44 Gallon Stocking

[Epos7]

Tank at about five months. Brown algae/diatoms are doing better than many of the plants. I think they may be nitrogen starved. Nitrate is at zero. Started adding some more nutrients to the tank to see if I can get the stem plants to start moving. Tank is too open still, I'm hoping I can get the stem plants to fill in better over the next few months. I've been trimming them back and replanting to try and get the healthy new growth established. Blyxa japonica is the only plant so far to show vigorous new growth.

Fish seem happy still, though I think they'd likely appreciate more plant cover. I think over the next few months the plants may start to turn the tide against the algae. We shall see.

 

[Epos7]

My Apistogramma Abacaxis is still doing well in his 44 gallon. I completely redid the tank a couple months ago. My aquarium epoxy coated seiryu stones were working well and not leaching, however I've been fighting some black algae. I used some APT fix to treat it, not realizing it's an epoxy aldehyde. The APT fix dissolved the epoxy coating on my rocks, and they started to leach into the water.

Thankfully, the fish seem unharmed. I removed the seiryu stones and replaced them with blue rhino stones. They don't leach, so no need to coat with epoxy. Much easier. Black algae is persistent. I'm trying to adjust my nutrient dosing to see if I can tame it.

In my 22 gallon tank, my agassizii sadly passed away the other month after I'd had him about 15 months. He was pretty large when I got him, so I think he could have been as old as 3 when he died, so not outside the typical life expectancy. I've replaced him with a Piaroa A165, which arrived today.

 

[MacZ]

I'm trying to adjust my nutrient dosing to see if I can tame it.

Tweak the lights as well and tint the water with humic substances.

 

[Epos7]

As mentioned in my thread on the topic, the A165 didn't make it. I ordered a tank-raised Panduro to replace him, and the Panduro arrived today. Water temperature on arrival was 68F/20C. He's in the 22 gallon now. I've done a few 50% water changes on that tank in the last week, and I added lots of almond leaves and alder cones. Also reduced my GH to about half what it was. I ordered some concentrated Indian almond leaf powder. Curious to try that as the tannins from ~10 8" almond leaves and ~400mL worth of alder cones only lasted until the next water change.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BL9KVMV6?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

 

[Epos7]

Can I use any of the following for humic substances? I have these trees in my yard:

• maple
• Japanese maple
• elm
• walnut
• dawn redwood (cones)

 

[MacZ]

• maple

Yes

• Japanese maple

yes

• elm

yes

• walnut

yes

• dawn redwood (cones)

no, too much resin. Coniferous trees don't work.

Do you live in the city or the countryside? Use pesticides or herbicides in the garden?

 

[Epos7]

Do you live in the city or the countryside? Use pesticides or herbicides in the garden?

Small city. No herbicides. I use some organic pesticides in my vegetable garden - Bt, spinosad. Not near the trees though. Lots of squirrels and birds in the trees, would likely want to boil anything collected as they poop a lot.

 

[MacZ]

I use some organic pesticides in my vegetable garden - Bt, spinosad

What is that exactly? I don't know these products.

Lots of squirrels and birds in the trees, would likely want to boil anything collected as they poop a lot.

Nonesense. Don't worry about that. You will want to pour some near boiling water over it to make it sink quicker, but that's it.

Small city. No herbicides.

Good, I'd do a trip to the woods outside the city, though.

 

[Epos7]

What is that exactly? I don't know these products.

Bacillus thuringiensis - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Spinosad - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Epos7]

Sent some links describing the pesticides. Seems that reply and one of my previous is still awaiting moderator approval due to the links.

 

[MacZ]

The correct technical or brand and product name would be enough, though.

 

[Epos7]

The correct technical or brand and product name would be enough, though.

Bacillus thuringiensis

Spinosad​

 

[Epos7]

I tried a small amount of the almond leaf powder I linked to in one of my previous posts (still pending approval). It's very concentrated, although if you wet a small amount, some of it turns bright blue. Not sure what that is. Could be ink from the label as the powder seems to act as somewhat of a solvent.

 

[Epos7]

This is what my hand looked like after handling the packaging but before opening the ziploc bag.

 

[MacZ]

I tried a small amount of the almond leaf powder I linked to in one of my previous posts (still pending approval). It's very concentrated, although if you wet a small amount, some of it turns bright blue. Not sure what that is. Could be ink from the label as the powder seems to act as somewhat of a solvent.

Seems like they added methylen blue (a common disinfectant in veterinary medicine). Don't use it then.

Bacillus thuringiensis​

​

Spinosad​

Thank you!

The former is ok. The second rhough is an insecticide and might kill any live invertebrates you might have in your tanks.

 

[Epos7]

Seems like they added methylen blue (a common disinfectant in veterinary medicine). Don't use it then.

Hmmm, could be. Listed ingredients are Indian Almond Extract and Acacia catechu Extract. They are advertising its antimicrobial properties, so you never know. The seller will have just purchased the raw product from some wholesaler anyway.

Wish there was a reputable source for a similar product.