temp set at 78 deg any suggestions on trace elements?
"kush" wrote in message
...
OK, you've got more than enough light and CO2 for photosynthesis, so if
you're plants aren't growing, I assume that either they're nutrient
deficient or the water's too cold. You've got nitrate and phosphate, so
you
need to supplement with trace elements. Make sure your thermostat is set
at
72º or better.

Doug Sheely wrote in message
...
My tank has been set up for about two years but I just added the plants
and
new lighting within the last couple of months. I am not adding any
fertilizers and I do have a UV sterilizer running after having a serious
green water outbreak approximately 2 weeks ago.Plants include Amazon
Swords,
Camboa, Ludwiga,Micro Swords and others.
"kush" wrote in message
...
At pH 6.9 and kH 15, by formula, your CO2 is right at the level where
it
may
start being harmful to your fish.

What kind of plants do you have, how long has the tank been up, are
you
adding fertilizer, and what is the water temperature? Do you have
algae
and, if so, what kind?

kush

Doug Sheely wrote in message
...
These are my current test measurements of my 55g planted community
tank.
Any
suggestions?

PH 6.9
KH 15
Nitrite 0
Amonia 0
Phosphate 1.0
Nitrate 20

Plant growth is minimal and no fish distress that I can see. I am
fairly
sure that my Co2 level is a little high. Co2 is injected at
aproximnately
a
bubble a second. small gravel substrate. Magnum cannister filter.
2 -
55
watt pc lights. Thanks in advance for your suggestions to improve
plant
growth and overall health.

temp set at 78 deg any suggestions on trace elements?
"kush" wrote in message
...
OK, you've got more than enough light and CO2 for photosynthesis, so if
you're plants aren't growing, I assume that either they're nutrient
deficient or the water's too cold. You've got nitrate and phosphate, so
you
need to supplement with trace elements. Make sure your thermostat is set
at
72º or better.

Doug Sheely wrote in message
...
My tank has been set up for about two years but I just added the plants
and
new lighting within the last couple of months. I am not adding any
fertilizers and I do have a UV sterilizer running after having a serious
green water outbreak approximately 2 weeks ago.Plants include Amazon
Swords,
Camboa, Ludwiga,Micro Swords and others.
"kush" wrote in message
...
At pH 6.9 and kH 15, by formula, your CO2 is right at the level where
it
may
start being harmful to your fish.

What kind of plants do you have, how long has the tank been up, are
you
adding fertilizer, and what is the water temperature? Do you have
algae
and, if so, what kind?

kush

Doug Sheely wrote in message
...
These are my current test measurements of my 55g planted community
tank.
Any
suggestions?

PH 6.9
KH 15
Nitrite 0
Amonia 0
Phosphate 1.0
Nitrate 20

Plant growth is minimal and no fish distress that I can see. I am
fairly
sure that my Co2 level is a little high. Co2 is injected at
aproximnately
a
bubble a second. small gravel substrate. Magnum cannister filter.
2 -
55
watt pc lights. Thanks in advance for your suggestions to improve
plant
growth and overall health.

Good trace mixes that you can buy are TMG (Tropica Master Gro - you can
get it a Big Als online), and Seachem Flourish (get this at most LFSs).
You can also DIY and make your own PMDD (poor man's dosing drops).
I've *just* started wandering down that particular avenue, so my
experience isn't too deep with it. If you're just starting out, it's
probably better to get the TMG or Flourish until you're more acquainted
with fertilizing in general. Flourish comes in the basic "Flourish" and
then there's flourish with iron, flourish excel, etc. I'd start with
the Flourish with iron, unless you know that you already have enough
iron. The TMG already has iron in it. You can test for iron, or you
can use Chuck Gadd's webpage to see if you can tell more specifically
which nutrients your plants might be deficient in. Try out
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/articles.htm for a good starting point.

Best of luck!
pete

Doug Sheely wrote:
temp set at 78 deg any suggestions on trace elements?
"kush" wrote in message
...

OK, you've got more than enough light and CO2 for photosynthesis, so if
you're plants aren't growing, I assume that either they're nutrient
deficient or the water's too cold. You've got nitrate and phosphate, so

you

need to supplement with trace elements. Make sure your thermostat is set

at

72º or better.

Doug Sheely wrote in message
...

My tank has been set up for about two years but I just added the plants

and

new lighting within the last couple of months. I am not adding any
fertilizers and I do have a UV sterilizer running after having a serious
green water outbreak approximately 2 weeks ago.Plants include Amazon

Swords,

Camboa, Ludwiga,Micro Swords and others.
"kush" wrote in message
. ..

At pH 6.9 and kH 15, by formula, your CO2 is right at the level where

it

may

start being harmful to your fish.

What kind of plants do you have, how long has the tank been up, are

you

adding fertilizer, and what is the water temperature? Do you have

algae

and, if so, what kind?

kush

Doug Sheely wrote in message
...

These are my current test measurements of my 55g planted community

tank.

Any

suggestions?

