Patrick_G Posted April 18, 2022 Share Posted April 18, 2022 It's looking really nice. What's this plant? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted April 18, 2022 Author Share Posted April 18, 2022 On 4/18/2022 at 10:41 AM, anewbie said: Do you think the reactor played a role in the algae or was it just one of the changes you made ? The cause was the ammonia spikes from the soil. I got lazy on water changes. The reactor was noisy, underpowered by the weaker 2215 and inconsistent results while the filter slows down over time between cleanings. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minanora Posted April 18, 2022 Share Posted April 18, 2022 ORD. Woohoo! Good Job! Looks amazing! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatyourpeas Posted April 18, 2022 Share Posted April 18, 2022 The tank is looking spectacular! The moss wall, well, I now have moss wall envy! 🥺 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seattle_Aquarist Posted April 18, 2022 Share Posted April 18, 2022 On 4/18/2022 at 9:09 AM, Mmiller2001 said: I wanted to wait a bit to confirm and I can confidently say this tank is 100% cured of the massive algae outbreak. Here's what I did: I want to mention that I was pulling handfuls of string algae out of the tank every 7 days. I initially was spot dosing H202@15ml per 10gal and it kind of worked but just came back by weeks end. I removed the Eheim 2215 and replaced it with an Eheim 2217. I added an Eheim spray bar pushing back to front. I removed the CO2 reactor and went back to an inline diffuser. I dropped light to about 50% but still ran it for 8 hours. I lowered dosing to NO3 8.34ppm, PO4 3.15ppm, K 12.63ppm and .4Fe Proxy (weekly dose). I saw a small improvement and so I cut the tank down to almost no plant mass to remove most of the final amounts of string algae. All dust algae is gone as well. I have not cleaned the glass in 2 weeks. All the shrimp I added died and I also added 1 SAE. The SAE initially couldn't help, but now I think he/she is doing a great job. Thank you @Seattle_Aquarist and @gjcarew for the multiple pieces of advice. This tank will now become a plant repository. Much improved, good for you @Mmiller2001! As I have said, I avoid doing any sort of gravel vac with the exception of occasionally doing along the front glass if detritus or algae build up below the substrate level. Even then I remove and dump the water, never returning it to the tank and I try to disturb as little substrate as possible. The Siamese Algae Eater, Crossocheilus oblongus, should keep hair algae under control.....if it starts to look skinny put in 1/4 algae wafer once a week or so. -Roy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted April 18, 2022 Author Share Posted April 18, 2022 (edited) On 4/18/2022 at 4:38 PM, Seattle_Aquarist said: Much improved, good for you @Mmiller2001! As I have said, I avoid doing any sort of gravel vac with the exception of occasionally doing along the front glass if detritus or algae build up below the substrate level. Even then I remove and dump the water, never returning it to the tank and I try to disturb as little substrate as possible. The Siamese Algae Eater, Crossocheilus oblongus, should keep hair algae under control.....if it starts to look skinny put in 1/4 algae wafer once a week or so. -Roy I feel like not doing the gravel vacuuming played a huge roll in getting this under control. On 4/18/2022 at 10:46 AM, Patrick_G said: It's looking really nice. What's this plant? S. Belem Edited April 18, 2022 by Mmiller2001 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkaleyAquatics Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 (edited) @Mmiller2001 what are you using to attach the moss to? Let me rephrase, what is the moss attached to? Edited April 19, 2022 by SkaleyAquatics Added the rephrase Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbit Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 On 4/18/2022 at 12:09 PM, Mmiller2001 said: I wanted to wait a bit to confirm and I can confidently say this tank is 100% cured of the massive algae outbreak. Here's what I did: I want to mention that I was pulling handfuls of string algae out of the tank every 7 days. I initially was spot dosing H202@15ml per 10gal and it kind of worked but just came back by weeks end. I removed the Eheim 2215 and replaced it with an Eheim 2217. I added an Eheim spray bar pushing back to front. I removed the CO2 reactor and went back to an inline diffuser. I dropped light to about 50% but still ran it for 8 hours. I lowered dosing to NO3 8.34ppm, PO4 3.15ppm, K 12.63ppm and .4Fe Proxy (weekly dose). I stopped gravel vacuuming. Only hovered over the substrate. I saw a small improvement and so I cut the tank down to almost no plant mass to remove most of the final amounts of string algae. All dust algae is gone as well. I have not cleaned the glass in 2 weeks. All the shrimp I added died and I also added 1 SAE. The SAE initially couldn't help, but now I think he/she is doing a great job. Thank you @Seattle_Aquarist and @gjcarew for the multiple pieces of advice. Yay! That’s awesome! Hmm I already never gravel vac my tank… @Seattle_Aquarist and @gjcarew do either of you have any insight about algae outbreaks in low tech tanks? If so, I can tag you in a different post with details. