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mr_india
IAH New Member
Joined: Jun 23, 2005
Posts: 39
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 Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 9:35 pm Post subject: Transparent new growth |
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Hi friends
I had setup a 2 feet ( 70 Lts ) planted tank around 2 months back. It is moderately planted with a small amazon, few sagitaria, a few green cabamba and few grass at background. There are 2 tubes inall as light source run minimum 12 hours/day, one true daylight and another yellow one. Overall yellow spectrum. DIY CO2 is injected. PMDD ( Madans formula ) is dosed from last 3 weeks. Extra macros not dosed yet.
I have rapidly growing bread algae first on old growth. Now started to grow even on new ones. New leaves of sagitaria and grass is almost transperent to pale yellow. Cabamba though growing well is also yellowish and a little tallish. Most of the plants start pearling after around 6 hours from on.
Friends please help me to improve plant growth.
Regards
PRADEEP |
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trevor
Committed Member of IAH
Joined: Jul 27, 2003
Posts: 4290
Location: Bangalore
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| Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 11:09 am Post subject: Re: Transparent new growth |
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| mr_india wrote (View Post):
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Hi friends
I had setup a 2 feet ( 70 Lts ) planted tank around 2 months back. It is moderately planted with a small amazon, few sagitaria, a few green cabamba and few grass at background. There are 2 tubes inall as light source run minimum 12 hours/day, Â one true daylight and another yellow one. Overall yellow spectrum. DIY CO2 is injected. PMDD ( Madans formula ) is dosed from last 3 weeks. Extra macros not dosed yet.
I have rapidly growing bread algae first on old growth. Now started to grow even on new ones. New leaves of sagitaria and grass is almost transperent to pale yellow. Cabamba though growing well is also yellowish and a little tallish. Most of the plants start pearling after around 6 hours from on.
Friends please help me to improve plant growth.
Regards
PRADEEP
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Increase and double your lighting by putting in four tubes. Put in plenty of cheap locally available aquatic stem plants - To take out the excessive nutrients and these plants can be discarded later.
A side view - Check the light fitting.
A two weeks old tank planted two feet tank. Two tubes in each fitting. These fitting are called industrial fittings and come with one choke two starters and two tubes and the reflector/shade. These are very cheap and durable. You could change the copper choke to an electronic one and then they would be no need of the starters.
Light is one of the most important needs of plants to photosynthesize. |
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mr_india
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Joined: Jun 23, 2005
Posts: 39
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| Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 1:21 pm Post subject: Re: Transparent new growth |
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Dear Trevor
Do you want to suggest that my light intensity is very low and I have to add more light ? Already using 2 tubes means 36 watts for 70 Lts. of water. Hight of water colum is 15 inches.
Regards
PRADEEP |
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trevor
Committed Member of IAH
Joined: Jul 27, 2003
Posts: 4290
Location: Bangalore
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| Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 2:09 pm Post subject: Re: Transparent new growth |
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| mr_india wrote (View Post):
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Dear Trevor
Do you want to suggest that my light intensity is very low and I have to add more light ? Already using 2 tubes means 36 watts for 70 Lts. of water. Hight of water colum is 15 inches.
Regards
PRADEEP
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Exactly, Your light intensity is too low and you should add another two tubes. Â After your tank stablizes you may reduce your lighting that is if you wish. You knock off the beard algae infested leaves mercilessly and new leaves will appear soon with the doubled lighting.
36 Watts fluorescent lighting for 70 lts is a low light tank.
That is why I have posted the pic. All of us use four two ft tubes for a two ft by 15" by 15". |
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mr_india
IAH New Member
Joined: Jun 23, 2005
Posts: 39
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| Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 10:42 pm Post subject: Re: Transparent new growth |
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Dear Trevor
I will increase the light as suggested by you. But I am really worried that algae will shoot up with more light.
Do you think any other parameter need to change. The bread algae just stopping plants growth as it started to grow evev on new growth. My plants will be stunned soon I fear..........
Regards
PRADEEP |
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trevor
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Posts: 4290
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| Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 8:32 am Post subject: Re: Transparent new growth |
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| mr_india wrote (View Post):
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Dear Trevor
I will increase the light as suggested by you. But I am really worried that algae will shoot up with more light.
Do you think any other parameter need to change. The bread algae just stopping plants growth as it started to grow evev on new growth. My plants will be stunned soon I fear..........
Regards
PRADEEP
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Along with increased lighting you have to put in plenty of fast growing stem plants to deprive the beard algae of nutrients.
The beard algae grows well on bog wood/drift wood, corners, filters and rocks not forgeting your leaves.
Physically remove whatever algae you can and plant as many cheap plants you can which will compete with the algae.
The best way to prevent algae in a planted aquarium is to estabilish continued strong plant growth.
When it comes to collecting nutrients and utilizing light plants have many advantages over algae.
Good plant growth will starve algae of nutrients.
A healthy well planted aquarium rarely will encounter algae growth.
The allelochemicals produced by plants play a part in restricting algae growth.
The results of chemical treatments of algae are widely variable and they effectiveness not constant and guaranteed.
The Siamese flying fox (Crossochelus Siamensis) may eat beard algae and can be added later.
Many loaches, catfish, snail and fresh water shrimp will browse on algae and prevent it from getting a foothold in the aquarium.