PH 6.9
KH 15
Nitrite 0
Amonia 0
Phosphate 1.0
Nitrate 20

Plant growth is minimal and no fish distress that I can see. I am

fairly

sure that my Co2 level is a little high. Co2 is injected at

aproximnately

a

bubble a second. small gravel substrate. Magnum cannister filter.

2 -

55

watt pc lights. Thanks in advance for your suggestions to improve

plant

growth and overall health.










--
--
pete

"It is unwise to insult a doughnut be refusing to eat it."

Good trace mixes that you can buy are TMG (Tropica Master Gro - you can
get it a Big Als online), and Seachem Flourish (get this at most LFSs).
You can also DIY and make your own PMDD (poor man's dosing drops).
I've *just* started wandering down that particular avenue, so my
experience isn't too deep with it. If you're just starting out, it's
probably better to get the TMG or Flourish until you're more acquainted
with fertilizing in general. Flourish comes in the basic "Flourish" and
then there's flourish with iron, flourish excel, etc. I'd start with
the Flourish with iron, unless you know that you already have enough
iron. The TMG already has iron in it. You can test for iron, or you
can use Chuck Gadd's webpage to see if you can tell more specifically
which nutrients your plants might be deficient in. Try out
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/articles.htm for a good starting point.

Best of luck!
pete

Doug Sheely wrote:
temp set at 78 deg any suggestions on trace elements?
"kush" wrote in message
...

OK, you've got more than enough light and CO2 for photosynthesis, so if
you're plants aren't growing, I assume that either they're nutrient
deficient or the water's too cold. You've got nitrate and phosphate, so

you

need to supplement with trace elements. Make sure your thermostat is set

at

72º or better.

Doug Sheely wrote in message
...

My tank has been set up for about two years but I just added the plants

and

new lighting within the last couple of months. I am not adding any
fertilizers and I do have a UV sterilizer running after having a serious
green water outbreak approximately 2 weeks ago.Plants include Amazon

Swords,

Camboa, Ludwiga,Micro Swords and others.
"kush" wrote in message
. ..

At pH 6.9 and kH 15, by formula, your CO2 is right at the level where

it

may

start being harmful to your fish.

What kind of plants do you have, how long has the tank been up, are

you

adding fertilizer, and what is the water temperature? Do you have

algae

and, if so, what kind?

kush

Doug Sheely wrote in message
...

These are my current test measurements of my 55g planted community

tank.

Any

suggestions?

PH 6.9
KH 15
Nitrite 0
Amonia 0
Phosphate 1.0
Nitrate 20

Plant growth is minimal and no fish distress that I can see. I am

fairly

sure that my Co2 level is a little high. Co2 is injected at

aproximnately

a

bubble a second. small gravel substrate. Magnum cannister filter.

2 -

55

watt pc lights. Thanks in advance for your suggestions to improve

plant

growth and overall health.










--
--
pete

"It is unwise to insult a doughnut be refusing to eat it."

I think it would help to start adding some plant supplements like potassium
and trace elements because it seems that your plants are limited by those.
With enough CO2 and good lighting, as you have, your plants should probably
be able to deplete the water column of nitrate, and yet you have 20 ppm NO3
in your tank without supplementing it. If the plants are lacking even one
nutrient, they cannot absorb any others. It is in those conditions where
algae commonly thrives. For potassium, use K2SO4 or KCl. For traces, Tropica
MasterGrow and Flourish are great. After you start adding those, the plants
will start to remove the NO3 and possibly the PO4. In that case it'll be
necessary to start dosing KNO3 and perhaps KH2PO4. There are many sources of
these chemicals discussed in this newsgroup's Google archive.
__
Alex
pcalex (at) hotpop.com


"Doug Sheely" wrote in message
...
My tank has been set up for about two years but I just added the plants
and
new lighting within the last couple of months. I am not adding any
fertilizers and I do have a UV sterilizer running after having a serious
green water outbreak approximately 2 weeks ago.Plants include Amazon
Swords,
Camboa, Ludwiga,Micro Swords and others.

I think it would help to start adding some plant supplements like potassium
and trace elements because it seems that your plants are limited by those.
With enough CO2 and good lighting, as you have, your plants should probably
be able to deplete the water column of nitrate, and yet you have 20 ppm NO3
in your tank without supplementing it. If the plants are lacking even one
nutrient, they cannot absorb any others. It is in those conditions where
algae commonly thrives. For potassium, use K2SO4 or KCl. For traces, Tropica
MasterGrow and Flourish are great. After you start adding those, the plants
will start to remove the NO3 and possibly the PO4. In that case it'll be
necessary to start dosing KNO3 and perhaps KH2PO4. There are many sources of
these chemicals discussed in this newsgroup's Google archive.
__
Alex
pcalex (at) hotpop.com


"Doug Sheely" wrote in message
...
My tank has been set up for about two years but I just added the plants
and
new lighting within the last couple of months. I am not adding any
fertilizers and I do have a UV sterilizer running after having a serious
green water outbreak approximately 2 weeks ago.Plants include Amazon
Swords,
Camboa, Ludwiga,Micro Swords and others.