So when does the algae show up?

[Toni]

I am attempting a 90g low light low tech planted aquarium (1 wpg)- fish and
plant lists and photos at
http://www.cearbhaill.com/aquarium.htm .
This aquarium was set-up on 6/12- a little over a month ago.

Despite being told that I must have CO2, and that the entire Flourish line
would be way too expensive- Flourish is the route I have chosen.
I am dosing as per Seachem's chart.

Things are going exceedingly well- each and every plant has grown *way*
beyond my expectations. After only one month I am having to prune nearly
weekly just to keep things neat.

As of yet I have no algae- none.
In fact- I have no algae to the point that I am beginning to worry about my
algae eating friends. Of course I supplement them with veggies and algae
wafers, but feel that a bit of real algae would be nice for them.

I keep reading about everyones trials with algae and am wondering how long
until the plague hits me?
Is it possible that I have somehow hit on a light/nutrient balance already?
Or am I feeling successful a bit too soon?

--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/aquarium.htm

[Cam]

Be patient my son.......the algae is coming :)




"Toni" > wrote in message
link.net...
> I am attempting a 90g low light low tech planted aquarium (1 wpg)- fish
and
> plant lists and photos at
> http://www.cearbhaill.com/aquarium.htm .
> This aquarium was set-up on 6/12- a little over a month ago.
>
> Despite being told that I must have CO2, and that the entire Flourish line
> would be way too expensive- Flourish is the route I have chosen.
> I am dosing as per Seachem's chart.
>
> Things are going exceedingly well- each and every plant has grown *way*
> beyond my expectations. After only one month I am having to prune nearly
> weekly just to keep things neat.
>
> As of yet I have no algae- none.
> In fact- I have no algae to the point that I am beginning to worry about
my
> algae eating friends. Of course I supplement them with veggies and algae
> wafers, but feel that a bit of real algae would be nice for them.
>
> I keep reading about everyones trials with algae and am wondering how long
> until the plague hits me?
> Is it possible that I have somehow hit on a light/nutrient balance
already?
> Or am I feeling successful a bit too soon?
>
> --
> Toni
> http://www.cearbhaill.com/aquarium.htm
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

[nikolay_kraltchev]

If your plants thrive and you keep a consistent schedule on the water
changes/fertilizing you will not have problems at all.

Chances are sometime in the future, for whatever reason, you will fail
to be consistent and than you will start having problems.

--Nikolay

[[email protected]]

Must use CO2 becomes an issue at higher lighting values ti have a long
term success.

Most of the failures with folks using CO2 stem from not enough CO2 and
not having a routine to make sure the plants have enough nutrients.

At 1w/gal you can still use CO2 and have excellent result, but it's
not required by any stretch.

Now when you you say you use the whole SeaChem line, does this include
Excel? While not being CO2, you would be adding Carbon enrichment to
the tank and ampliying the growth rates a fair amount.

> Despite being told that I must have CO2, and that the entire Flourish line
> would be way too expensive- Flourish is the route I have chosen.
> I am dosing as per Seachem's chart.
> Things are going exceedingly well- each and every plant has grown *way*
> beyond my expectations. After only one month I am having to prune nearly
> weekly just to keep things neat.
>
> As of yet I have no algae- none.

Well at 1w/gal, adding plenty of plants from the start, (perhaps)
using Excel, it would not surprise me.

Too many folks think more light is better. This is simply not true.

> In fact- I have no algae to the point that I am beginning to worry about my
> algae eating friends. Of course I supplement them with veggies and algae
> wafers, but feel that a bit of real algae would be nice for them.
> I keep reading about everyones trials with algae and am wondering how long
> until the plague hits me?
> Is it possible that I have somehow hit on a light/nutrient balance already?
> Or am I feeling successful a bit too soon?

No, but if you really are after the low tech method, Idon't add
anything except fish food and top off for evaporation in my non CO2
tanks. I don't use Excel. I suppose your tank would be high tech from
that perspective:-)
Then again, that pond out back would make mind look somewhat high
tech.

It all gets down to your goal of what you want out of it.
Using CO2 is not about speed of growth for me but rather quality.
The species of plants I tend to keep do much better with CO2. But the
list you have will all do well without it.

If you keep upon pruning and keep consistent dosing/water change
routines etc, you should do fine.

Light intensity is very much like driving speeds, 1w/g is like 20mph,
5 w/g is like 80mph. If anything goes wrong, any bumps in the road,
the result from this are much worse. You have more flexibilty at lower
wattages.

