Pinkmummy79
Member
Hi
My 260 l fluval vicenza is curently set up in high tech mode running co2 through 2 x UP inlines (2KG FE) and dosing ei daily, I also spot dose liquid carbon daily as have ongoing BBA issues which I have been unable to eradicate for the past 12 months. So I am now considering either the possibility of shutting the tank down for good or hopefully changing to less weekly work and tinkering and hopefully start to enjoy it more with a low tech planted tank.
I am just starting to look into the possibility of a change over and what I will need to do so I know it's not gonna happen this weekend, just ensuring I am ready and know what I need to change etc even if this isn't for another month. I'll have to look at removing the circulation pump and list my plants and replace some I understand this, it's just that I usually do my weekly 130 litre water change on a saturday evening when the kids are in bed and the co2 has gone off (usually 9.30pm start) this with any filter and pipe work/spray bay maintenance, pruning, glass cleaning together with a C02 leak this past weekend saw me get to bed just gone 4am Sunday morning, I can't be doing with this anymore as I haven't sat down on my sofa and watched tv on a Saturday evening for over a year, i'm losing the love for it... so I either shut it down for good and leave the hobby of move to a low tech set up with less work. Hope you good peaple can help me.
I have a few questions if that's ok.
Lighting - my existing lighting is 2 x 39 w T5 tubes within the tank's lighting unit, with it being 260 litres I calculate this to be 1.14 wpg, I already have the reflectors removed as have been trying to battle BBA. My tank is quite deep in that it is 64cm tall and also has a curved front so it's not been ideal to ensure flow and circulation are optimised, currently have 2 JBL e1501 filters running spray bars from the rear to the front and also have squeazed in a newave circulation pump 1600 lph in between the spraybars, also facing frontwards. If I went low tech, without changing the light fittings would I be better off using a lower wattage T5 such as 2 x 21 watt T5 available from Lampspecs which are the corect lenght for fitting into my light unit? I calc this to be approx 0.61 wpg, or is this a tad too low bearing in mid the depth of water? T8 bulbs won't fit my light unit and I don't really want to be splashing out on new lights just at the moment, so LED tiles are out for the moment.
My substrate is akadama clay, I presume I can retain this? there are some osmocote slow release ferts somewhere within this base, would I need to find these and remove them?
Would I need to gradually cut down on my ferts before ceasing all together or can I go cold turkey and just stop, likewise for the C02? I expect I will have an algal bloom doing this, I'm sure some of you have also been in a similar position and could share some pointers to help me decide, ideally I'd like a smaller more manageable tank, but at the moment I have what I have and either make the most of it or....well, i'd rather carry on with a reduction in work as i't taking up any spare time I have.
Thanks for any help
ta
Clive
My 260 l fluval vicenza is curently set up in high tech mode running co2 through 2 x UP inlines (2KG FE) and dosing ei daily, I also spot dose liquid carbon daily as have ongoing BBA issues which I have been unable to eradicate for the past 12 months. So I am now considering either the possibility of shutting the tank down for good or hopefully changing to less weekly work and tinkering and hopefully start to enjoy it more with a low tech planted tank.
I am just starting to look into the possibility of a change over and what I will need to do so I know it's not gonna happen this weekend, just ensuring I am ready and know what I need to change etc even if this isn't for another month. I'll have to look at removing the circulation pump and list my plants and replace some I understand this, it's just that I usually do my weekly 130 litre water change on a saturday evening when the kids are in bed and the co2 has gone off (usually 9.30pm start) this with any filter and pipe work/spray bay maintenance, pruning, glass cleaning together with a C02 leak this past weekend saw me get to bed just gone 4am Sunday morning, I can't be doing with this anymore as I haven't sat down on my sofa and watched tv on a Saturday evening for over a year, i'm losing the love for it... so I either shut it down for good and leave the hobby of move to a low tech set up with less work. Hope you good peaple can help me.
I have a few questions if that's ok.
Lighting - my existing lighting is 2 x 39 w T5 tubes within the tank's lighting unit, with it being 260 litres I calculate this to be 1.14 wpg, I already have the reflectors removed as have been trying to battle BBA. My tank is quite deep in that it is 64cm tall and also has a curved front so it's not been ideal to ensure flow and circulation are optimised, currently have 2 JBL e1501 filters running spray bars from the rear to the front and also have squeazed in a newave circulation pump 1600 lph in between the spraybars, also facing frontwards. If I went low tech, without changing the light fittings would I be better off using a lower wattage T5 such as 2 x 21 watt T5 available from Lampspecs which are the corect lenght for fitting into my light unit? I calc this to be approx 0.61 wpg, or is this a tad too low bearing in mid the depth of water? T8 bulbs won't fit my light unit and I don't really want to be splashing out on new lights just at the moment, so LED tiles are out for the moment.
My substrate is akadama clay, I presume I can retain this? there are some osmocote slow release ferts somewhere within this base, would I need to find these and remove them?
Would I need to gradually cut down on my ferts before ceasing all together or can I go cold turkey and just stop, likewise for the C02? I expect I will have an algal bloom doing this, I'm sure some of you have also been in a similar position and could share some pointers to help me decide, ideally I'd like a smaller more manageable tank, but at the moment I have what I have and either make the most of it or....well, i'd rather carry on with a reduction in work as i't taking up any spare time I have.
Thanks for any help
ta
Clive
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