do heavily-planted tanks still get "old tank" syndrome?
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do heavily-planted tanks still get "old tank" syndrome?
On Wed, 14 May 2003 05:31:23 GMT, "Duncan A. McRae"
wrote: Well if you do regular water changes NO tank will have "old tank syndrome". And in a heavily planted tank you will not have the nitrate buildup common in this "neglect syndrome" It's been said there is not such thing as a stupid question but this one really comes close in my book. Semper Fi! Visit the forums at Aqua Botanic! http://aquabotanicwetthumb.infopop.cc/#1 Need Nitrate or Potassium for your tank? Go to www.litemanu.com (Just a happy customer of the above!) |
do heavily-planted tanks still get "old tank" syndrome?
Many experts recommend regular water changes in planted tanks to help the
plants grow well. I have angels in a 55 gallon heavily planted tanks and do a 40-50% weekly water change. Both plants and angels thrive in this. Bob -- Bob Alston http://members.cox.net/tulsaalstons/ "Duncan A. McRae" wrote in message able.rogers.com... |
do heavily-planted tanks still get "old tank" syndrome?
"Bob Alston" wrote in message .. . Many experts recommend regular water changes in planted tanks to help the plants grow well. I have angels in a 55 gallon heavily planted tanks and do a 40-50% weekly water change. Both plants and angels thrive in this. Bob -- Bob Alston http://members.cox.net/tulsaalstons/ "Duncan A. McRae" wrote in message able.rogers.com... Then again, I have a heavily planted tank, been running for about a year now (I think) - about a 23gallon. Pair of angels (not paired, just two of them) and assorted other smaller fish (probably a bit over the stocking guidelines now they've grown). I do a water change of about 25%, every couple of months. Have an eheim external cannister filter on the tank, feed fish plenty, small amounts of CO2 on fairly variable schedule (ie, bell chamber doesn't get filled every day), occasional plant fert, plain tiny-sized gravel substrate, none of that flouritey stuff :-) Tank now has the appearance of a more 'mature' setup, imo. Plants growing steadily, but not rampantly as they were shortly after set-up. Everything seems to have settled to a steady equilibrium. Snails population varies dependant on type - some types seem to peak, then throttle back as another one peaks. They don't do any noticeable damage to the plants, I think they prefer to feed on uneaten fish food that makes it to the bottom, and algae that attempts to grow on the glass. I'm amazed at the health of the tank given the water changes are so infrequent. I'm guessing it must have reached a steady state where the plants take care of the nitrate for me, and there's enough fish to provide for the levels of plants I have in there. Had a few bouts of algae in the first few months after set up, but not seen any for quite a while now. No fish losses through disease or anything else, either. Tank looks a bit more on the 'wild' side than 'prettily landscaped' - but the fish are all happy with it like that, so I just trim back what gets excessive every so often. Velvet |
do heavily-planted tanks still get "old tank" syndrome?
Well if you do regular water changes NO tank will have "old tank
syndrome". And in a heavily planted tank you will not have the nitrate buildup common in this "neglect syndrome" It's been said there is not such thing as a stupid question but this one really comes close in my book. I don't agree. "Old tank syndrome" is poorly understood and certainly not as common as new tank syndrome. But it's not always due to poor tank maintenance. Some people find that after awhile the substrate goes bad. Even if you do regular water changes and vacuum the gravel, the gravel in a very old tank can get so full of rotting mulm that you can no longer keep the pH up. Breaking down the tank and starting over is the fix. Heavily planted tanks are less likely to get that kind of build-up in the gravel. And they'll also take care of the rising nitrate levels that go with old tank syndrome. However, you may have to replace the gravel in a planted tank, just as you do with a non-planted tank. If you used laterite, it will eventually get exhausted, and you'll have to replace the substrate. If you're using Flourite, you won't have to replace the substrate, but you may have to remove all the plants, a section at a time, and replant them, to keep them from getting rootbound. Leigh http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/ |
do heavily-planted tanks still get "old tank" syndrome?
"LeighMo" wrote in message ... However, you may have to replace the gravel in a planted tank, just as you do with a non-planted tank. If you used laterite, it will eventually get exhausted, and you'll have to replace the substrate. If you're using Flourite, you won't have to replace the substrate, but you may have to remove all the plants, a section at a time, and replant them, to keep them from getting rootbound. I'm using "anonymous" gravel; nothing special. So I should just test monthly for... pH? |
do heavily-planted tanks still get "old tank" syndrome?
*snip*
I'm using "anonymous" gravel; nothing special. So I should just test monthly for... pH? If it's 3' or bigger and you know from trial and error everything you're adding, monthly or even once every two months testing is quite fine. For smaller tanks, each water change or fortnightly tests are recommended IMO. |
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