Gold A.Cacatuoides

[beleg]

I have successfully kept both high and low tech tanks in the past. While hi tech tanks require a lot of water changes , a lot of fertilization and a lot of light, low tech tank ,depending on the intensity of the light, requires quite opposite. Less water changes, only fertilization at the root of the plants via fertilizer balls, and water changes in lesser volume.

Plants in low tech tank use CO2 from the bicarbonates in water column so water must not be extremely soft. KH of 4 is required at least. Since plant has to spend more energy to make CO2 from bi carbonates plant growth is slow in low tech tanks. Feeding must be done very sparely not to increase the amount of wastes, and fish load and plant load must be carefully balanced.

To fight algae Siamese Alg Eater (SAE) must be in the tank and in necessary numbers. While they don't eat established BBA, they don't let new ones to grow to inedible sizes.

Mrs Diana Walstadt , if i remember her name correctly, has an extensive research and an electronic book released on success on low tech planted aquariums.

 

[eklikewhoa]

I would still dose ferts at 2wpg but a lot less then what I do now though. 2wpg is still mid-light, I would look into seachem excel cause regardless of what lighting you are running any plant will benefit from it.

Buy some root tabs to place in your tank and keep the fish stocked and it should all be fine.