It's sometimes tough with a planted aquarium and if you let it, demoralising. Your desired planted tank just doesn't seem to get to where you want it to and you don't know why. You try this, you follow that, you participate on forums and still you can't get it right. Algae grows on your plants and to top it all off, you've spent a fortune!! So you feel like throwing the towel in but
DON'T, you're nearly there...
I deal with a lot of customers who feel just like this and I know how hard it can be. I was there once too and only through perseverance did I make it. Don't get me wrong, I felt like I wanted to chuck it all in and this was before the days of the internet too. Can you imagine trying to learn about planted aquariums before there were any books that were specialising on the subject? Believe me it was tough and the advice was very old fashioned, suggesting very lean dosing (no macros) lighting needed a siesta (what a load of rubbish!) and that if you didn't have an under gravel heater your plants would fail. To top it all off, filters apparently needed a very slow turnover of water (hmmmmm). Fortunately things have changed. The internet was created and now in some ways hobbyists have information overload. But I digress a little as the subject of this post is Don't give up... and there's a simple reason for this. When you're up against it and everything is going wrong, this is the time when you are learning the most. You probably don't realise it but your mind is taking in so much information. Sadly, because it's a very frustrating time (and hard on the brain), combined with the fact that you have spent a lot on the hobby, and you may be moaning to your other half about all the problems, it would be easier just to pack it all in wouldn't it? But when is easier best?
Just around the corner is the answer, the trigger that will make the difference. You may only need to alter one aspect of your tank set up and the tide will turn. Plants will flourish and grow in front of your very eyes and you'll look back at the time you had when your tank would never go right and then all of a sudden, BINGO. This invaluable knowledge is what you can then pass onto other hobbysist, because it feels good to share and help those in need.
It's all about the experience, all about how you deal with the 'problems' that are confronting you. And don't forget I can always help too, just drop me a line, call me or email me and we can sort your planted aquarium problem out together :)
12 comments
Remember, as soon as any algae appears, your tank is giving you a clear message ‘I’M NOT BALANCED – PLEASE FIX ME’
I’ve written a detailed post on hair algae so I recommend you have a read of it http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/blog/2012/07/my-tank-has-hair-algae-how-do-i-get-rid-of-it.html
In a nutshell hair algae results due to poor CO2.
I would ditch the pH controller. What is important is your CO2 levels. A pH controller just causes problems and keeps switching the CO2 on and off. This is very disruptive for plants, and triggers algae. So sell it on eBay to someone who thinks it’s a good idea ;)
For the moment, trim off all the algae you can, fix your CO2 levels and the problem will dramatically improve.
Let me know how you get on.
Richard
I’m in complete agreement here. As much as I really want to be tinkering with my tank I make myself leave it alone as much as I can.
I’ve had much better results like this. Sometimes things need to be adjusted but any changes should be made slowly so you can measure the results of the change. It’s also good to only change one thing at a time, otherwise how do you know which one worked?
Great post Richard.
Hi,
My tank is now running for a month and most plants are growing fine.
Only the Alternantera Reinnecki and the needle grass have algae.
On the Alternantera i have (still short) green hair algae on some of the leafs with some short white algae hairs on the edge of the leaf, it’s all on the same leafs and not all are infected. Probably i need to cut these leaves away.
On the needle grass i only had white / grayish algae so i trimmed the needle grass in the hope it will disappear this time. Trimmed it already a couple of weeks ago but it returned.
The above problems can get solved easy by trimming i hope because i think the algae grow on old leaves and the plants took some time to root in the initial stage and thus slowing down growth.
Another problem is that i have the same green, short haired algae growing on my rocks. They are digged in deep in the gravel and due to the carpet of hemiantus Callitrichoides that has already coverd the gravel completely it’s impossible to remove them. I’m affraid that if i would use a toothbrush to clean the stones, the algae will spread trough the aquarium due to the water movement i will create during cleaning, and infect my other plants.
Do you have any tips on how to remove them and on how to prevent them from growing there in the first place?
FYI
PH: 6.7 electronic controlled
GH: 9
KH: 7
Light: 4x 39W T5
Fert. ADA Green Brighty Step 1 (10 pumps per day), ADA Brighty K (8 pumps per day) and Easy life Ferro (2 ml per day)
Thanks already for the advise!
Hi David
Your pH is a little too high for the plants – aim for 6.8 which is much better for growth. However, algae is caused by a few things:
not enough ferts
poor/unstable CO2
poor water distribution
lighting (if left on for too long)
Yours will be one of these – which one do you think it is, then I can advise. I suspect it’s not enough ferts. If you’re using CO2 then you need more than Flourish as it only provides trace elements. Your plants need macro nutrients as well now.
My tank has just started to suffer from algae, it’s been set up and running smooth for months. I dose daily with seachem flourish and use the tmc co2 canister. All my parameters are fine except my tap water after treatment sits at 7.5ph is this too much?
Thanks
David