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Originally Posted by Andrea67
Thanks all of you guys for your opinions!  Concerning water changes: Tom...  I'd really like to skip weekly water changes with this tank! I'd rather go for at least 15 days water changes. What do you think? Why you think that weekly changes are required? |
Because you have big cichlids and you feed them a lot and have too many in a small glass box. You will be able to balance it with fewer fish.
Changing the water every 2 weeks will still give you algae.
Either go with an CO2/Excel method or go with the non CO2 approach, none of this sitting on the fence.
If you want more fish in a smaller tank, do the water changes.
If you don't want to do the water changes, reduce the fish loading.
You do not get both and healthy plant growth. There are trade offs.
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Concerning plants: I have some vallisneria left from the previous tank so I think I could re-utilize it. Then, I agree with you and go for bolbitis, java fern and anubias in shadow areas. Swords will be my choice in open areas. What about crypto: nothing at all? I also have another option: nimphea zenkeri. Comments?!?
Concerning CO2: I really would skip it... I know in the long run it'll be far more expensive, but for the moment I'd go for Excel. What would be your recommended dosage to have both beneficial effect on plants and no risk to hurt discus?
Last: I assume that macros (N,P) come from food and fish waste. What about K? Do you think I should add some K2SO4? And micros? also included in food/fish-waste/tap water or some supplement could be necessary (namely Flourish)?
Planned day for new set-up: May, the 6th!!!
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dose excel according to directions, CO2 is cheaper in the long run, cost after set up is only 10$ per year perhaps. You seldom mess with it also and it allows much more control in terms of nutrients and feeding and fish stocking levels.
You will add SeaChem Equilibrium, it's loaded with K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe.
You will also need to add a little PO4, fish food is heavy on N, not P.
For non CO2 methods, this would all you might need.
If you switch to CO2, you can dose perhaps 2x week and do water changes once every 2 weeks also.
Regards,
Tom Barr