[APD] Planted tank modelling, algae, lighting etc.

[Raj <ggrk at blr_vsnl.net.in>]

Hi Tom,

         I jumped into an algae discussion with planted tank 
modelling concepts!

         Currently I have made peace with algae, I don't get worked 
up over it. Some of my tanks have algae as the primary "plant". I 
have seen elsewhere absolutely breathtaking green carpet of short 
haired algae similar the Cladofora algae balls. All my tanks have 
some type of algae that has established itself.

         In my recent experiments with DO in a low light no PMDD 
planted tank, I increased the light from <2W to >3W. With nothing 
else changed.. the plants took off. A month later they cooled down 
and algae took hold on the leaves nearest to the light. No algae 
elsewhere in the tank. The current situation is a low nutrient high 
light tank with pH now at 6.8-7 with KH of 5-6, Nitrates <5ppm 
Phosphates 5-10ppm. Initially the crypts took off and then just 
melted, Intially the ludwigia turned brilliant yellow-red grew 
rapidly and now look starved, the Echinodorus Rubin became a giant 
about 20-24" tall in an 18' tank..  The leaves folded over at the 
surface and red new leaves are seen everyday. Now I have older leaves 
browning but new leaves are healthy.

         As an electronics engineer and a ham.. can't resist the 
temptation to fiddle and learn something new. I have fired up my 
Eheim doser and will see what happens in a few weeks time. I propose 
to trim the plants later in the day to keep the nutrient levels up.

         Currently my impression from experience of high nutrient low 
light tank is not good.. although the tank is algae free. Where do we 
balance these variables and how to stabilise them is the goal of the 
experiments. Ultimately hope to get a better understanding and form 
an good idea of what type of planted aquaria models can be achieved.

Raj


>   This sounds alright but is not all of the issue.
>   I can have huigh nutrients and low light and no algae.
>   That is actually one of the most robust methods to prevent algae.
>
>   Low light, high CO2, high nutrients.
>   But......what type of nutrients? If it's all from high fish load, 
> then  you will likely have algae, but you can avoid that by doing 
> large water  changes or 2x a week.
>   Many Discus folks fall into this group.
>
>   But as far an adavntage of plant growth vs algae growth, CO2 
> enriched low light tanks are clearly highly successful over time.
>   They have a wider range of nutrient levels before perturbations 
> occur than a high light tank.
>
>   You might be wasting the nutrients(but they are cheap) if they 
> are high  in a low light tank, but it will not cause algae in and of itself.
>
>   Better to waste a little nutrient than run into limitations and 
> have a higher rish for ugly stunted plants/algae presence.
>
>   Take your idea with CO2. In lower light tanks, 15ppm might do, 
> but  30ppm will be much better, more robust, more optimal.The same 
> is true  for the other nutrients, it affords more flexibilty in a 
> person's  routine + provides more wiggle room with errors. Adding 
> more light  makes these upper ranges more critical, but at low 
> light + experience  with high light allows us to really provide 
> even a better cushion for  the balance.
>
>   Regards,
>   Tom Barr
>   www.BarrReport.com
>
>
>
>          What I am trying to say is that if there is more nutrients there
>should be more light till one of the two limits plant growth.
>
>Raj
>

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