• You are viewing the forum as a Guest, please login (you can use your Facebook, Twitter, Google or Microsoft account to login) or register using this link: Log in or Sign Up

Fluval Spec - Smallish planted tank

softlad86

New Member
Joined
22 Jun 2022
Messages
5
Location
Cheshire
Hi all,

Here is a picture of my planted tank - it is a Fluval Spec (30litre I believe) but i have added a slightly more powerful light.

The CO2 is just one of those cheap Tetra ones:
Amazon product ASIN B000XACD0W
I am using Tropica fertiliser & also a little bit of Easycarbo.

The lighting is timed for 10 hours a day but for some reason I have hardly seeing any growth in the plants & never see any pearling.

Not sure what is wrong really, as I've done a similar setup before and it grew fine; CO2 system isn't exactly the best, but thought it was better than nothing.

Algae seems to be pretty minimal though which is good... I just wish I could get more growth so that it looks more matured.

Don't suppose anyoner has any idea where I am going wrong?

PS. filter is relatively powerful & getting good flow through the tank. It is stocked with Guppies & Cherry Shrimp.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_8383.jpg
    IMG_8383.jpg
    2.9 MB · Views: 352
Very nice rockscape, it will look good when it's grown in!
A little more information regarding your set up would help, such as how long it has been running, what type of substrate you have, whether you've used root tabs. You may just be being impatient!
With the reservoir kind of CO2 system I doubt there will be much pearling, they rely on the aerosol pressure to dissolve the gas & it simply isn't enough. I daresay I'll be proved wrong! I use a similar system myself & find I get slow but steady growth & I prefer using that to the chemical CO2.
I'd be careful boosting your light at the moment, you don't want to stall the plant growth & find algae takes hold. It's surprising how little light plants need running low tech.
Which Tropica fertiliser are you using? Tropica premium is micronutrients & Tropica specialised has macros added. If you have an inert substrate & are just adding micros, plants can struggle. There are other all-in-one fertilisers available, I'm sure there will be suggestions forthcoming.
Seems like I've typed an epic, hope it makes sense & is accurate!
 
Hey all,
Ok so I took an updated photo.

Looking a lot more lush, cleaner & as if it's got some growth in it!

some more info:

CO2 is just one of those aerosol cans and a plastic diffuser - i wanted to go low tech but thought I'd give the plants a kick start with the CO2.

Tropica premium - I have since ordered the TNC complete fertilizer so that I'm not missing out any macro nutrients.

Everything seems to be growing ok now - although i lost 6 cardinal tetra after a 25% water change - i have no idea why! but other livestock seems ok!
Lights on a 10hour timer,

Might cut this back once it's grown in a bit? but im happy with the progress so far!

What do you think?
 

Attachments

  • 24.06.2022.jpg
    24.06.2022.jpg
    1.2 MB · Views: 188
Hey,

it is this model:

Amazon product ASIN B0089E5VLC

Fluval SPEC Aquarium Kit, Aquarium with LED Lighting and 3-Stage Filtration System, 5-Gallon​


So yeah it's the 19ltr one - it seems to be coming along really well especially since I haven't maintained a tank for like 7 years! I originally got it to sort of "practise" on and see how i found the hobby etc, but I'm going to keep it running i think!.

I have already ordered a slightly bigger, opti-white tank with more depth:
 
Back
Top