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For KNO3 go to your nearest Lowes (sounds like a commercial ) and pick up some Greenlight Stump Remover - ask someone at the store to find it for you, because it's important that you get this exact brand. It's pure KNO3 in a powdery/ grainy form. I just dump 1/4-1/2 teaspoon in twice a week, it dissolves before it hits the bottom of the tank. But keep in mind, that's based on the amount of plants in my tank, so you should monitor your nitrates and see what works for you.

I have a 46 gallon, same as you, and it sounds like you're pretty well-planted, so dosing should be roughly the same.

Glad I could help

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NoWhereMan,

What do you use for the KNO3. Also how big is your tank?

You have been very helpful. Thanks much!


P.S. Sonic, I don't know if rosy barbs would do well in my tank, but thanks for the suggestion.

My Scapes

More nitrates? Probably. I don't know what your test kit is showing you, but I don't think dosing NO3 could hurt. Not sure if plantbrain will weigh in on this, but if I learned one thing from him and his responses to algae problems, it's that more often than not NO3 is the limiting factor that causes problems. I dose pure KN03 twice a week, 1/4-1/2 teaspoon at a time. That helps keep BGA away and gives plants some of the macros they need. Upping your CO2 should stop hair/thread algae from growing any more (you'll still have to manually remove what's there).

Remember, it's all about balance, not getting the most of everything you possibly can. With 96 watts, you need to provide enough CO2 and NO3 for plants to grow the best they can. If you provide more CO2 and dose nitrates accordingly, along with traces, I'm sure you'll be satisfied with your plant growth - maybe even satisfied enough to put off adding the extra light

Take a look around at older threads, especially those about BGA or thread algae, there are some good dosing regimens and good advice to be found.

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Add rosy barbs. i dont have hair algae anymore since i added them.

Thanks NoWhereMan,

Do you think I should be adding some sort of nitrAte additive in addition to more co2.

Like I said I already have the light with 192 watts.

o if I go pressizured or get my bubble rate up, I guess I could flip on the other light for faster and more plant possiblities, but if co2 is where it is I should use the 96 watts.



My Scapes

I know you're trying to isolate the lighting issue, but the three (nitrates, light, co2) are really all linked. Right now I think the issue with the hair/ thread algae is CO2. One bubble per three seconds isn't going to do much on a 46. I've got pressurized CO2 on my 46 and I'm using 1-2 bubbles per second, and that keeps my saturation at 15-20ppm. If you do anything, IMO you should look for a way to get CO2 levels higher before you go to upgrade your lighting.

Look at it this way: If you double your lighting, putting 192 watts over your tank, then you will DEFINETELY need pressurized CO2. Otherwise your tank will be swamped with algae of all kinds. Then you're spending money on new lighting AND CO2, whereas if you leave the lighting as is and upgrade the CO2, that's just one new system to worry about...

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