People have been told that they need more light and more light is
better and PC lighting allows them to easily put loads of light on
their tanks.

Folks are willing to buy 200$ in light but will not pay for CO2.
We really should see folks telling newbies that high light is not
required, not the CO2 part. That's where many get into trouble. Then
they ask how to solve things and with that much light.....CO2 is the
only way to meet the carbon demands of the system or sell/return the
lights. Many won't reduce the light wattages. Then they try and find a
way around using CO2 at high lighting.

I'll tell you this, my dosing and CO2 routine, so called high tech is
as easy as yours with the SeaChem products. If you dose 2-3x a week I
got you beat. My CO2 require little upkeep and is around 8-15$ a year
to run 160 gal worth of tank. Fert's run about 10$ a year, less if I
used Plantex only, around 4$ a year then. So for about 20$ a year, I
run this so called high tech tank.

I'm not trying to convince you to use CO2, far from it, but I am
pointing out it's not difficult to do nor that much work as many would
have you believe.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[Toni]

" > wrote in message >
> Now when you you say you use the whole SeaChem line, does this include
> Excel? While not being CO2, you would be adding Carbon enrichment to
> the tank and ampliying the growth rates a fair amount.
>

Yes, I use Excel daily.

>
> It all gets down to your goal of what you want out of it.
> Using CO2 is not about speed of growth for me but rather quality.
> The species of plants I tend to keep do much better with CO2. But the
> list you have will all do well without it.
>

That's all I am after- at this stage anyway.
As my knowledge of aquatic plants increases I am sure that the desire to
keep more difficult species will force me to rethink my methods. For the
time this plant list suits me fine.


>
> I'll tell you this, my dosing and CO2 routine, so called high tech is
> as easy as yours with the SeaChem products. If you dose 2-3x a week I
> got you beat. My CO2 require little upkeep and is around 8-15$ a year
> to run 160 gal worth of tank. Fert's run about 10$ a year, less if I
> used Plantex only, around 4$ a year then. So for about 20$ a year, I
> run this so called high tech tank.
>

Well- I dose daily.... probably over $20 *per month* <g>.
I know I spend more $$ this way but for the time being it suits me.


> I'm not trying to convince you to use CO2, far from it, but I am
> pointing out it's not difficult to do nor that much work as many would
> have you believe.

I know- you've been very patient with me.
Some day I will probably make the leap to CO2, but for me now this works.
I have a beautiful aquarium without any (knock wood) algae problems.
My routine is easy and the results surpassed my expectations.

I am having fun with my planted aquarium- and it makes me very happy.
This counts as success for me!

--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/aquarium.htm

[[email protected]]

> > Now when you you say you use the whole SeaChem line, does this include
> > Excel? While not being CO2, you would be adding Carbon enrichment to
> > the tank and ampliying the growth rates a fair amount.
> >
>
> Yes, I use Excel daily.

This plus low light(instead of hundred's of watts of PC lighting),
lots of fast growing plants will limit algae growth _very_
effectively. More than many people know or realize.

> > It all gets down to your goal of what you want out of it.
> > Using CO2 is not about speed of growth for me but rather quality.
> > The species of plants I tend to keep do much better with CO2. But the
> > list you have will all do well without it.
> I am having fun with my planted aquarium- and it makes me very happy.
> This counts as success for me!

Certainly and you are doing it with less light meaning your getting
everything out of that little bit you are adding. The Excel works very
well at 1.2- to a little less than 2w/gal which is a good starters
range for plants.

You have a good plan for this tank. Stick with it. The pruning and
other parts will gain you experience.

A plant that does well in this lighting range is that Pearl grass,
especially the 2 leaf per node type. It would look nice in the tank if
you can find some.
Pretty easy plant to grow.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[Toni]

" > wrote in message > >
> > Yes, I use Excel daily.
>

> This plus low light(instead of hundred's of watts of PC lighting),
> lots of fast growing plants will limit algae growth _very_
> effectively. More than many people know or realize.

<snipped>

> The Excel works very
> well at 1.2- to a little less than 2w/gal which is a good starters
> range for plants.
>
> You have a good plan for this tank. Stick with it. The pruning and
> other parts will gain you experience.
>
> A plant that does well in this lighting range is that Pearl grass,
> especially the 2 leaf per node type. It would look nice in the tank if
> you can find some.
> Pretty easy plant to grow.


I'll keep my eyes open for Pearl Grass (Hemianthus micranthemoides, right?)-
I could do with some smaller leaved textures.
As always I appreciate the time you take with me.

--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/aquarium.htm