Re: [APD] RE: why algae will not grow

[Aga Skotowski <aga at stowetel_com>]

> Of course, it doesn't mean everyone should go to there
> tanks and just start pouring in ferts through a huge
> funnel. And certainly not all accomplished aquatic
> gardeners run high dosing regimens. However, I'll wager
> that newbies' problems, whether algae or weak or dieing
> plants, are more often due to a lack of one or more
> nutrients than excesses.

This looks like a fantastic moment for me to jump in.  *g*  Newbie, lurker 
for several months.  My tank is a 20 gallon with a 55W light kit from 
AHS.  The substrate is Seachem Flourite and I use a biowheel filter.  The 
fish are a big angel, a few leopard danios, and three otos.  The plants are 
lots of elodea densa and something I don't know the name of, with narrow, 
2-3" leaves.  I do a 10% water change every other week; haven't tested pH 
or nitrates in ages though.  This has been the setup for about a year now, 
though the elodea is only a few months old.

My problem is that I always have lots of algae growing over the 
plants.  Long bright green clumpy thread stuff as well as dark green stuff 
that's like rough threads.  Also, the plants don't look very good after the 
first few weeks.  Also also, they don't want to stay in the substrate but 
end up drifting around the tank.  (They look like they're sending down thin 
white rooting things, but they're not doing a very good job of holding on 
if that's what they are.)

Apparently I'm supposed to be adding fertilizers-- great, I can do 
that!  Would somebody just tell me what and how often?  Actual brand names 
would be ideal since this really isn't something I know a lot about.  :)

Thanks bunches,
Aga Skotowski
Boston MA 


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