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I just want to ask if anyone knows if this plant (wist) is helping to keep the algae out from the tanks?
[link]http://www.picshosted.com/v/13541/Feb 20 2006 (3).JPG[/link]
[link]http://www.picshosted.com/v/13542/Feb 20 2006 (6).JPG[/link]
This is my little jungle in 10g tank at home in the kitchen with 2x27W Philips Daylight compact fluorescent bulbs (6500K}, DIY CO2, WC 50% every week (right from the tap), and after WC I use to dose a drop of Flourish Excel and 2.5 ml of Aquarium Stuff Co.’s “Aquatic Plant Fertilizer”.
The only algae I have is a little hair algae on the moss and a few spots of green algae on the grass in the back.


PS
I start this tank in November 2005 when for the first time I read this forum.
[link]http://www.picshosted.com/v/13543/First day.JPG[/link]
Thank You Guys

Nice tank!

I think it's your healthy mass of plants (wisteria included) that's keeping algae away. Basically the plants outcompete algae for nutrients. Same thing as a garden bed; if you have a lot of healthy plants on it you'd rarely see a weed.

Anyways, nice job! /:'

-P

Wow..those 1st pictures are of your 10g?

I have a 10g and would love for it to look like that. My wisteria grows extremely wild. I have to trim it so much to keep it from getting tangled up in itself.


*Kristin*

Thank you Upikabu, thank you Girlie

Yes that is my 10g tank.
I just trimed wisteria and rotalla 2 weeks ago.

D

Very very nice. I noticed that you have DIY CO2. That must be one reason why it looks so nice. I need to rig up some on my 10g.
What type of moss do you have? (i think i see moss)

*Kristin*

Decebal,

Awesome tank, I love it

Tell us a little about the maintenance on the tank, like water changes, plants, fishies, and what not.

I guess it is a little too early (3 months old tank, right? ) to evaluate the "permanent stay" of this design, but so far it is wonderful.

Have fun,

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I think is java moss
http://www.picshosted.com/v/13625/DSC00364.JPG
this is one of the picture I took it in December 2005 aprox. 2 weeks from start
D

Awesome tank, I love it

Thank you Ingo, BTW i love your tanks too

Tell us a little about the maintenance on the tank, like water changes, plants, fishies, and what not.

2x27W Philips Daylight compact fluorescent bulbs (6500K),
DIY CO2 - one 2l bottle and I change the mix every week at WC(water change),
WC 50% every week (right from the tap), and after WC I use to dose a drop of Flourish Excel and 2.5 ml of Aquarium Stuff Co.’s “Aquatic Plant Fertilizer” (please don't ask what is this or what is inside because I don't now. all is saying is High Fe and minerals)
Every second week i use to wash the filter and CO2 difuser.
water prop.:
Ph 6.4(after WC)-6.8(before WC)- I'm checking two times a day before the light come on and just before the light turns off(BTW lights are runing 11 hours a day)
Kh 70ppm
Gh 30ppm
NO2 0ppm
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrate NO3 0ppm

Fishes:
7 neons tetra
1 chinese algae eater

Plants:
java moss
2 java fern
rotala indica
1 banana plant (nymphoides aquatica)
brazilian pennyworth (hydrocotyle leucocephala)
wisteria
and 3 more plants, im not very shure about they ID
[link] http://www.picshosted.com/v/13634/10g tank.bmp[/link]
from left to right in red circle
1. Hygrophila?
2. kind of gras plant
3. bacopa?



D

How could I not like a tank with crawling wisteria .
I have two questions?
1.Is that red plant floating?
2. Are you dosing macros?



My Scapes

Thank you Tetratech

1.Is that red plant floating?

No is coming from the back and i think is rotala indica

2. Are you dosing macros?

No I didn't use macros but I'm thinking to start use them(I have some hair alge on the moss not too much is not bothering me but is there. I'm kind confused I don't now how to start use them, the tank is so small

Thank you

D

Decebal,

It seems like you are doing everything right, with heavy water changes and always a fresh batch of DIY CO2. What do you mean with you don't know how to start using macros? You don't know which ones to get, or how to start dosing, or what?

About your plants in question: The left one I don't know, the one in the middle could be Narrow Leaf Sagittaria Subulata or maybe Cyperus Helferi, the one on the right seems like Bacopa to me as well.

