Show me your aquarium

[techguyone]

I've just got the Fluval Aquasky 2.0 bluetooth.

https://fluvalaquatics.com/uk/aquasky/

Smashing light, infinitely configurable, you can do proper gradual sunrise/sunsets and changing elements through the day, it also doesn't heat up your tank like your fluorescents can. I've found the colour really pop on it compared to the old fluorescents, I have a juwel tank so used the T5 fittings so it all fits under the hood and could well be oem, highly recommended. (click on the pictures for much bigger view)

Edited by techguyone on Thursday 22 July 15:58

Edited by techguyone on Thursday 22 July 15:59

[anxious_ant]

HustleRussell said:

‘Light is light’ within reason so if you are having absolute failure with plants there are likely other factors at play. What are you feeding them? What substrate are they planted in?

It certainly isn’t necessary to spend hundreds on lighting to have success with plants. Aquatic plants are shade plants by their very nature, surviving in the wild only on the sunlight which reaches the water’s surface and filters through the water column- probably not entirely different from an aquarium in a room in daylight with no artificial lighting at all.

I have sand substrate. I use root tabs, which are renewed every month. I also top up with Seachem flourish every weekly water change.

My issue is with the brown algae that grows on my swords, anubias and other broad leaf plants. If I turn the lighting down the brown algae reduces, but the plants suffer.

I agree it’s very frivolous to spend over £200 on a full spectrum smart light. However what piqued my interest is someone mentioning this eliminated his brown algae problem and his other plants thrive.

[Turn7]

anxious_ant said:

HustleRussell said:

‘Light is light’ within reason so if you are having absolute failure with plants there are likely other factors at play. What are you feeding them? What substrate are they planted in?

It certainly isn’t necessary to spend hundreds on lighting to have success with plants. Aquatic plants are shade plants by their very nature, surviving in the wild only on the sunlight which reaches the water’s surface and filters through the water column- probably not entirely different from an aquarium in a room in daylight with no artificial lighting at all.

I have sand substrate. I use root tabs, which are renewed every month. I also top up with Seachem flourish every weekly water change.

My issue is with the brown algae that grows on my swords, anubias and other broad leaf plants. If I turn the lighting down the brown algae reduces, but the plants suffer.

I agree it’s very frivolous to spend over £200 on a full spectrum smart light. However what piqued my interest is someone mentioning this eliminated his brown algae problem and his other plants thrive.

Easycarbo and nowt else worked for me when running a planted tank, and used Caribsea eco complete substrate.....
Add some Otocinclus and a bristlenose and job jobbed.......
Could add some snail and then a Pakistani loach or two as well.

[Sway]

Agree with that - the improved light (and/or increased nutrient supply) is allowing the plants to out compete the algae.

Easycarbo is great. Might be worth trying that first, but remember there are no instant fixes!

[anxious_ant]

Turn7 said:

Easycarbo and nowt else worked for me when running a planted tank, and used Caribsea eco complete substrate.....
Add some Otocinclus and a bristlenose and job jobbed.......
Could add some snail and then a Pakistani loach or two as well.

My stocking is already at max level, so no room for oto and definitely not for a plec :P

I have 2 nerrite snails they seem to take care of algae on most surfaces except of the plants.

I will have a look at Easycarbo.

[anxious_ant]

Sway said:

Agree with that - the improved light (and/or increased nutrient supply) is allowing the plants to out compete the algae.

Easycarbo is great. Might be worth trying that first, but remember there are no instant fixes!

At the moment the brown algae seems to win if I increase the duration and intensity of the light (haven't bought the Fluval yet).
Always had brown algae issues, perhaps due to the slightly high Nitrate levels in my tap water. (about 20ppm from the tap).

Switching lights off completely stops the brown algae but the plants suffer... hence looking at full spectrum lights.
As above, I will have a look at Easycarbo,

edit: Just seen the blurb from the website. Makes sense why my plants are being overwhelmed by brown algae. Root tabs and liquid ferts provide trace nutrients but not CO2 (I don't run CO2 kit). Bought one from Amazon and will have a go

Under 10 quid definitely cheaper then this : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fluval-Plant-Spectrum-Blu...

Easycarbo website said:

If there is a lack of carbon, plants are not able to optimally assimilate and grow. As a result of this deficiency, plants stop growing and no longer compete with algae for the nutrients. If this carbon deficiency lasts for too long, then plants start to leak sugars and other nutrients which attract algae.

Edited by anxious_ant on Thursday 22 July 18:50

[Khonda]

anxious_ant said:

Sway said:

Agree with that - the improved light (and/or increased nutrient supply) is allowing the plants to out compete the algae.

Easycarbo is great. Might be worth trying that first, but remember there are no instant fixes!

At the moment the brown algae seems to win if I increase the duration and intensity of the light (haven't bought the Fluval yet).
Always had brown algae issues, perhaps due to the slightly high Nitrate levels in my tap water. (about 20ppm from the tap).

Switching lights off completely stops the brown algae but the plants suffer... hence looking at full spectrum lights.
As above, I will have a look at Easycarbo,

edit: Just seen the blurb from the website. Makes sense why my plants are being overwhelmed by brown algae. Root tabs and liquid ferts provide trace nutrients but not CO2 (I don't run CO2 kit). Bought one from Amazon and will have a go

Under 10 quid definitely cheaper then this : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fluval-Plant-Spectrum-Blu...

Easycarbo website said:

If there is a lack of carbon, plants are not able to optimally assimilate and grow. As a result of this deficiency, plants stop growing and no longer compete with algae for the nutrients. If this carbon deficiency lasts for too long, then plants start to leak sugars and other nutrients which attract algae.