I have found Tropheus duboisi to be good. But all this has to be added later on in the continued and continuous war against algae. |
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harley
Frequent Visitor to IAH
Joined: May 22, 2006
Posts: 143
Location: Bangalore
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| Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 1:35 pm Post subject: Re: Transparent new growth |
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Hi Trevor,
Sorry to be off the topic, but from where can i pick up the lights as shown in the pictures and whats the cost like for a 2 ft tank.
Thanks
Irshad
93414 42507 |
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rgg
Committed Member of IAH
Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 1742
Location: Bangalore
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| Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 1:59 pm Post subject: Re: Transparent new growth |
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Hey!!!
Pleanty of places from where you can pick up the tubes.
Look at the lighting section. Look out for Osram Sunlight, Bio lux, Lumilux combinations.
Raghu |
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nag
Committed Member of IAH
Joined: Oct 19, 2003
Posts: 1854
Location: Bangalore
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| Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 2:26 pm Post subject: Re: Transparent new growth |
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Hi Pradeep:
Firstly, let me understand it's a 70 Litre (Not 70 Gallon)...tank.
These are the lighting density suggested...
2 - 2.5W / Gal = Moderately lighted
3 - 3.5W / Gal = Ideally suited
4+W / Gal = High lighting
Now, 70lts = 15.5 Gal...
So, your 36W lighting is OK for the plants you've mentioned...
Beard Algae thrives in Co2 rich water...
As your lighting is moderate and the induced CO2 is not controlled...there's algae boom
My suggestion is stop CO2 injection and put an aerator for a week
Reduce lighting to 10hrs...and see the difference
Dose KNO3 on weekly WCs as you say the leaves are turning yellow (indicates nitrate deficiency)
Regulated CO2 is the mantra for highly lighted planted tanks...
HTH, |
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nag
Committed Member of IAH
Joined: Oct 19, 2003
Posts: 1854
Location: Bangalore
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| Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 2:27 pm Post subject: Re: Transparent new growth |
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| Oops double posting... |
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trevor
Committed Member of IAH
Joined: Jul 27, 2003
Posts: 4290
Location: Bangalore
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| Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 2:45 pm Post subject: Re: Transparent new growth |
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| harley wrote (View Post):
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Hi Trevor,
Sorry to be off the topic, but from where can i pick up the lights as shown in the pictures and whats the cost like for a 2 ft tank.
Thanks
Irshad
93414 42507
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J.P. Lighting palace off B.V. K Iyengar Road.
Any resonably big electrical shop in the market areas will do I suppose.
Buy it bare shell no starter, no choke and no tubes for Rs. 200/-.
A plug and play unit will cost double.
Put in your own choice or combination of tubes Phillips true lite/ osram etc etc
Put in a good quality copper choke, electronic will be ideal when you are running a timer.
A word of caution to newbies.
A fluorescent tube is a very efficient light source. But they life is about two years.
A tube will lose 50% of its efficiency after a year.
So the tube has to be changed every year.
For larger and deeper aquariums the cost and practicality of a number of fluorescent tubes is unwarranted and Metal Halide will work out perfectly.
Here the M.H has also been proven  to be a better deal.  |
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mr_india
IAH New Member
Joined: Jun 23, 2005
Posts: 39
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| Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2006 8:41 am Post subject: Re: Transparent new growth |
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Dear Nag & Trevor
Thnks for your suggessions.
Now I am really confused on CO2 issue. From some of the earlier postings in the forum I thought DIY CO2 works wonder and injecting CO2 is very necessary. CO2 have to be injected before any PMDD dosing. Now I have 3 questions as
1) Uncontrolled CO2 like in the DIY method should be stopped forever or needs in the later stage ?
2) How much KNO3 to be dosed in my 70 Lts tank ? Yes I confirm it is 70 Lts and not 70 Gals.
3) All the bread algae infested new growth needs to be removed ?
Regards
PRADEEP |
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nag
Committed Member of IAH
Joined: Oct 19, 2003
Posts: 1854
Location: Bangalore
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| Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2006 10:09 am Post subject: Re: Transparent new growth |
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Hi Pradeep:
1. Yes, CO2 injection is a must for plant propagation...but,not at the cost of BBA...So, stop injection for a short duration where you see BBA dies...
2. KNO3 - Half a teaspoon a week is more than sufficient at the moment
3. Try removing the algae on old leaves and leaves new leaves as it is...
Bye, |
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rohansd
Committed Member of IAH
Joined: Jul 01, 2005
Posts: 1545
Location: Pune
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| Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2006 11:44 am Post subject: Re: Transparent new growth |
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I maybe wrong.
But I am of the opinion that Co2 really helps fighting algae.
I have had this situation where in i was lazy to start a fresh batch of DIY co2 and within a week Beard showed up on amazon sword leaves.
As soon as i started the Co2 the Beard alage went away slowly.
Pradeep,
As we spoke last over last weekend,
Try and get Rosy Barbs, the realy do a good job with the Beard algae. |
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suuresh1
IAH New Member
Joined: May 31, 2006
Posts: 61
Location: bangalore
Status: Offline
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| Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2006 11:47 am Post subject: Re: Transparent new growth |
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Hi Pradeep,
I go 110% with what Master Trevor Says. Starve the Algae...Best way plant heavily with stem plants, the cheap ones you get at Shivagi Nagar or any LFS. Increase your lighting. Keep CO2 constant. DO NOT add any ferts for the first six to eight weeks. Let the plants establish a good root system & algae will automatically die out. After a month put in American Flag fish, SAEs, bristle nose plecos etc to remove any stubborn algae.
all the best ....and remember plants grow slowly, your patience must be directly propotional.
Suuresh
98451 87544 |
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