Hi… here for advice

[John.D]

Hi all
I’m relatively new to fish keeping. On my second aquarium after 18months or so with a small start up. I have a 300l high tech planted tank.
All started well - cycled, good growth, added fish.
It’s only now a few months on some of my plants don’t look as good. I trimmed a load of my hydrocotyle tripartita, and since then the stems have turned black. Looks like some new growth is coming through, but I’m also starting to get some black edges on some leaves on other plants. The Monte Carlo never done great, but it’s not planted directly into substrate.
Lights on for 9 hours, CO2 an hour before. I only fertilise once a week with columbo fertiliser. Big water changes weekly - 50% or so.
I’m wondering whether or not to apply more fertiliser.
Any help appreciated.
Below are photos at before a trim, then hydrocotyle tripartita.

 

[G H Nelson]

Hi @John.D
Your aquarium is still quite immature...... what's in the fertilizer?

 

[bazz]

I only fertilise once a week with columbo fertiliser.

That would be my first port of call. I would try using a comprehensive fertiliser (FloraGrow has no N&P, unless you have the Pro) and dose twice, maybe three times a week. I would even more so, with a 300l high tech tank look at maybe using Solufeed 2:1:4 and Solufeed Sodium Free TEC or Solufeed Coir TEC Combination, for £36.00 you would have a couple of years supply and your plants would not be hungry. Or you could look into making your own.

 

[Oldguy]

300l high tech planted tank.

Nice tank & fish.
Worth making your own ferts from dry salts & follow the Estimated Index approach. Cost effective and you know what you are putting in your tank. Potassium nitrate and Potassium dihydrogen phosphate are readily available on the internet as are Solufeed chelated products for iron and trace elements. You would need a digital balance also cheap thanks to 'street dealers'.
It can add an extra dimension to the hobby and a small chemistry set can be fun.
Best wishes for the future.

 

[John.D]

Hi @John.D
Your aquarium is still quite immature...... what's in the fertilizer?

H GH.
Thanks for the reply.
I have this fertiliser

Colombo Flora Grow - Aquarium Plant Fertiliser

Ensure vibrant, healthy aquatic plants with Colombo Flora Grow, a liquid fertilizer specially designed to meet the nutritional needs of aquarium plants. This advanced formula promotes lush growth, vibrant colors, and a thriving underwater ecosystem. Key Features: Complete Nutrient Solution...

aquascaping-express.co.uk

 

[John.D]

Thanks everyone for your responses, I really appreciate it.

I think I’m not quite ready to be making my own fertiliser. I would feel a lot more comfortable buying one which comes recommended.

I know bits are trial and error, but hoping all you guys experience can spare me some heartache!!

Thanks all!!

 

[hypnogogia]

H GH.
Thanks for the reply.
I have this fertiliser

Colombo Flora Grow - Aquarium Plant Fertiliser

Ensure vibrant, healthy aquatic plants with Colombo Flora Grow, a liquid fertilizer specially designed to meet the nutritional needs of aquarium plants. This advanced formula promotes lush growth, vibrant colors, and a thriving underwater ecosystem. Key Features: Complete Nutrient Solution...

aquascaping-express.co.uk

Lacking N&P. If you don’t want to make your own, try something like TNC complete.

 

[John.D]

Great. Thanks for the advice. I’ll purchase this now.

 

[Zeus.]

H GH.
Thanks for the reply.
I have this fertiliser

Colombo Flora Grow - Aquarium Plant Fertiliser

Ensure vibrant, healthy aquatic plants with Colombo Flora Grow, a liquid fertilizer specially designed to meet the nutritional needs of aquarium plants. This advanced formula promotes lush growth, vibrant colors, and a thriving underwater ecosystem. Key Features: Complete Nutrient Solution...

aquascaping-express.co.uk

With a 300L high tech tank well worth making your own DIY fert in long term

 

[John.D]

I don’t think I’m ready for that yet. In time it I might want to, but right now I’m happy to buy what comes recommended.
Unless any of you guys are in Hertfordshire and want to knock me up a batch? lol.

I’ll see how the TNC complete goes over the next month or so.

 

[G H Nelson]

Hi John
I can sort you out with dry salts when you are ready, in exchange for a donation to the forum..... you'll need to add the bag to 1000ml of Distilled Water.
I have a recipe from another member who lives in Hertfordshire..... and has had good results with this AIO recipe.
hoggie

 

[G H Nelson]

Hydrocotyle tripartite.....takes a while to adapt to hard water!
Wait till you have new fresh growth.....detach those new strands and throw the rest in the bin/compost heap.
You can also leave those strands floating.....for a few months to help increase plant mass.
You could propagate some cuttings of Hydrocotyle tripartite and Monte Carlo as a back-up.

 

[Bradders]

I'm not as experienced as the guys on here, but looking at your tank, I went through something very similar at around the 3-4 months stage. I had BGA, algae on leaf edges, string algea and a small amount of GDA. I just went from nice to nasty very quickly!

I took advice from those on this forum and pretty much did nothing apart from removing infested leaves and doing mechanical removal. I persevered for a month, and it all started to balance out. I did not touch the CO2, did not mess around with the light and just kept moving forward like that. At 6 months, I now have different challenges to address, but algae is not one of them. Patience and maintenance seemed to help me come out the other side. And at one point I literally was looking at the tank and thinking, "this is going to all be dead in a month". I guess the environment was just trying to find its way!

 

[John.D]

Hi John
I can sort you out with dry salts when you are ready, in exchange for a donation to the forum..... you'll need to add the bag to 1000ml of Distilled Water.
I have a recipe from another member who lives in Hertfordshire..... and has had good results with this AIO recipe.
hoggie

Great!!
I just had the TNC delivered today. But won’t last long according to the calculator on here.
Really appreciate the help, I’ll definitely take you up on that offer.

 

[John.D]

I'm not as experienced as the guys on here, but looking at your tank, I went through something very similar at around the 3-4 months stage. I had BGA, algae on leaf edges, string algea and a small amount of GDA. I just went from nice to nasty very quickly!

I took advice from those on this forum and pretty much did nothing apart from removing infested leaves and doing mechanical removal. I persevered for a month, and it all started to balance out. I did not touch the CO2, did not mess around with the light and just kept moving forward like that. At 6 months, I now have different challenges to address, but algae is not one of them. Patience and maintenance seemed to help me come out the other side. And at one point I literally was looking at the tank and thinking, "this is going to all be dead in a month". I guess the environment was just trying to find its way!

Thanks for the advice.
I suspect you’re probably right, but nonetheless I didn’t think I was giving enough fertiliser from the get go.
I did turn the CO2 up ever so slightly a week ago, and dropped 1 hour of light.
I think I’ll just up the fertiliser and dose as per the calculator on here and see how the next month or so goes.

I get the odd bit of hair algae down low in the tank which I clear weekly. I’m getting little bits of black beard algae on the hard scape which I also remove weekly.

It was just odd that the hydrocotyle tripartita was fine until I cut it all back.
Tank has been growing really well. Have to cut stems back almost every week.

 

[nijat11]

Your fert contains only micro, switch to something better like tropica special/masterline all in one