Dear Gingerinaustin:

I read your post with all the distress in which you put it down. I have been in a similar situation with my fish tanks. I've had fish since I was 12 and actually tomorrow I'll be 51. For all of those years I had a low tech tank, most of them with live plants. I'm sorry you are having such troubles!

Even though your tank has been set up for 9 months, you did a major renovation when you switched over your entire gravel and went to live plants. All your nutrifying bacteria and mulm that was in your old substrate was gone. I know that Eco-complete is supposed to have all sorts of wonderful nutrients in it but as I read about people who have used it, (I haven't), there seems to be a new tank syndrome associated with it too. If you do a search on this forum, the Aquatic Plant Central forum, and the planted tank forum, you will come upon problems others have had IN THE BEGINNING with that substrate. I think with any new substrate there will be an adjustment period. It may be that the Eco-Complete was absorbing the nutrients that existed in your water column to begin with and not enough were left for your plants.

I do think that starting with the hardier plants is a good idea. Crypts, Java ferns, Wysteria, you've already found. You can find others which are easy to grow by looking at the plant criterion at Aquatic plant central plant finder, or Aquarium Plants, Pond Plants, Freshwater Aquarium Plant & Aquarium Accessories – Arizona Aquatic Gardens. The later sells plant habitats such as easy life habitats that require low light and no CO2. You could either buy from them or just get ideas of easy plants.

BTW your light is not high light. While limiting your light will help stunt the algae the idea is that your other plants are healthy enough to endure less light and hold out until the algae dies. If your plants are dying I'm not sure it is a good idea to do this. I have seen suggested to do a break in the photo period. At least then you will still have light for the plants.

When my tank is in transition, I get fish loss as well. Since you are setting up a little eco-system everything gets affected. A dead fish can spike the ammonia quickly. I wonder if your test kits are correct. (I just exchanged a $100 kit because the reagents were giving false readings!). Or perhaps with the new fish some pathogen was brought in that affected everyone, something that was not visible, nevertheless still there.

When I have had algae outbreaks and/or fish deaths the first thing I always have done is to change water. The more frequently I changed water the more under control was any algae outbreak I had. I have gotten rid of the Brush algae many times with water changes and Flourish excel. I found a direct correlation between neglecting my water changes and algae. I know that is not your case but the reverse is true for me as well. Water changes = no algae. It was always "dilute the pollute" I don't think water changes add CO2. Anytime you change water you are disturbing the surface and that adds oxygen. I also don't think its a good idea to be sifting/vacuuming your gravel. I believe you need the "dirt" in there as this is a new substrate. That will help feed your plants and establish the good bacteria.

The old adage of 1" fish per gallon is antiquated. With the wonderful filters, and a planted tank it really is meaningless. I have FOR EONS had many many more than 1" of fish per gallon. I end up trading fish just to have a change as they continue to live so long in what should be a severe overload by that old measurement.

I do think some fertilizing is a great idea. The root tabs are really great for rooted plants. It might be easier and more balanced for you to do a combination fertilizer like Flourish or something just until you get all the problems under control. I have found it difficult to know how much of each to put in unless following the EI dosing amounts for specific tanks. (I went high tech 3 months ago.) The low end of that regimen is for low light non-CO2 tanks. It's easy to just follow the dosages. You can find them at http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...ing-guide.html

Don't give up. The tank just needs to settle down. While you're thinking 9 months - it really has been just since the switch over - and then the diy CO2 addition and removal... You'll get the hang of it. Even if you were putting in a flower bed outside there would be a lot of hit and miss at the beginning as you learned your area, your plants, your soil, your fertilizers, etc. You will find it very rewarding as you begin to see your sucesses!! Hang in ther!