What precisely are you adding in terms of NPK and Fe in ppm? Are you targeting g a value?
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My 89 Litre project.
- Thread starter maverick786us
- Start date
Correct, but it’s not really a problem. You buy a colony and they will happily live for years.
There’s a thread about it here on UKAPS. Have you tried searching for it?
maverick786us
Member
This is what I was using for past 6 months in all my tanks. But now I will switch to all in 1 fertilizer from APT or Aqua - Corp
I already posted on your other thread about water changing but here seems a good place to post about maintenance.
I think you have figured out what the cause may be for your algae issues. I believe it’s at least partly due to maintenance not quite being up to the standard you need for a new aquascape.
Maintenance at the start is all about trying to keep all waste / algae / debris / damaged plant matter out of the tank until the plants start really thriving. At this point, maintenance can be reduced as the tank finds its balance.
I think you have been changing a lot of water, but not actually removing the waste hence it being ineffective.
My routine is:
1. Prepare new water by warming it to the right temperature.
2. Remove a tiny bit of water so the tank won’t overflow when my hand gets in.
3. Run a scraper over all of the glass.
4. Clip off any leaves that are damaged, weak or have algae on them.
5. Turn off pump.
6. Set up the water change siphon to a turkey baster (rubber band them together and get the water flowing)
7. Puff water at the plants / substrate to loosen and suck up via the water change.
8. Stop at 30% water level.
9. Clean sponges gently in the bucket of water I removed - chuck the waste water on outside plants.
10. Gently refill the tank with the fresh prepared water.
11. Turn on pump and if needed use the turkey baster to suck up anything floating about that may have loosened in the filter.
This is for my new tank so am currently doing this every week even though not much dirt is present. It takes about an hour as I move slow, I put on some music and get myself a nice drink. I will reduce it to every two weeks in a few months as it’s medium tech with low lighting and low livestocking. Maybe next year it will be once a month.
I think you have figured out what the cause may be for your algae issues. I believe it’s at least partly due to maintenance not quite being up to the standard you need for a new aquascape.
Maintenance at the start is all about trying to keep all waste / algae / debris / damaged plant matter out of the tank until the plants start really thriving. At this point, maintenance can be reduced as the tank finds its balance.
I think you have been changing a lot of water, but not actually removing the waste hence it being ineffective.
My routine is:
1. Prepare new water by warming it to the right temperature.
2. Remove a tiny bit of water so the tank won’t overflow when my hand gets in.
3. Run a scraper over all of the glass.
4. Clip off any leaves that are damaged, weak or have algae on them.
5. Turn off pump.
6. Set up the water change siphon to a turkey baster (rubber band them together and get the water flowing)
7. Puff water at the plants / substrate to loosen and suck up via the water change.
8. Stop at 30% water level.
9. Clean sponges gently in the bucket of water I removed - chuck the waste water on outside plants.
10. Gently refill the tank with the fresh prepared water.
11. Turn on pump and if needed use the turkey baster to suck up anything floating about that may have loosened in the filter.
This is for my new tank so am currently doing this every week even though not much dirt is present. It takes about an hour as I move slow, I put on some music and get myself a nice drink. I will reduce it to every two weeks in a few months as it’s medium tech with low lighting and low livestocking. Maybe next year it will be once a month.
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That doesn’t answer the question. Do they labels of those products tell you what’s in them and in what concentrations, so that you can work out what you are adding?
maverick786us
Member
I am gonna go and order a turkey basket, I was under the impression that siphoning dirt and gravel cleaning is the work of professionals
maverick786us
Member
Yes, and I follow the dosages mentioned in their instructions
You might well be, but that may not be enough. Please tell us how much of NPK and Fe you are adding to the tank in parts per million (PPM). For example, many people dosing the EI method will target 30ppm of N.
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With a brightly lit tank, co2, fertiliser, artistic layout (instead of a block of dense plants) it’s gonna need a lot of maintenance (1 hour session per week) for the first few months at least. I think the trick is to make that time enjoyable. Or perhaps give yourself a reward at the end of each maintenance session, something delicious to eat or whatever you like.
maverick786us
Member
I am not sure I will check and find out
maverick786us
Member
OK I just looked into it and found out that this was the mistake, according to prescription I am supposed to dose 2ML every day for 100 L tank. But I was dosing 5ML twice a week.
maverick786us
Member
If needed I will get rid of mosses. I was inspired by this aquascape, and decided to cover my driftwood with moss
I think the moss looks good and your idea is great. I think once your problems are sorted it will be a lovely aquascape!
I think the problems have been…
1. Too much fertiliser - you are fixing it now you know the right dose
2. Not removing the excess waste- your fixing it now with improved maintenance
3. Too much light - your fixing it with more floating plants (I don’t think changing lights is a good idea until the plants are more healthy)
4. Maybe… not enough co2 for the brightness of light you was using.
5. Too much livestock for a new tank / new filter - no longer relevant
6. Too much change in a short period of time (filter, flow pipes, water type etc…) - now things should be more stable if you don’t change anything for a while.
I think good maintenance, correct fertiliser dose and floating plants and don’t change anything else for a month should do wonders.
I think the problems have been…
1. Too much fertiliser - you are fixing it now you know the right dose
2. Not removing the excess waste- your fixing it now with improved maintenance
3. Too much light - your fixing it with more floating plants (I don’t think changing lights is a good idea until the plants are more healthy)
4. Maybe… not enough co2 for the brightness of light you was using.
5. Too much livestock for a new tank / new filter - no longer relevant
6. Too much change in a short period of time (filter, flow pipes, water type etc…) - now things should be more stable if you don’t change anything for a while.
I think good maintenance, correct fertiliser dose and floating plants and don’t change anything else for a month should do wonders.
So you are adding 10ml weekly instead of 14ml. But you still do not say how much NPK and Fe you are actually adding. Does the fertiliser you have tell you what is in it and in what concentration?
maverick786us
Member
Yes , without reading the ingredients, I wouldn't have bought that product.
Honestly, I and others are trying to help you and you’re not answering questions or providing the full information…
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maverick786us
Member
Sorry I missed that, (night shift / ADHD). As I can see the description of the product, it shows ingredients and usage. I don't see the concentration of these ingredients. This product doesn't have a customer support helpline from where I can get the answers.
Edit: I will contact the supplier from who I purchased this product for more information
Edit: I will contact the supplier from who I purchased this product for more information
FrozenShivers
Member
You do realise that 0.001% iron and 10% iron are in no way similar? Even though they may both "contain iron". You've been asked extremely clear questions so that people can try and help you.
maverick786us
Member
Yes I had a similar doubt in mind before purchasing this item. So I asked the shop keeper and he said that I don't have to worry about iron, nitrogen and phosphate much, because it already present in water the comes from fish waste and uneaten food. What I need to give in more quantity is K++ solution.
But he sold it to you anyway…what does that say?
And we still don’t have a clear answer. I give up.
