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#1
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Non co2 nutrient plan?
I have a 90g (24" deep) planted tank that I am wanting to maintain without
use of CO2. My water is pH 7.0, KH 1, and I have 220 watts of CF lighting, (half 9325º half 6700º). I have used Onyx sand as a substrate, and the tank is filtered by an Eheim 2026 and a Penquin 330. My hopes are to add Discus in the future after the tank matures to some degree, so am dealing with warmer water. I change 25% of the water once a week and replace with aged (outgassed) water. Plants include: Java fern Java Moss Amazon Swords Pygmy swords Rubin Sword Anubias Bolbitis Crystal Vals Onion plants Water sprite Hydroplila (giant and sunset) Fish include: Cardinal tetras Diamond tetras Harlequin Rasboras Hatchet fish Corydoras Otocinclus Farlowellas I know that some of these plants (i.e.the sunset hydro) may not do well in a moderately lighted tank, and that there are design flaws... we'll let that go for the moment. My question is regarding nutrients- I have here Flourish Excel, Flourish, Flourish Iron, Flourish Potassium, and Flourish tabs. I have a tab near each of the swords and larger plants. I understand that my fish provide the N and the P. Is there a "keep it simple stupid" method to keeping this tank presentable without altering it's basic lighting/water/fish load ?? I prefer (at this point anyway) to buy prepared products. I know it is a large tank and CO2 would be preferable, but until I get a handle on my KH (hoping the Onyx sand will help)and grasp some basic water chemistry I am staying away from CO2. I am not wanting excessive growth nor showstopping results. I am wanting the majority of my plants to stay healthily green. I do not mind dosing daily. I am just looking for that elusive "simple plan" of what to add when. Does one exist? -- Toni http://www.cearbhaill.com/aquarium.htm |
#2
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Non co2 nutrient plan?
"Toni" wrote in message rthlink.net...
I have a 90g (24" deep) planted tank that I am wanting to maintain without use of CO2. My water is pH 7.0, KH 1, and I have 220 watts of CF lighting, (half 9325º half 6700º). I have used Onyx sand as a substrate, and the tank is filtered by an Eheim 2026 and a Penquin 330. Well cut the light way back, 160w of NO FL lighting is about right. Deeper 4 inch substrate is good. You will have algae with this much light other wise unless you go to CO2. My hopes are to add Discus in the future after the tank matures to some degree, so am dealing with warmer water. I change 25% of the water once a week and replace with aged (outgassed) water. Non CO2 tanks are choosen for less mainteance, this is part of the deal, no water changes. Top off for evaporation only. Water change when you need to do a big trim or cleaning, about once every 3-6 months or so. 82-84F works fine for Discus, breeding even......... so I know they do fine at that temp. Also, these are big cichlids and folks have troubles not over feeding them. All this waste and leftover food = algae. So don't over stock the tank, like 5 fish MAX if you plan on feeding a lot. I see you plan on adding a bunch of smaller fish on top of this. This is going to produce a lot of waste and there's no way a non CO2 tank w/25% weekly water changes is going cope with this loading. I know that some of these plants (i.e.the sunset hydro) may not do well in a moderately lighted tank, It's not the light directly, it's the CO2, the plants(just about any plant you want to pick for that matter) will grow just fine if you added CO2. If you want to improve plants growth(you would not have asked otherwise), then CO2 is your only logical next step here. CO2 enriched tank can and do work great with 50% weekly water changes. Many planted tank+ Discus owners do 50% 2x a week water changes FWIW. and that there are design flaws... we'll let that go for the moment. My question is regarding nutrients- I have here Flourish Excel, Flourish, Flourish Iron, Flourish Potassium, and Flourish tabs. I have a tab near each of the swords and larger plants. I understand that my fish provide the N and the P. In a non carbon enriched tank somewhat. You are adding Excel to a larger tank and will need to pay a fair amount over the course of a year for this. I'd recommend using CO2 gas tank for your goal here. It'll allow you to feed more, have more fish, do water changes etc and have faster growing plants. Is there a "keep it simple stupid" method to keeping this tank presentable without altering it's basic lighting/water/fish load ?? Sure, but your stocking list is critical, lighting value needs to be lowered. Deep substrate, lots of plants from the start, 10-25% surface with floating plants like water sprite. I prefer (at this point anyway) to buy prepared products. I know it is a large tank and CO2 would be preferable, but until I get a handle on my KH (hoping the Onyx sand will help)and grasp some basic water chemistry I am staying away from CO2. It'll raise the KH some, for awhile. It's better to add those PC lights last rather than adding the CO2 tank last. But the Excel will help some. It'll get costly along the way. Building a substrate well is a key for the non CO2 method with a decent lighting amount, 1.5-2w gal or so, no water changes. I am not wanting excessive growth nor showstopping results. I am wanting the majority of my plants to stay healthily green. I do not mind dosing daily. I am just looking for that elusive "simple plan" of what to add when. Does one exist? Both Discus and plants are more work than you may be prepared for. Everyone says the same thing about nothing great on the plants or wanting fast growth, they often come back asking about how to cure their algae problems. Many Discus owners unwilling to try the CO2 and other plant methods just live with their fur covered Anubias. Meantime my fish are happy, get lots of water changes, high Dissolved O2 levels, and the tank looks nice. Folks often think they have to apply strict discus breeder's habits to their own tank. This is not true. Temp is one issue, low KH/Gh is another, 3 degrees is fine, even up to 5 or so. I had them bred at 82F, GH 9 , KH 5.5. Loads of plants and CO2. They did not get any special treatment and were fed once a day(Varied diet-no live tubifix worms) and got quite large 7-8". Regards, Tom Barr |
#3
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Non co2 nutrient plan?
" wrote in message I'd recommend using CO2 gas tank for your goal here. It'll allow you to feed more, have more fish, do water changes etc and have faster growing plants. Somehow I knew you'd be telling me that. OK- I will reduce the watts while I begin studying CO2 systems. Any plug and play ready systems you'd recommend? While I really do appreciate your comments, I am still afraid of CO2. I'm afraid of ugly tanks and tubing in my home, I'm afraid of compressed gas, and I know I'll not know how to hook it all up. I'll bang the tanks against my walls lugging them in and out and the gauges will confuse me. Feh! g There is nothing for me to do now but set out on my *very steep* learning curve. Thank you for the time it took to formulate your response. -- Toni http://www.cearbhaill.com/aquarium.htm |
#4
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Non co2 nutrient plan?
While I really do appreciate your comments, I am still afraid of CO2. I'm
afraid of ugly tanks and tubing in my home, I'm afraid of compressed gas, and I know I'll not know how to hook it all up. I'll bang the tanks against my walls lugging them in and out and the gauges will confuse me. It's understandable that you would have those fears, but with a low pressure needle valve, I've run my tanks, plum empty and never had a problem.... I mean empty.... And hooking them up, is pretty simple after it's assembled.... most of them are preassembled if you buy the 'set' and that is recommended for the first time user.... I was too, spent way more than I should, but it's a great regulator, and Ive never had better plant growth.... For your 90g, I'd think a 10lb bottle would fit nicely behind a cabinet, tubing can be routed anywhere, and can be hidden pretty easily... Think about the benefits, analyze the cost, measure the risk, and go buy one... haha.... There is nothing for me to do now but set out on my *very steep* learning curve. Thank you for the time it took to formulate your response. -- Toni http://www.cearbhaill.com/aquarium.htm |
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