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Post by jackpike on Nov 13, 2006 22:54:54 GMT
everyone gets it in some form over the years of fish keeping. more so with planted set ups. if you plan on keeping fish only you shoudnt have that much trouble. BUT it can still bloom if you dont keep up with regular water changes and checking water stats. I thought you would have less of a problem with algae if you had a planted setup. I have had less problems with algae since i introduced plants into my tank. Plants feed on the same nutriants as algae hence less algae imo.
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Post by mralgae on Nov 14, 2006 22:25:43 GMT
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Post by jackpike on Nov 14, 2006 23:22:11 GMT
Mralgae,
I have some laterite i was considering using it but i have heard that u need to mixed 1 part laterite with 2 parts gravel. Make enough of this to make a 1/4 inch layer in the tank then cover with a inch or two of normal gravel. But I'm not to keen to do it because it would mean ripping the tank apart and starting from scratch. How did u use the laterite in your tank?
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Post by mralgae on Nov 14, 2006 23:36:35 GMT
i didnt end up using it jp. it was a new one from tropica. but i didnt realise this particular one was like a fine cardborad, the best way i can describe it. i thought it was of a stone type laterite that would sink straight to the bottom, but 90% of it floated. made a right mess and couldnt even see my hand in the tank. the stone type i was after is or can be mixed with the gravel and then layerd over exactly like you said. the only prob is the stip down, but i had to do that anyway after the mess i made. all i di was set up the new tank i got, which is still in the box,haha. transfared everything over inc the filter medium and it took a day to do. but i had to clean up everthing to try and gat rid of all the clay that had built up from the floating laterite. still havnt got rid of it all and still havin probs with to much iron in the water, but if your tank and plants are doing well enuf and depending on how many plants you have or intend to have i wouldnt bother with the laterite.
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Post by jackpike on Nov 14, 2006 23:50:12 GMT
The laterite i have looks like small granules of pommel stone
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Post by mralgae on Nov 15, 2006 19:22:59 GMT
thats the stuff you need, might not be but is it probarbly redish in color? put some in a bowl or bucket of water and see if it sinks. only thing if you add it to the tank you have to be carefull not to dig to deep when cleaning the gravel, or you will release it into the water and end up with th same problem as me.
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Post by jackpike on Nov 15, 2006 23:42:20 GMT
Its a tan colour, But I'll try that too see if it floats or sinks
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Post by mralgae on Nov 15, 2006 23:45:45 GMT
that be the one m8
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Post by janette on Nov 15, 2006 23:48:53 GMT
Jackpike are you thinking of getting CO2?
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Post by jackpike on Nov 15, 2006 23:57:51 GMT
Jackpike are you thinking of CO2? CO2? U have lost me janette
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Post by janette on Nov 16, 2006 7:29:22 GMT
Are you thinking of going for a planted tank and using co2 ? if not i wouldn't bother with the laterite imo , there are so many different ones out there , the laterite i got altered my Ph for a few days ,it can cause havoc on your tank if you don't know what your doing with the stuff, and the goodness does not last forever in most of them
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Post by jackpike on Nov 16, 2006 20:09:18 GMT
See what u mean, i do have a planted tank, But plant growth isn't great. I don't have co2 injection at the moment maybe in the future when i have some extra cash to pair. Has anyone tried using a laterite gravel mix inside claypots for the plants rather than mixing laterite through all of the gravel subtrate?
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Post by mralgae on Nov 16, 2006 20:30:33 GMT
thats one way to go jp. lots different ways to do lots of things, i have just started planting mine in a small amount of the wool they come in. this saves the plants totaly spliting when you plant them. i dont know what size tank you have or if it os heavily planted,but sounds like c02 is needed. you dont need a full injection type depends on size of tank, the yeast type which i use is grand and a fraction of the cost.
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Post by janette on Nov 16, 2006 20:45:24 GMT
Its a good idea ! but i think the tank would look like a greenhouse with all the pots i think those tablets you can get are good enough, if you don't want many plants. At the moment i don't have co2, i have quite a few plants Ive got a under gravel heating cable then sand then laterite and then the gravel every thing seems OK but then i have easy plants to grow!! co2 does wonders for plants ,but then its expensive too as Mralgae said the yeast way is cheaper ,but it stinks the house out when it needs changing :l: as i found out !!!
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Post by jackpike on Nov 16, 2006 22:25:38 GMT
A concern i have about injecting co2 is the affect it has on ph. I have extremely soft water here, nothing to buffer a drop in ph. People with a hard water supply don't really have to worry about dropping ph.
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