Introduction/Ferts

[imnlfn]

Hey, my name is Matt and I live in the Chamblee area. I've had one or more tanks set up for about the last six or seven years and I consider myself far from being an expert.

I just finished setting up a 30 gal long -- my biggest so far -- as a non-CO2, planted tank. It's right at about 1" fish per gallon, though that includes a 5" angel and a 9" pleco (who loves to snack on the Ludwigia I've so generously provided him). It seems to be pretty stable after a few days, so I'm not as anxious about it as I could be.

I don't have anything to fertilize the plants with yet, though. I'll probably buy a pound each of KNO3, KH2PO4, and GH booster (though those quantities are going to potentially last me a few years, won't they?) on-line, but is there a good local source where I can get smaller quantities to get me through the interim?

Also, can anyone suggest how long I should be leaving the lights (60W) on each day?

Thanks!

[Ice Prince]

Welcome to the forum. What kind of pleco do you have?

[emc7]

From what I've been reading and experiencing, if you have high nitrate without CO2 you will have lots of algae. I use Flourish Excel, but at a capful/day*tank it is expensive. I have a few 55s with Angelfish, bare bottoms and swords, and val in pots (and loose) with normal lighting 12 hours a day. There are couple of true plant gurus in the AAAA, you should come to the Jan. meeting, maybe they have local sources.

[jones57742]

Originally Posted by emc7

I use Flourish Excel, but at a capful/day*tank it is expensive.

Yes it is.

I have recently re-homed 7 nice silver dollars, purchased a "bunch more plants and am "looking forward to" having a nice planted aquarium again.

When I began using the quantity of a mixture of Flourish, Flourish Excel and Flourish Iron necessary to support the plants I quickly realized that emc's words are very true.

Originally Posted by emc7

There are couple of true plant gurus in the AAAA, you should come to the Jan. meeting, maybe they have local sources.

imnlfn

In an attempt to gain more plant knowledge I found
http://www.rexgrigg.com/index.html
and this site appears to be first class and based upon experience.

I ordered dry fertilizers from this site, had good luck with receipt, Rex's prices seemed reasonable and the total cost was minimal
http://www.bestaquariumregulator.com/ferts.html

but

Yes! I do have a sufficient quantity to last for many, many years!

I ordered the larger quantity of each due to the efficiency of price, Rex shipped the dry fertilizers in "sealable plastic baggies" but I anticipate that I will place the bags in which they came inside larger sealable baggies (and then possibly in a spare refrigerator).

TR

[JustOneMore20]

I can't help you with a local source for ferts (since I'm in Bham). I suggest leaving the lights on for 8-10 hours. I wouldn't fertilize daily, since you don't have CO2, but maybe biweekly. You could dose nitrates as needed....but the potassium could be dosed 2 or 3 times weekly, as you can't overdose on it.

With low light, you probably won't need to dose phosphates (unless you find yours to be low)....the plants won't use the nutrients as fast and the food you feed most likely has enough. I'd suggest getting some K2SO4 instead, for added potassium.

I have ordered ferts from the link Jones provided and they are pretty cheap and will last awhile.

Welcome to FF!

[imnlfn]

Originally Posted by Ice Prince

Welcome to the forum. What kind of pleco do you have?

He's just a Common pleco, as far as I can tell. He's about as destructive in a planted tank as I expected, so I'd probably be better off with some Bristlenose or Rubber-Lip plecos, but I've had him so long, I can excuse his transgressions for now. Hopefully he won't get much bigger now that he has 50% more room, though.

[imnlfn]

Originally Posted by emc7

From what I've been reading and experiencing, if you have high nitrate without CO2 you will have lots of algae. I use Flourish Excel, but at a capful/day*tank it is expensive. I have a few 55s with Angelfish, bare bottoms and swords, and val in pots (and loose) with normal lighting 12 hours a day. There are couple of true plant gurus in the AAAA, you should come to the Jan. meeting, maybe they have local sources.

Tom Barr seems to think extreme fluctuations in a non-CO2 tank is what causes algae blooms and that many fewer water changes is the way to address that. Moreover, he also considers the use of Excel another approach altogether.

I've been leaving my lights on for about 14 hours a day. I'll probably choose something closer to 12 hours once I get a new timer (for a three-pronged plug).

I'm going to do my best to make it to the January AAAA meeting. I will try to get a friend who lives in the apartments right near Athens Pizza to come, too. Hopefully it won't be too late for my plants by then!

[imnlfn]

Originally Posted by jones57742

In an attempt to gain more plant knowledge I found
http://www.rexgrigg.com/index.html
and this site appears to be first class and based upon experience.

I found that site when I was searching for fertilizers, but didn't read through the materials. I will now, though. Thanks for the reminder.

Originally Posted by jones57742

I ordered dry fertilizers from this site, had good luck with receipt, Rex's prices seemed reasonable and the total cost was minimal
http://www.bestaquariumregulator.com/ferts.html

I was thinking I would order from what apparently was previously Greg Watson's site, http://www.aquariumfertilizer.com/, and order a copy of Greg's book, http://www.aquaticplantnews.com/, too, since someone on the Barr Report recommended it.

I guess I'll just have to get a year's (or more) supply and deal with it.

[imnlfn]

Originally Posted by JustOneMore20

I can't help you with a local source for ferts (since I'm in Bham).

I travel to B'ham every so often (I'm friends with the respective owners of Continental Bakery/Chez Lulu, Bare Hands Gallery, and Magic City Scooters). I don't think I'll be there any time in the near future, though.

Originally Posted by JustOneMore20

I suggest leaving the lights on for 8-10 hours. I wouldn't fertilize daily, since you don't have CO2, but maybe biweekly. You could dose nitrates as needed....but the potassium could be dosed 2 or 3 times weekly, as you can't overdose on it.

With low light, you probably won't need to dose phosphates (unless you find yours to be low)....the plants won't use the nutrients as fast and the food you feed most likely has enough. I'd suggest getting some K2SO4 instead, for added potassium.

Thanks for the recommendations. Maybe I'll have to reconsider my plan for 12 hours of light a day. I'll hate to have my tank sitting dark for so long during daylight hours!

Originally Posted by JustOneMore20

Welcome to FF!

Thanks! Hope to see you at one of the meetings!