Edited by anxious_ant on Thursday 22 July 18:50

I used to have similar issues until my plants went mad and effectively outcompeted the algae. It’s difficult to say what worked best for me but one thing some you could try, which is much cheaper, is an ei kit.

It’s quite fun mixing it up and my tank definitely seemed much greener after a couple of weeks. You have to do regular water changes but it comes with clear instructions. Once my plants got really established I stopped doing it and the algae never came back.

With regards to lighting I use a cheapo unit (£35 ish off ebay) for a 200l tank which is absolutely fine. The tank is a low tech setup though so I would probably upgrade the light if I wanted to start adding CO2 etc.

[paintman]

Another + for Easycarbo from me.

[extraT]

Going to try easycarbo tonight and treat accordingly. Got a case of brown and green algae going on, Everything I’ve read says it’s fish safe?

[Nimby]

There's no logic to algae!

I have a D-D CO2 system, phosphate remover, 3 good-size plecs and 5 amano shrimp. Plant (mostly Amazon sword and vallis) was growing fine; in fact I had to prune and remove some every few months, and the tank looked great for months and months.

But then I had to temporarily move it while we redecorated and replaced the carpet. Most of the water and plants were saved in buckets and it all went back after a few days, so nothing has really changed but ever since I've been fighting black beard algae on the plants and green algae on the glass.

[essayer]

Went away for a week, set up my fish feeder..

it didn't work!

but thankfully no dead fish. I don't think any fish are missing... maybe they just ate the algae instead.

[Matt Harper]

I have had this 55gal set-up for about 10 years. My fish seem to be very healthy - it is very rare that I lose one, but I am aware of a glaring issue.

There are 4 fish that have grown way too large for this environment. In particular, the 2 Bala Sharks, which were about an inch long when I introduced them. There is also a Striped Raphael Catfish and a Sail-fin Plec that are 3-4 inches in size.

My local pet stores will not take any of these species back (to offer to fish keepers with larger set-ups) and Facebook etc will not allow offering of live animals.

I have two large capacity Aqueon filter systems and the aquarium is serviced religiously every week including a 25% water change.

I feel guilty about this dilemma - even though my fish are in really good condition. I'm not sure how much mental anguish a fish might experience, being as confined as they are, but it does trouble me....

[Turn7]

Matt Harper said:

I have had this 55gal set-up for about 10 years. My fish seem to be very healthy - it is very rare that I lose one, but I am aware of a glaring issue.

There are 4 fish that have grown way too large for this environment. In particular, the 2 Bala Sharks, which were about an inch long when I introduced them. There is also a Striped Raphael Catfish and a Sail-fin Plec that are 3-4 inches in size.

My local pet stores will not take any of these species back (to offer to fish keepers with larger set-ups) and Facebook etc will not allow offering of live animals.

I have two large capacity Aqueon filter systems and the aquarium is serviced religiously every week including a 25% water change.

I feel guilty about this dilemma - even though my fish are in really good condition. I'm not sure how much mental anguish a fish might experience, being as confined as they are, but it does trouble me....

Bigger tank is the answer

The left hand Shark ai one of the largest Ive seen.

I kept a shoal of 5 in a similar tank for a couple of years, lovely fish.

[HustleRussell]

Matt, your tank looks very healthy and is otherwise sensibly stocked. The individuals are a bit big for the tank now but I don’t think you should feel bad about it. An aquarium fish which has survived import and sale and has been given good conditions to thrive and grow to adulthood is unfortunately in the lucky minority. If you want to rehome them I’d post in Facebook groups (not marketplace) offering them to somebody with a larger tank. I don’t know if a suitable group but if you have a search of UK groups using terms like ‘tank buster’, ‘tankbuster’, ‘cyprinid’, ‘cyprinidae’, ‘Bala shark’, ‘silver shark’ etc. Somebody will adopt them.

[Matt Harper]

I sincerely appreciate the advice here. I'll see if I can find some local Facebook groups. Buying a bigger tank is an option, I suppose, but that also means bigger supporting furniture - and finding more space in my home etc., so not optimal.

That said, I'm a bit of a tree-hugger when it comes to animals that I have a responsibility to, so if I can't re-home them, I'll get a larger capacity aquarium.

These are the largest fish in a little more detail. The catfish has always been reclusive, which is a shame because despite being an ugly spud, his colors are quite striking.

[HustleRussell]

They all look to be in great condition.

[Turn7]

Matt, there’s always good supply of used tank setups
For sale, with the everything included, often at very low prices .

Often, the bigger the tank the cheaper as the marketplace is smaller.

Facebook groups, aquarist classified preloved and the bay are good starting points

[Caddyshack]

essayer said:

Went away for a week, set up my fish feeder..

it didn't work!

but thankfully no dead fish. I don't think any fish are missing... maybe they just ate the algae instead.

Fish would be fine for 1 week with no food unless something with a very fast metabolism like a Ray

[otolith]

Getting a bit bored now with the rainbows/barbs/gouramis thing with the 240l planted tank in the conservatory. I think I’m going to gradually migrate it to an Amazonian setup. Easier to get interesting fish.

[extraT]

In need of advice for green Algae, which I cannot get under control. I have tried carboeasy which seems to have given the algae and not the plants the boost I had hoped. Specific Algaecide hasn’t helped.

Any tips to combat this awful stuff?

Tank has live plants and a few fake plants and a large piece of LFS purchased driftwood. Also has the standard white LED installed too. Water changed normally once per week.

Now not back home until Monday, but MIL says it’s getting greener. Nothing I can do for that except ask them not to turn the lights on and… cover the tank with a sheet? I have read covering for 48 hours would be ok - can anyone confirm? but when I’m back, is there anything else I can do?

Inhabitants are:

9 x neon tetras
4 x blue German Rams
5 x orange cat fish

And normally 5 snails which are removed while the algaecide is in the tank.

Any advise?