Planting my F8 tank and taking it brackish.

[Phaedrus]

Have you considered using Excel daily in addition the co2?

Actinics from my understanding operate heavily in the blue end of the spectrum which is not as easily used by plants. Adding that mid spectrum bulb should make a difference I'd think.

With regards to the powdery algae - if that's the only algae you have, you're doing pretty good I think. I assume you're talking about the really light stuff that is really easy to remove with a scrapper?

If everything else is balanced, hopefully it'll just take longer for the plants to take hold, rather than not being able to take hold at all.

[Pufferoni]

I think I am going to try and increase light levels. Things are surviving but not much growth.

My big F8 shredded the male molly the other day. It started with a nipped tail and by the time I got the net out, there wasn't much left. Time to find a home for the females.

Here's how it looked 19-04

[my name is mike]

my figure 8 is a molly murderer too -- he chews off the tail and eats the eyes -- i ended up relocating the last survivor to my baby fig 8 tank -- IMHO -- mollys and fig8's are a bad idea -- either they get killed or they annoy the crap out of the puffer

[my name is mike]

p.s. the tank looks great --

what plant is in the back left ??? also, whats in the front middle ???

[Pufferoni]

Back left CERATOPTERIS THALICTROIDES watersprite front middle amazon sword and to the left abit HYGROPHILA CORYMBOSA.

Creepy about your mollies mine ate the eyes too.

[my name is mike]

guess the eyes are the best part ---

i had water sprite going really well for a few weeks -- tons of growth , little offshoot plants

and then all of a sudden, the stems near the base got all brown and yellowed and they have pretty much died out -- i replanted some of the little offshoot babies, but they dont look so hot any more --- im bummed, cause i really liked the look of the water sprite

im thinking of taking it more low tech, down grade the lighting or just lose the reflector and just what survives -- not sure im up for Co2, and it seems like i might need it

[my name is mike]

one more thing --- what's your SG at ???

[Pufferoni]

I have 6 DIY co2 units going in 5 different tanks.

Sometimes I missed refilling them on time sometimes they clog up.

But you know what I think, how much light do you have? maybe you should add more light add the co2 and up the ferts. I paid $40 canadian for the co2 and making your own mixture costs about $2 a month

Wadda ya got to lose.

[my name is mike]

yeah, i see your point, im on the fence ,,, the only reason im leaning more low tech is the reduction of water changes -- with lots of light and co2 and dosing, you gotta change it more

this link made me think that low tech would limit my need for water changes and dosing -- http://www.barrreport.com/estimative-in ... thods.html

its a very interesting thread

[Pufferoni]

We must have posted at the same time I just saw the sg question. I am at 0.005 and have been for a couple of months now.

I have heard about the "Diana Walstad" method before some people swear by it. Others prefer going the other way.

I wonder if brackish water makes any difference or the low stocking levels of puffertanks would provide the necessary bioload.

I love the xcess that Co2 gives me. My 20g long Modestus tank pearls like crazy all day long it looks amazing. Yeah it requires alot more work but I am up to it. I get up at 5:30 every morning and spend 1 -2 hours working in my fish room before the day starts I find it relaxing and centering.

Keep us uptodate on what happens.

[Pufferoni]

aquaticplantresources.net is a great plant site. It is small and personal and there are some great people there. I have found it helpful.