A Study of the Hoh Rainforest 1 (Planted 10.18.08) - Page 2 - Aquascaping

K Randall · 12-16-2008, 09:21 AM

Very nice, Phil!

Is this the tank you had set up just before AGA?

Karen

Phil Edwards · 12-16-2008, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K Randall

Very nice, Phil!

Is this the tank you had set up just before AGA?

Karen

Thanks Karen. Yes, this was set up just before the convention this year. All three tanks were set up at the same time, just barely a month before the convention.

The last photo 11.10.08 was taken right after I'd added the surface skimmer to the system and moved the CO2 diffuser out into the main part of the tank rather than by the filter intake where it had been previously. It was also the last photo taken before algae took over and ran rampant for the better part of a month. Things were growing very well and all the plants were clean until the change in CO2 distribution.

The loss of CO2, fertilizer supplimentation, and release of substances from the substrate all contributed to a hefty bloom of what I believe is Spirulina. I've since moved the diffuser back to its old place near the filter intake, reduced the lighting to 220 watts rather than 330 watts for a couple weeks, and did a lot of manual removal. After a conversation with Amano about nutrient supplimentation I stopped adding N and P for a month. I'd continued K, Ca, Mg, Fe, and trace supplimentation throughout this period.

In that time I noticed the plants starting to get pale, not grow as well, and saw a visible reduction in pearling. I tend to equate pearling with overall plant health by way of photosynthetic activity. Numerous other algae started growing in there; staghorn, bba, and green spot to name the worst offenders. This past week, one month since I stopped adding N and P, I began supplimenting it at half the level (1/2tsp KNO3 and 1/8tsp KH2PO4) I originally had and have noticed a quick and dramatic comeback in the plants. They're coloring back up, are growing faster, and are pearling like crazy.

I need to note that during the algae outbreak there were very few fish; only a couple Ottocinclus and 6 Blue Ram fry in the tank. I wasn't feeding the fish but once a week or so, and then, only very little. My personal experiences with this tank lead me to believe that in Amano's higher light systems bioload plays an important part in N and P supplimentation. He told me flat out that I didn't need to suppliment anything in the water column except perhaps some potassium (Brighty K, anyone?). I'm interested to see how this setup fares once we've added all the fish.

dawntwister · 12-17-2008, 02:08 PM

I have some questions about the black painted egg-crate and spray foam background.

Is it heavy? What brand of foam is it and where did you buy it?

I need to make a small wall, which will hang on 1 side of the tank to hide my filter.

About this statement: He told me flat out that I didn't need to suppliment anything in the water column except perhaps some potassium.

Considering the variables in a planted tank, I don't see how anybody can be obsoletely certain you don't need to add ferts.

With the problems I have been having with my tank, I have come to the conclusion that weather you need ferts depend on the quality of the water and how you want your plants to grow. Of, course the light is the engine in the works.

My water is probably like yours, lousy. The ph is high and is very soft. It has obviously been treated with phosphates. Thus the minerals in the water are minute.

To avoid adding ferts on a regiment I had added ferts, potassium sulfate, baking soda, and calcium sulfate, into the substrate. The idea is similar to mineralized but I didn't have the room to lay it out.
[url="mineralized-soil-substrate-aaron-talbot.html[/URL] When I noticed hair algae starting up I added potassium nitrate and it went away. I wonder if plants need for potassium nitrate is balanced by the amount of phosphates in the water.

Naja002 answered my questions on algae at
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...558#post435558