joeshaw

Well I have had this 55G tank for almost 2 years now. I thought I would try plants when I go it. So I got some laterite and some red gravel substrate. I bought a nice Current Satellite with the 24-hour lighting system. It has 2 65 watt 10,000K and 2 65 watt 6,700K/10,000K bulbs. I have 2 hang on back DIY CO2. I am not to sure what my problem is. I have Blue-Green Algae bad; it kills all my plants when I put them in.
Well I am starting over. I just ordered AquariumPlants.com's own: Freshwater Planted Aquarium Substrate and a Milwaukee CO2 system with the PH regulator.

When I redo my tank how do I keep my black ghost alive? If reuse my old water I will have the algae come back? Is there anything else I need to know before I do this, because after 2 years and all this money I just want it to be right?

Thank you

hoppycalif

You have a huge amount of light, unstable CO2 concentration in the water, and you didn't mention fertilizing, so I assume you aren't doing any. That is a great way to grow algae. Blue green algae usually means too much light and too little nitrate in the water. You don't need to redo the tank, just do a good cleaning, replace at least half of the water, get started on EI fertilizing, and cut the light in half, and for no more than 10 hours a day. Eventually you can get the algae under control. Also, keep the DIY CO2 bottles with staggered startup times, so you never have both of them running low on CO2 at the same time. Pressurized CO2 would even be better - much better. And, make sure you have at least half the substrate covered with growing plants.

Desert_Damsel

how many shrimp?

With a large tank like that it would be wise to have a "hospital tank" on the side for quarantine. You don't want to let one deseased fish infect your whole tank (trust me i learned the hard way ) and in the meantime this small 3-5 gallon tank can house your shrimp. You can "jump start" you biofilter by filling your new tank half way with old water. plus you don't have to fret about lighting (or algae) as hospital tanks work best with a bare bottom and can't have plants. I recomend you purchase a glass tank since many medications warn they might discolor plastics.

I use whisper filters in my small tanks simply because they are cheap and easy to install, plus when i need to medicate, i remove my filter media i place it in a ziplock bag and sick it in the freezer. (only do this if the filter was NOT exposed to sick fish prior to meds.)

Good luck

Laith

Welcome to APC!

As mentioned, your plants weren't getting the nutrients they need. Healthy growing plants gives you a big advantage over algae.

Here's some reading that will help you grasp all the basics of growing aquatic plants:

www.rexgrigg.com

http://www.aquatic-plants.org/articl.../01_intro.html

Enjoy!

joeshaw

Thanks for the replies. I have already ordered the new substrate. I like the black color better anyway. I have also ordered the new co2. So I guess I will just save 1/2 of my water when I clean my tank and add my new substrate. I will also start using ferts. thanks again

hoppycalif

Rather than use half of the old water when you set up with the new substrate, add a fine dusting of ground peat, mixed with a lot of mulm from the current setup, under the new substrate. This will jump start the "cycling" of the new substrate by providiing a culture of beneficial bacteria. It isn't the water that gets "cycled", it is the substrate, hardscape and plants which harbor the bacteria. Then if you use the same filter, uncleaned, with the new setup you will be instantly "cycled".