Can I still post in newbie section, my tank is now 8 months old
I'm still not happy with the tank though, I buy plants to die in my tank, there is little else they seem to do except some from the outset which still spring new growth from the base (Echinodorus bleheri and Vallisneria sp. ‘Natans’)
Both are now covered in what I've determind is black beard algae and I've tried the SeachemFlourish route and it kills spots but it's growing faster it seems than I can spot treat without overdosing. It's not taken over the tank far from it, almost looks like it should be part of the Vallisneria sp. ‘Natans’ but I know looking closely it annoys me.
I've done a tone of research and it all says algae is from poor water conditions but unless I'm doing some drastically wrong I don't think my water is bad. I now use 50/50 with RO water, nitrate level is 20ppm at the weekly 20% water change. Ammonia and Nitrite are spot on at 0ppm. PH still 8.2 and the hardness has come down thanks to RO water to KH 71 and GH 160 (think that is the right way round, need to check figures I had.
I've read BBA could be poor circulation so I've got a powerhead coming just to help with circulation I do spot some debris at the back of the tank and my heater is now showing LF which it hasn't for past 7months. I need to work out why I've got BBA and so much online I just don't know where to begin.
I think I need to get my plants growing to out compete with the BBA, so I've invested in a new light, gone of the Fluval AquaSky (1100 lumen) I now have the Fluval Plant Spectrum 3.0 which can now give off 2400 lumen which is what is needed based on Tropica site.
Now online I'm reading the best settings and I have it down at 50% for most whites, 25% for red and 3% blue. Does that mean I've wasted my money and I should've stuck to the original light given I'm only using 50% of it
The reason I turned to a new light source is Limnophila sessiliflora was struggling to stay upright and browning so surely a sign of poor light. Having made adjustments to the light it seems darker than original. Is it a case of don't trust my eyes, the light is better so doesn't have to appear brighter?
I feel like I'm at a loss, increase light to feed plant demands but then it will help the algae grow.