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted April 19, 2022 Author Share Posted April 19, 2022 On 4/18/2022 at 6:12 PM, SkaleyAquatics said: @Mmiller2001 what are you using to attach the moss to? Let me rephrase, what is the moss attached to? Bulk Buy: Darice DIY Crafts #7 Mesh Plastic Canvas Black 10.5 x 13.5 (12-Pack) 33900-20 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KHAYGJO/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_CR4832G3A1365QWEENX2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjcarew Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 On 4/18/2022 at 6:20 PM, Hobbit said: Yay! That’s awesome! Hmm I already never gravel vac my tank… @Seattle_Aquarist and @gjcarew do either of you have any insight about algae outbreaks in low tech tanks? If so, I can tag you in a different post with details. I think @Mmiller2001 is being generous with his credit. The sum of my advice was keep the tank clean and make sure the plants are growing well. Keeping the tank clean entails: - manually remove algae - clean the filter (or at least prefilter) - clean the substrate - spot treat with H2O2/ excel as needed Grow the plants: - try to keep a high plant mass (more than 70% of substrate space when viewed from above) - boost CO2. If you can't/won't, adjust the lights low then slowly increase intensity - use some kind of plant fertilizer - remove old and dying leaves on plants to encourage new growth - If the plants still aren't growing, ask @Seattle_Aquarist 😆 Since this has always worked for me, I don't really have more tips. If you want to take a deep dive look up Tom Barr's tips on dealing with algae. This video is also a gold mine. 1 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkaleyAquatics Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 On 4/18/2022 at 8:29 PM, Mmiller2001 said: Bulk Buy: Darice DIY Crafts #7 Mesh Plastic Canvas Black 10.5 x 13.5 (12-Pack) 33900-20 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KHAYGJO/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_CR4832G3A1365QWEENX2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seattle_Aquarist Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 (edited) On 4/18/2022 at 5:20 PM, Hobbit said: Yay! That’s awesome! Hmm I already never gravel vac my tank… @Seattle_Aquarist and @gjcarew do either of you have any insight about algae outbreaks in low tech tanks? If so, I can tag you in a different post with details. Hi @Hobbit What I can say about algae outbreaks in low tech / non-CO2 tanks is it is typically the result of too much nutrients and/or too much light - either too intense or too long a photoperiod. I did a 10 gallon planted tank with Safe-t-sorb substrate, light nutrient dosing, weekly water change, low light intensity (PAR@40-50), and a photoperiod of 6 hours. Practically no algae .... this was the result. Yes, that is Pogostemon helferi (left foreground) growing in a low tech tank. -Roy Edited April 20, 2022 by Seattle_Aquarist 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_G Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 On 4/18/2022 at 6:19 PM, gjcarew said: try to keep a high plant mass (more than 70% of substrate space when viewed from above) This is key, and often overlooked On 4/18/2022 at 6:19 PM, gjcarew said: remove old and dying leaves on plants to encourage new growth Yes! Those half brown leaves are not in going to heal, they need to be trimmed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted April 19, 2022 Author Share Posted April 19, 2022 On 4/18/2022 at 10:46 AM, Patrick_G said: It's looking really nice. What's this plant? It's a bit expensive, but his plants arrive like they look in the pictures. FYI https://www.etsy.com/listing/727333915/3-stems-syngonanthus-belem-live-aquarium?click_key=7cb962f8819d99081a5f7000d5a7fd224a4da14e%3A727333915&click_sum=0100af84&ref=shop_home_active_3&frs=1&crt=1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anewbie Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 On 4/19/2022 at 10:34 