Ferts

[Tek]

I recently got much stronger lighting and my plants don't seem to be able to catch up. I have never used ferts before, but the plants seemed fine and green with the low lights and no ferts, but as soon as I started using the stronger lights, all the old leaves went see through and the plants started producing tons of new leaves.
The new leaves are all green but I am wondering if I should add ferts, and where would be a good place to get them? I am most concerned about my amazon swords

Thanks so much

[davemonkey]

More lights = higher metabolism in teh plants = higher nutrient needs. That PROBABLY means you should start adding ferts, but there is still a chance you don't. It all depends on your current bio-load (# of fish, how much you feed, do you have a filter, exactly how much light do you have and how big is the tank? ).

You can find the micronutrients pretty much anywhere, at any pet store. The macronutrients you may have to get online or at a specialty shop like FishGallery or Houston Aquarium Wharehouse, or ADG.

[Tek]

Thanks Dave. I think what I may need is more Iron. Things are fairly balanced in other aspects so I am kinda scared to mess with the macros. I went ahead and pulled out all the yellowing leaves and found that the plants are not dying per se, I think it is an extreme growth spurt. The yellowing may be due to a deficiency, so a little addition of ferts might be a good idea, but I have never done it before.

There is probably 40 inches of fish in a 60 gallon tall tank. I have a 50 gph submersible filter, but I don't really need it and it is mainly on at night. I feed twice a day with flake food and a couple times a week with frozen food. The lighting is 150 watts condensed sungrow light on for 8 hours a day

[Tek]

Okay well, I think I didn't need it.

I added ferts and now I have algae growing on the walls.

The plants were already recovering so I should not have bothered with the ferts. I only added one does of ferts and withing two days had algae on the sides of the tank.

I think the plants were just unaccustomed to the stronger light.

also, my anacharis is producing tons of bubbles, which I think is normal, but my amazon swords are doing it too. Is that normal? I have never seen swords release bubbles before. The entire tank looks like there are 100s of little aerators in there.

[Mzungu]

Do you have any CO2 running into this tank?

Could you provide a few more details, like what ferts you added, when, howmany WPG, how long of a photoperiod, etc.?

Thanks. :)

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[dustin]

Adding ferts without a form of carbon will result in algae growth. Potassium is often deficient in most aquariums. I have had good results dosing with potassium and excel (liquid Carbon) on non c02 tanks with a decent fish load. Plants require a form of carbon for photosynthesis, whether it be c02 or liquid carbon. Adding ferts without carbon means the plants have a hard time absorbing the nutrients. Algae will then start using the nutrients that the plants cannot

[Darbex]

+1 on Dustin comments

[Tek]

Sorry for the late reply, have pc problems.

anyway some of the specs are in post 3 above.

It is 60 gallon tank, 150 watt grow light on for 8 hours a day and 18 wall fluorescent on for a few hours more just for view fish after the grow light is turned off.

Carbon is only through Flourish Excel.

Fish load is not that large. Most fish are under an inch and there are about 20 of them. (mainly Tetras and Corys).

Because it is a tall tank not a lot of food makes it to the bottom of the tank.

all in all I think I should have waited out. The amazons are all dark green again. I think they were just adjusting to the stronger light. The one dose of ferts resulted in a bloom of Algae but it didn't last long because I only added one dose. The algae is almost all gone with zero intervention from me. The snails have been doing a good job. The only things that are still green is a shell and a couple of rocks.

I think the tank will be fine if I don't add more ferts. The bubbles were cool to see though. It was like a tub of champagne

[dhavalsp]

Adding ferts without a form of carbon will result in algae growth. Potassium is often deficient in most aquariums. I have had good results dosing with potassium and excel (liquid Carbon) on non c02 tanks with a decent fish load. Plants require a form of carbon for photosynthesis, whether it be c02 or liquid carbon. Adding ferts without carbon means the plants have a hard time absorbing the nutrients. Algae will then start using the nutrients that the plants cannot

can you please mention what are the substitutes for CO2 i am just about to make one of those DIY co2 ....please provide all the options available and are they more economical and effective compared to diy co2???

thanks.