no algea for them to eat they will starve. You might want to check that out before you get one. Hope this helps.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: my first ADA 120P planted tank journal

I would recommend dosing excel everyday along with the big dose after water changes.....that will keep your algae away or invest in pressurized.

[myjohnson]

Re: my first ADA 120P planted tank journal

In my experience livestock, co2, and excel are the best algae fighters.  I blast co2 into my PT and I use excel on plants that have been "inflected" with algae.

Regarding your situation, I would do as EK has recommended with the addition of targeting the excel on the plant that is inflected.  I did this with some success on my last PT.  I have also try overdosing excel and had limited success with that.  

Nevertheless, there will always be some level of algae in all PTs......the fight continues for us all.  :(

Hope this helps and keep us updated.

[finfan]

Re: my first ADA 120P planted tank journal

went by dan's today and picked up a few julii cories (they are awesome, they were quiet hiding for a the first few hours, but now they are schooling together, very interesting schooling, lets hope they survive my new tank, 2 dwarf puffers (in my fry tank - no fries at the moment - some platys), and 2 bunches of Vallisneria nana, i love the way the nana vals look in my tank, brings a different shape/structure/dimention, hope they take off and grow, will post pix soon

[eklikewhoa]

Re: my first ADA 120P planted tank journal

Val. Nana is one of te plants that needs co2 to look it's best.....might not do well with excel or even melt. Just FYI

[finfan]

Re: my first ADA 120P planted tank journal

that blows, i guess i will just enjoy it while it lasts   :?

[myjohnson]

Re: my first ADA 120P planted tank journal

finfan,

  You got 2 dwarf puffers? What kind are they exactly? Ek gave me some a while back for my PT and I could never get them to eat flakes or pellets.  All they wanted to do was hunt snails. They ended up dieing because I think they need more then just snails in their diet.  Are your's eating any kind of man made fish food yet?

[eklikewhoa]

Re: my first ADA 120P planted tank journal

You have to feed them bloodworms and frozens which they will eat....I think I told you that.