Hello all

I have been getting much useful information from reading the posts here.
Thanks.

My small planted tank (60cm long) has never really taken off and I don't
seem to be getting the growth from my plants that I would like. I have high
nitrates in my tap water and would like a vigorous planting to help reduce
these. The tap water is also very hard.

About a year ago I planted Vallis, a small Anubias, Java fern, an
Aponogeton and a small crypt. The Anubias withered away but the rest have
managed to survive more or less. The Vallis continues to grow, but the
leaves get a film of algae as they age, the Java fern has grown well and I
have propagated this around by tying it to small rocks with fishing line,
however the leaves do get brown spots on as they get older. The Aponogeton
is continuing to put out leaves, regularly but not frequently, as do the
crypts. I added a new Anubias nana about a week ago, and a Hygro which I
hope will grow fast and out-compete the algae.

The tank has 2x18'' flourescent tubes lighting it and gets very little
natural light. It has an internal Fluval filter that returns the water
across the surface of the tank. The substrate is fairly coarse gravel
(probably about 3-4 mm) and I added half a box of First Layer to it a couple
of weeks ago and did what I could to mix it in with the existing gravel. 6
months ago I added a Hagen CO2 generator. Each week I add a cap full of
aquatic plant food with the water change.

I periodically rub the leaves to remove some of the green fur-like algae and
perform approx. 30% water changes once a week. The tank contains 3 small
Bosemani rainbow fish, a krib and a clown pleco (I know these fish are too
big for this size tank, I was recommended them by the staff at the local
fish shop who knew my set-up, and by the time I realized what the final size
of the fish would be it was too late to take them back).

I do test the water, but not frequently, and not for micronutrients. Last
check the ammonia and nitrates were 0 and nitrates about 60 - 70. This is
high but the water straight out of the tap gets a reading of about 40 so my
water changes are not that effective.

I was thinking about excavating around the plants in the substrate and
filling the holes with neat First Layer. Is this a good idea or can you
overdose on that stuff? I'm really looking for general suggestions that will
get things growing fast.

Sorry for the length of the post, if you got this far, thank-you!

-Jon