[viiagrag]

So in my tank I have a few plants, and no injected CO2. For a couple reasons, it's a road I don't particular want to go down.

Instead, I use glutaral, which is a bioavailable liquid source for plants. It's sold under a couple of different brands/names. What they don't tell you is that it destroys algae (and turns your skin brown!).

Whilst algae isn't something I'd like lots of, it's still nice to have for my fish to munch on, as it's their native food.

Is there any difference between using glutaral as a source of carbon, or sodium bicarbonate? Is one more bioavaliable than the other? I probably should mention that the pH induced by using bicarb soda is ideal for my mbuna, so that's not an issue.

[Biradallo]

I've never had any problems with plants needing supplements. All that fish poo goes a long way to providing the nutrients needed.

You may find that raising the pH may not agree with your plants. While African chiclids like pretty high pH, many aquatic plants don't.

[viiagrag]

Plants are fine, the species I've picked are suitable for my tank conditions (anubias, vallisneria and java fern).

So decomposition/respiration should provide enough carbon for the plants?


Edited: Another reason I am dubious over glutaral, is that I read it can destroy vallisneria.

[Biradallo]

You'd have a hard time killing those with a hammer

IME the less mucking around with water chemistry and stuff, the better. Mind you, I tend towards using fairly weedy plants such as Elodea sp, and Cabomba sp. as I don't have a lot of time to spend on achieving perfect conditions. I'm mainly keeping Poecillids these days as once again, I don't need to put in a lot of effort.

For a fairly new tank, some appropriate fertilisers can give the plants a bit of a kick start and help them establish themselves but on the whole you shouldn't need to add too much unless you want to build an "aquascape" type tank.

I'd love to have the time and money to do it. This site Has some nice piccies - CO2 and full on fertiliser all the way though.

This forum Is very good (and friendly) and has a dedicated plant subforum. It's probably worth having a look there.

[Biradallo]

My breeding "tank" doesn't even have filtration! Every week or so, I scoop out a load of duckweed for the compost. and when it gets a little murky, I'll vacuum the crap out of the bottom. Occasionally, I'll top it up with some fresh tap water.

[chechokancho]

I was told chichlids ate aquarium plants. Is that right?

[chechokancho]

http://www.blueaquarium.org/2009/09/...capers-europe/

Wow!

[viiagrag]

For a fairly new tank, some appropriate fertilisers can give the plants a bit of a kick start and help them establish themselves but on the whole you shouldn't need to add too much unless you want to build an "aquascape" type tank. I only started taking an interest in ferts after I noticed that my nitrates were routinely zero. So I started dosing a fert containing potassium and nitrogen (which is suspect is KNO3 in liquid form), to help the deficient plants out. And thank you for the links!

I was told chichlids ate aquarium plants. Is that right? They eat some plants, but leave others (like the ones I have in my tank) alone, in general. Even if they do uproot the odd plant, the benefits of a tank with a few plants in it outweigh the troubles, IMO naturally.


Reading around, I still can't find much about the bioavailability of sodium bicarbonate, most articles tend to be leaning towards pushing branded products. Bah!