How to figure out fertilizer-light-plant amount balance?

Hello Fishlore,

How do I figure out the right amount of fertilizer to light to amount of plants balance other than inaccurate experimenting. Right now I am not dosing any liquid ferts (just root tabs) because algae grows like crazy even with out it. (I know my lights are on too long (12hrs) but I’ll have guppy fry soon which need 12 hours of light). I just want a relatively algae-free tank, although I like algae on rocks because of the natural look. Any tips/answers would be appreciated!

 

Can you give some more details? Tank volume, tank dimensions, type of light/brand, lighting height, what plants you have/want? These would help greatly!

Generally algae is caused by imbalance, and usually that imbalance comes from a) too much light for the level of nutrients and CO2 and b) too little plant mass.

 

Can you give some more details? Tank volume, tank dimensions, type of light/brand, lighting height, what plants you have/want? These would help greatly!

Generally algae is caused by imbalance, and usually that imbalance comes from a) too much light for the level of nutrients and CO2 and b) too little plant mass.

tank volume 20 gallon long

Dimensions 30”x12”x12”

Light is for plants have two of them (NICREW ClassicLED Plus LED Aquarium Light, Full Spectrum Fish Tank Light for Freshwater, 18-24 inch)

I have a jungle of Italian val at the moment but have 2 crypt wendtii, 1 java fern, and 1 tropica microsorom pteropus in the mail. Also am wanting 1 anubias nangi, 1 anubias nancon, and 2 bucephlandra sp Godzilla (which I am ordering soon)

thanks for helping!

 

tank volume 20 gallon long

Dimensions 30”x12”x12”

Light is for plants have two of them (NICREW ClassicLED Plus LED Aquarium Light, Full Spectrum Fish Tank Light for Freshwater, 18-24 inch)

I have a jungle of Italian val at the moment but have 2 crypt wendtii, 1 java fern, and 1 tropica microsorom pteropus in the mail. Also am wanting 1 anubias nangi, 1 anubias nancon, and 2 bucephlandra sp Godzilla (which I am ordering soon)

thanks for helping!

Thanks for the info!

Nicrews are not particularly strong lights, which is good for you because the too much light problem will be easier to remedy.

One important thing to remember is a lack of nutrients also causes algae. Lack of nutrients causes deficiency and stunting in plants, and then opportunistic algae throw a party while the plants stall.

I think your best course of action is to keep the 12 hours if the guppies will need it, but get some Nilocg ThriveC or some Easy Green and follow the lowest dose recommendation. Keep up manual removal of algae. Do plenty of water changes if the fry allow for it, water changes will remove algal spores. Once you're able, bring the lights down to 7-8 hours, keep water changing, keep removing, and keep dosing. Add some fast growing plants, they outcompete algae. Keep it up even if it doesn't seem like it's working, and keep us updated!

 

Thanks for the info!

Nicrews are not particularly strong lights, which is good for you because the too much light problem will be easier to remedy.

One important thing to remember is a lack of nutrients also causes algae. Lack of nutrients causes deficiency and stunting in plants, and then opportunistic algae throw a party while the plants stall.

I think your best course of action is to keep the 12 hours if the guppies will need it, but get some Nilocg ThriveC or some Easy Green and follow the lowest dose recommendation. Keep up manual removal of algae. Do plenty of water changes if the fry allow for it, water changes will remove algal spores. Once you're able, bring the lights down to 7-8 hours, keep water changing, keep removing, and keep dosing. Add some fast growing plants, they outcompete algae. Keep it up even if it doesn't seem like it's working, and keep us updated!

Of course about the info! That’s good that’ll be easier to solve. I had no idea that a lack of nutrients could cause algae... but if I Think about it, it does make sense. My substrate is fluval stratum-sand mix and it’s about 4 inches deep. There is plenty of detritus which is why I am not dosing ferts. I probably should’ve said that earlier- sorry. I have NilocG Thrive S (shrimp safe, no copper). I will try weekly water changes (I am doing once every 3-4 weeks because I have a denitrifying bacteria colony thriving) to remove the spores. Guppies breed like crazy and there will pretty much always be fry, so I may no be able to cut down on lighting. I could try 10 hours and see how that works. What fast-growing plant species do you recommend? Thanks for all of the help and I will keep you updated!

 

WhenI started live plants it was all trial and error. You need to really keep a dedicated lighting , fert and WC schedule from my experience. Mixing it up will usually set your tank back a bit but once everything becomes established then it will start to fall into place on its own.

 

WhenI started live plants it was all trial and error. You need to really keep a dedicated lighting , fert and WC schedule from my experience. Mixing it up will usually set your tank back a bit but once everything becomes established then it will start to fall into place on its own.

Ok, I’ll start dosing ferts because I didn’t know that algae starts to grow when you don’t dose ferts so I’ll keep that in mind.

thanks!

 

Of course about the info! That’s good that’ll be easier to solve. I had no idea that a lack of nutrients could cause algae... but if I Think about it, it does make sense. My substrate is fluval stratum-sand mix and it’s about 4 inches deep. There is plenty of detritus which is why I am not dosing ferts. I probably should’ve said that earlier- sorry. I have NilocG Thrive S (shrimp safe, no copper). I will try weekly water changes (I am doing once every 3-4 weeks because I have a denitrifying bacteria colony thriving) to remove the spores. Guppies breed like crazy and there will pretty much always be fry, so I may no be able to cut down on lighting. I could try 10 hours and see how that works. What fast-growing plant species do you recommend? Thanks for all of the help and I will keep you updated!

I'm curious, you have denitrifying bacteria as in bacteria that convert nitrate to atmospheric nitrogen? Even so, they shouldn't be in the water column and so water changes are completely safe!
A lot of stem plants are fast growing, hygrophila, wisteria, etc. Some are more demanding though, so research each one you consider.

 

Trial and error

 

Let the Hunger games begin! May the odds be ever in your favor!

 

I'm curious, you have denitrifying bacteria as in bacteria that convert nitrate to atmospheric nitrogen? Even so, they shouldn't be in the water column and so water changes are completely safe!
A lot of stem plants are fast growing, hygrophila, wisteria, etc. Some are more demanding though, so research each one you consider.

I do have denitrifying bacteria that convert nitrate to nitrogen gas! It works totally and I never have any nitrates in the tank. I know they aren’t in the water column, and I have no problem with weekly water changes. Sorry if I indirectly implied that. I will look into those plants. Thanks so much for all of this info!

 

Trial and error

Yes I assumed this. Thanks!

Let the Hunger games begin! May the odds be ever in your favor!

Thanks!

 

If I ever figure it out seconds later I'll hear the gas igniter and it will be all over for me.

Best way to control algae is water changes IMHO.

 

If I ever figure it out seconds later I'll hear the gas igniter and it will be all over for me.

Best way to control algae is water changes IMHO.

Ok sounds good. I’ll do more w/c