Need help over here

[Progen]

Not sure where this post goes because the problems could involve CO2, fertilization, lighting or just that I'm good with animals but not with plants.

So I've been on EI dosing for my 55G for about a month. Plants are growing nicely with the Java ferns, riccia and anubiases throwing out lots of oxygen bubbles.

The problem is I have this blackish algae on my anubiases which I assume is due to them previously getting too much light. Am now on a 3 + 3 hour photoperiod for the past 10 days or so. Was previously 10 hours. Lighting is from 2 T8s, 2 T5s and 1 T4s. All standard household use ones. All under reflectors. Am I right about the lighting because they are under direct light?

Then I have these crypts and what appears to be Blyxa Japonica which although growing new leaves free from algae, look thin with veiny leaves. Is this due to a lack of CO2? I've tried a super high rate off and on, fishes and shrimps were ok but until I get another timer to have the lights and solenoid separated, I'm playing safe by doing about 3bps.

Finally comes my Java moss. It turned brown slowly after I trimmed off quite a lot for a yoghurt project. Before that, I'd also soaked it in a saline solution to get rid of Utricularia gibba. It looked fine to me then. Any ideas?

 

[Soilwork]

This happened too me. Only I had fish and shrimp die. I bought Christmas moss that turned brown almost instantly. Blyxa Japonica that just put out weak leaves and stunted. Much more

Everything starts if growing well at first then as the nutrients accumulate (despite 50% water changes) the tank turns to mush and algae everywhere. I suspect that excess nutrients were becoming antagonistic towards other and the excess of heavy metals from the absurdly over dosed trace mix flat out destroyed my plants and killed some of my fish and shrimp.

I now put soil in. I noticed a bit of the Christmas moss had come back to a vibrant green (I thought I had removed it all) I don't have any algae because the nutrients are in the substate where the algae cannot gain access. I may have to dose again in time but for the moment everything is now running well. I literally had to throw all the effected plants away and start again.

 

[Mick.Dk]

Your plants are:
pic. 1 - Anubias sp. Leaves look too big for Anubias barteri var. nana. Most likely Anubias barteri var. '1705'. or 'caladifolia'.
pic. 3 - Lilaeopsis sp. Most likely Lilaeopsis brasiliensis.
pic. 4 - Blyxa japonica + Helantium sp. or Echonodorus sp. Most likely Helantium bolivianus var. quadricostatus. Not Cryptocoryne, I am quite sure. The one behind, may be Crypt., though.
Anubias and Lilaeopsis really do not appreciate high intensity of light. It is allmost impossible to kill off Anubias with too little light, but too much will induce algae on leaves. Lilaeopsis would defenitely appreciate being planted in soil/substrate.
Helantium look like in need of more fertilisation. Capsules in gravel/soil right by the roots usually works wonders with these.
- and finally, I really do not think your moss appreciated your "salty treat".
Hope this is of help.........

 

[Progen]

Thanks Mick! Especially about the helantium. Initially, folks were telling me that they were crypt parva so I took it as that. They're getting happier now that I've increased my micro dosage by 3x. I suspect that it was my relatively high pH (7+) which was preventing the plants from getting enough iron.