AM, Mmiller2001 said: It's a bit expensive, but his plants arrive like they look in the pictures. FYI https://www.etsy.com/listing/727333915/3-stems-syngonanthus-belem-live-aquarium?click_key=7cb962f8819d99081a5f7000d5a7fd224a4da14e%3A727333915&click_sum=0100af84&ref=shop_home_active_3&frs=1&crt=1 Interesting sounding plant. The description of native habitat suggest it would do well in black-water tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted April 19, 2022 Author Share Posted April 19, 2022 On 4/19/2022 at 9:40 AM, anewbie said: Interesting sounding plant. The description of native habitat suggest it would do well in black-water tank. The trick to this plants is low pH. 6, and lower is better. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anewbie Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 On 4/19/2022 at 10:42 AM, Mmiller2001 said: The trick to this plants is low pH. 6, and lower is better. I think i'll try it next year when is setup my blackish water tank with a target ph of 5.5 - it is meant for some interesting apisto (probably elizabeth but maybe cf persona); it isn't really going to be blackwater - just low ph 😉 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minanora Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 On 4/19/2022 at 8:42 AM, Mmiller2001 said: The trick to this plants is low pH. 6, and lower is better. meanwhile I'm like "Hey plants here's some liquid rocks. Please grow." 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkaleyAquatics Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 On 4/19/2022 at 12:44 PM, Minanora said: meanwhile I'm like "Hey plants here's some liquid rocks. Please grow." This is how I feel in my low tech tanks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbit Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 (edited) Thanks for the advice, everyone. In terms of keeping at least 70% of the tank covered with plant mass, can I substitute floating plants for planted ones with the same effect? Part of the issue is I only have slow growers in my problem tank because the fast growers keep dying. 😛 Edited April 19, 2022 by Hobbit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted April 19, 2022 Author Share Posted April 19, 2022 On 4/19/2022 at 11:35 AM, Hobbit said: Thanks for the advice, everyone. In terms of keeping at least 70% of the tank covered with plant mass, can I substitute floating plants for planted ones with the same effect? Part of the issue is I only have slow growers in my problem tank because the fast growers keep dying. 😛 You can for sure. One plant I recommend is Hygrophila Polysperma. It's a fast growing stem that works well in low energy or high energy tanks. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkaleyAquatics Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 How have you found it to be keeping up with maintenance on 2 high energy tanks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted April 20, 2022 Author Share Posted April 20, 2022 On 4/19/2022 at 1:19 PM, SkaleyAquatics said: How have you found it to be keeping up with maintenance on 2 high energy tanks? Honestly, I'm ready to sell my 2 20 gallons. I love working in the tanks but I have a few other projects that are just not allowing to keep aquariums in the "hobby" category. I would be perfectly happy just having the 40 and 75. Luckily my wife helps on water change day and we can complete 50% water changes on all within about an hour and half. Dropping the 2 tanks honestly sounds really good to me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkaleyAquatics Posted April 20, 2022 Share Posted April 20, 2022 On 4/20/2022 at 12:50 PM, Mmiller2001 said: Honestly, I'm ready to sell my 2 20 gallons. I love working in the tanks but I have a few other projects that are just not allowing to keep aquariums in the "hobby" category. I would be perfectly happy just having the 40 and 75. Luckily my wife helps on water change day and we can complete 50% water changes on all within about an hour and half. Dropping the 2 tanks honestly sounds really good to me. Lucky you! I can barely get my girlfriend to fed her betta. Next year we are hoping to move into a house and I have been try to figure out how many tanks I want and how big. I want at least a 75 that is high energy but would like to go bigger than that and a least 1 other high energy tank probably in the 40 - 75 range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ndfi78 Posted April 20, 2022 Share Posted April 20, 2022 Excuse the ignorance, but what is a high energy tank? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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