Aquatic specialist (Home visits)

[Nathanh2150]

Hi all,
This may be a random post but thought to see what happens.

I’m looking for someone to come and maintain my aquascaper 900 and to give advice on how to make it to its full potential.

Im located in Norwich
I have recently been struggling and getting to a dead spot in what to do next with the scape.

Any help and advice would be much appreciated

 

[Nick potts]

You have one of the best aquascaping stores in the UK in Norwich, Scaped nature.

Pop in and have a chat I am sure they will be able to offer some help

Scaped Nature | Bringing nature indoors since 2019

Aquascaping, Terrariums and Reptiles. Pushing for a more naturalistic and beautiful habitat for your animals. In-store and online.

www.scapednature.com

 

[Nathanh2150]

Just wanted to reach out to the group just incase there was any independent company that offers home aquarium maintenance 👨‍🔧 🙂 but thanks for the comment 👍🏻

 

[Nick potts]

I am sure there will be a few local aquarium maintenance companies around your area, the problem with most is they are usually just general all rounders or focus on the reef side, finding a decent maintenance service with decent knowledge on aquascape etc will be difficult.

 

[Kevin Eades]

Just wanted to reach out to the group just incase there was any independent company that offers home aquarium maintenance 👨‍🔧 🙂 but thanks for the comment 👍🏻

Hi Nathan are you actually needing help with the maintenance or is it just advice really on scape improvement. As suggested most maintenance companies in the uk whilst may have some experience they are unlikely to be experts on aquascaping. I know some aquascapers can offer advice etc for a fee which might be a better option? My one bit of advice I have for you is patience. I've seen a lot of requests for help where the poster doesn't allow enough time between changes they make to assess the effect or change too much at once. I was guilty of this when setting up. Once I realised to make one change a time and wait at least a couple of weeks to see effect I started to get better results. If there is anything specific we can help with let us know on here. Such a wealth of advise with some true experts in planted aquariums. Why pay for it? As with everything in life it may take a while to perfect the techniques used but to me this is part of the draw of the hobby. If I can help in anyway (not that I'm expert at all) just reply here and I'll see if I can advise from another relatively newbie some tips I've picked up

 

[Nathanh2150]

Hi @Kevin Eades
Thankyou so much for message means alot.
To be honest I'm after advice and some guidance as I have come to a point now where I feel like I'm at a brick wall with my Planted aquarium.
I have followed so many good advice from reading other peoples posts regarding what I'm currently dealing with.
I just keep getting algae issues which is driving me insane I do weekly water changes.
Iv tried no to use chemical's but have had to go to that stage of treating the tank.
I seem to keep it under control with a deep clean with a tooth brush and sponge and doing a water change after that to remove any de-bre that maybe going around the tank wile doing maintenance. But it keep's returning.

I have an aquascaper 900
with a
bio-master 600 thermo
twinstar 900c

The light comes on at 3pm-9pm at 50%
The co2 comes on at 11.30am-8pm
I also daily Does plant food in the morning. x 2 pumps

I have added below some photos regarding my concern also the items I use.

Any help and advice would be much appreciated

 

[Kevin Eades]

@Nathanh2150
I would suggest looking at all the details you are not dosing enough fertiliser. With your high light and co2 the manufacture advise does not suffice. Bear in mind I have a 90l tank I am adding 20ml of EI ferts each day. When plants are unhealthy they emit organic waste which fuels the algae. I always under dosed my tropica I was using. It seems a lot of money with premixed to dose so much. I even had the 5l bottle. Once I went to EI dosing all my algae issues went away.

I would suggest a deep clean and fertilise to EI. Once the plants start to respond up the light time back to 8hrs. Be patient as I said before it might take a couple of weeks from upping ferts for the plants to respond before the algae stops coming back .

 

[Kevin Eades]

@Nathanh2150 also what temperature are you set to. I know its not so relevant at the moment. But I do notice an increase in algae above 24 degrees. When not summer I run at 23-24 degrees it slows down all the processes eg fish respiration needs etc and increase uptake of o2 in the tank.

 

[Nathanh2150]

@Kevin Eades
Hi kevin with the fertiliser I am currently using how much would you say would be ideal for my tank ? also the tank temperature is 25 degrees. As I have the light set to 50% for 6 hours a day would I now need to change this as the tank does get natural daylight but is not in direct sunlight . so keep the light at 50% for 6hrs a day then when I see an improvement to boost it to 8hrs a day. the plants are growing well tho but just look abit sorry for themselves and the algae is driving me insane hehe

 

[Nathanh2150]

I Have worked out with the plant food I would need 15ml of plant food daily that for the size of tank and also the water volume in my external filter. included

 

[Kevin Eades]

I Have worked out with the plant food I would need 15ml of plant food daily that for the size of tank and also the water volume in my external filter. included

I don't know if it's the same as tropica but the suggestion is 3 x dose on bottle for high tech but I'm sure 15ml will help as a start. If im putting in 20ml for a 90l tank i expect yours is a lot more so 3 x 15ml could be right. If your fish allow drop to 24 degrees takes longer the algae to grow so will be less to clean 👍yes keep the light as is at the momement as i said make 1 change at a time. Wait a few weeks to see the reaults as the plants need time to adapt to the change. Once you run out of the ready mix buy a starter EI kit and mix your own. In theory too much fertiliser is ok too little plants struggle and cause algae

 

[sparkyweasel]

Hi @Nathanh2150 , Om just chipping in for moral support.
You will get there.
I think @Kevin Eades's advice is spot-on, so I won't add to it.