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
Heh Kris
You’re absolutely right and I think you hit the nail on the head saying ‘the best recipe is to keep going’. We all go through the same motions and emotions with planted aquariums and talking about these issues online is a great relief.
I couldn’t agree more. The hardest thing for new hobbyists is to just leave things alone somethings. It’s tempting to always want to tinker with the parameters every day when something is exactly going as desired. Sometimes, the best recipe is to keep going, do the weekly water changes, and let the system balance itself out. I’ve had experiences in frustration where a tank just won’t get to where I want it. I dose, I pump up the CO2, etc. Then, I go on vacation for a week, with no dosing, no fish feeding [besides cherry shrimp snacks], etc. I come back and the tank looks great, better than when I tinkered with it. At this point, I slowly ramp up the dosing again, and thing’s are perfect. Sometimes, an aquarium just needs some time alone to figure out its problems. ;-)