3/12/08

Maturing Hi-light scape


The HC is spreading very well. I am maintaining steady CO2 levels. CO2 starts 1 hour before light switch on, and goes off half an hour before they switch off. Using drop checker for CO2 levels (from Aquatic Nature).
I did notice some Fuzz algae on leaves and glass, so I added 4 Siamese Algae Eaters, and already after a day, algae seems to disappear ;-)
I started dosing Tropica liquid fertiliser with N&P 5ml today, and will dose it 2-3 times a week, followed by a weekly 50% water change.
After each water change I dose half a tea spoon of GH-Booster for extra Mg and Ca.
Note; I noticed Hemianthus calitrichoides getting yellowish leaves and after dosing GH-Booster they seem to be doing great again.
Tap water here in Lomma Sweden is very soft, with GH of 3.3 dGH, so dosing extra Mg and Ca is necessary IMO.

3/10/08

Late update, sorry

This tank is maturing nicely. The HC is spreading without any dificulties. CO2 is maintained via Drop Checker (4-5 bps).
TetraTec EX700 external filter and Koralia Nano 900 l/h for surface agitation.
Water change 50% every week. Re-dosing KNO3, KH2PO4 and GH-Booster once a week (at the moment).
I am not adding any traces yet since I saturated the substrate when emerged with lost of liquid Tropica Plant Nutrition.
I actually ran into a Hair Algae problem after I started the submersed set-up. All the added fertiliser probably entered the water column and I also dosed 15ml of Tropica fert extra on day one. I only had very low plants like HC, Hair Grass and Pogostemon helferi so no way they could outcompete the algae with fert over dose and hi lights.
I did huge wc every day (80%) for about 10 days, to re-set the system. I also planted tall plants to help with nutrient uptake. Everything seems to be in order now.
Plants; Hemianthus calitrichoides Cuba, Hair Grass, Pogostemon helferi, Bluxa japonica, Cryptocoryne balansae, Hygrophyla Rosanervig.
Fauna; Rasbora hengeli, Amano shrimps, Otocinclus.