About the Chinese Algae Eater: You are aware that there is a good chance this fish will become a problem when he/she is grown up, right?

I think adding Micros will further enhance the plant health and growth, which brings me back to an earlier comment I made: It will be interesting to see how you are able to maintain the beauty of this tank as I can imagine that eventually the pruning scissors will be permanently attached to your fingers .

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

My first reaction was nice growth with limited macro ferts, but if you break it down by plant I could see why.
Wisteria will grow with limited macro fert, but would be lusher with it. Moss grows with almost no light and no ferts period. That grassy plant in the middle looks like mondo grass (non-aquatic). The rotala is nice and red on top from all that light, but this plant may eventually have problems with no macros.

Not sure what your substrate is (black gravel or eco complete). If eco that would give some other ferts.

My Scapes

Ingo

What do you mean with you don't know how to start using macros? You don't know which ones to get, or how to start dosing, or what?

I think I have all of them:
K2SO4 (potassium sulfate)
KNO3 (potassium nitrate)
KH2PO4
MgSO4.7H2O (epsom salt)
but I don't now how to start dosing

About your plants in question: The left one I don't know, the one in the middle could be Narrow Leaf Sagittaria Subulata or maybe Cyperus Helferi, the one on the right seems like Bacopa to me as well.

Looks like Tetratech is right, that plant in the back is mondo grass. I'll take it out and i'll put something else,
any sugestion?

About the Chinese Algae Eater: You are aware that there is a good chance this fish will become a problem when he/she is grown up, right?

No I'm not aware. What kind the problems?

Tetratech

That grassy plant in the middle looks like mondo grass (non-aquatic).

Thank you tetra for open my eyes

Not sure what your substrate is (black gravel or eco complete). If eco that would give some other ferts.

Yes is Caribsea Eco-Complete Planted Aquarium.

If you guys have any idea how do I start dosing Macros, i'll start today.

Thank you,
D

PS
I found a old picture(December 6,2005) with the mondo gras:
[link]http://www.picshosted.com/v/13724/Pearling after 5 min light on.JPG[/link]

I think the plant on the left is Narrow Leaf Giant Hygro
(Hygrophila corymbosa 'Siamensis')

Attached Image:

Chinese Algae Eater:

No I'm not aware. What kind the problems?

Well, for one thing, they supposedly grow to 10 inches (or more).

And even worse, here is the quote from Its Profile here at FP:
"Aggressive; Young Algae Eaters are peaceful, but as they grow to above 12cm they become territorial and aggressive, especially towards their own species. While eating they will attack any fish that is in it's way. Not great fish for peaceful tanks, because they tend to get meaner as they get older."

Oh, and they are not worthy of carrying the term Algae Eater when older as they barely eat any at that phase of their lives.

Hope this helps,

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Yes and they are known to try and suck the slime coat off other fish. I had a CAE in a 10g with danios and it killed 2 of mine. They both had a circular wound...from the CAE. So if you are going to keep it...watch it closely.

*Kristin*

Ok, I'll relocate the Chinese guy
Since last time, I start dosing my tank with macros but I don't now if is OK
Recipe:
100ml water
0.8g KH2PO4
1tsp KNO3
1tsp K2SO4
5tsp MgSO4
I'll dose 10ml of this solution every other day

Thank you,
D

100ml water
0.8g KH2PO4
1tsp KNO3
1tsp K2SO4
5tsp MgSO4
I'll dose 10ml of this solution every other day

After checking with my calculator It seems to me that your values for KNO3 and KH2PO4 are ok. But, compared to all other nutrients you overdue the K by far so I would suggest to cut way back on the K2SO4 (only add this if you don't add KH2PO4 or only add tiny amounts to equal the K with the N in the tank).

One thing I don't know about is MgSO4, but I don't believe it is sufficent as the only micro fert. A broad mix of elements is usually contained in micros and you could try some Flourish Trace, or TMG, or the like.

Hope this helps a little,

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Thanks Ingo,
I'll go with KNO3 and KH2PO4 only and Florish for trace (i'm looking foward to buy TMG)
I trimed the plants and removed Mondo Grass and part of Wist.
I hope everything will be fine without that much wist
Sorry but i can't post the pics today I'll try tomorrow.

D

PS.

Maybe Chaos will put some wisteria in his tank

Sorry but I can't post my pics because are more than 100kb