No idea what to do - poor plant health and algae

[greenbliss]

The tanks has some of the plants on that list too.. H polysperma just melts yet used to grow like a weed somehow same for the other hygrophila species. I have anubias which has grown up and out of the water too. Java ferns just completely stalled growth somehow. Crypts do nothing yet used to grow well. I mean honestly its like the aquarium is stuck in time no matter what I do. I have an Echinodorus which always has healthy new leaves but the old leaves get coated in algae. They don't really melt however. Just get coated in algae. This issue doesn't get fixed by fertilisation. The tank is also dirted so theoretically nutrients shouldn't be a problem. Or shouldn't have been at the start. But its only really taking off now which makes it odd because I genuinely haven't changed anything

The only thing I'm wondering if there was a problem of excess not lack. But I'm not sure.

 

[Null Zero]

Having read through the entire thread from the beginning, i am beginning to wonder if your substrate is indeed the problem.

Because i don't see anything else that you are doing wrong. Big regular water changes, RO water, regular dosing, decent lighting.

I know it will be a massive pain but you may need to try a standard planted tank substrate instead.

Also if you haven't tried already, get some H.corymbosa 'siamensis' or angustifolia. I am not exaggerating when i say those things grow in any conditions. You can double your plant load every week with cuttings. They sponge up nitrates like anything and are as good an indicator for nutrients as any floating plant.

It's worth a shot.

If nothing else works, the nuclear option of taking the tank apart, changing the substrate and starting anew might be worth considering. At this point, you don't have much to lose.

 

[greenbliss]

Then again.. The vallisneria is managing to grow now somehow... I will see what happens over the next few weeks

I did have this problem too before I even dirted the tank as well.. Sand substrate with water changes and fertilisation and so on.

The plants grew 10x better not caring at all and just feeding the fish and water changing. With tap water, not even RO. Shouldn't fish food contain trace elements and NPK? Obviously after being digested by the fish

Anything I would do would work for a short while then stop working. It was really odd... Why is it that after such a good start, nothing I do works anymore??

 

[G H Nelson]

Having read through the entire thread from the beginning, i am beginning to wonder if your substrate is indeed the problem.

I agree; it's "3 years old" and needs replacing and you have had problems with this substrate mix from the early days!

It's best if you strip the tank down and use inert gravel for the next set-up if you are reusing the plants that are in this aquarium.
Vallisneria does not react well to Liquid Carbon, therefore if you are dosing Easycarbo intermittently this could be the answer.
Cheers