I think EI has it's followers.
The concept of speed by overdosing everything speaks of excess.
It's tempting to believe it will be the end of your algae problems.
In fact, your tank becomes a paradise for algae.
For that EI becomes it's own victim. It's promoters can say everything about it not being the catalyst for algae but what if you already have a teeny bit in your tank in the first place or get infected at a later stage?
Isn't it wiser to keep stuff within acceptable level or base it as lean water column and more substrate feeding styles?
I think the additional thing spoken about the 30ppm CO2 will not work with ADA substrates because of the extremely low pH.

I suspect Amano's tanks have BGA problems just like all of us but he has staff on payroll to fix such problems. Plus he has hundreds of tanks on standby for photo sessions so we may never see any BGA infected tanks.

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So many aquascapes, so little time...http://www.my-mac.net/forum/

Hi, thanks Stan...

I couldn't agree more. Every method or system have pros and cons, be it EI, PPS, ADA etc. The trick is, in my opinion, to find the best method that works with our water (soft or hard) and tank conditions (plant mass, filter, lighting etc). In my case, for ADA tank, I am more toward lean water column fertilization. Other tank with holland sand, still following EI but more toward lower range of the recommended level. Too much nitrate is not good to the fauna either. The keyword here is, I think, moderation...lol. Same as CO2, 30ppm is quite a lot, and unnecessary, in my opinion. I think stable supply of CO2 during photoperiod is more important, just that, lower CO2 level is definitely a no no if you have intense lighting...someone have done an interesting experiment that show different level of CO2 actually does not cause algae (but stable through out each test tank), only that the plant growth rate are affected, lower CO2 level, smaller plant leaves, etc..

I am too, almost sure, Amano's tanks have BGA problems that is why ADA have a product called Phyton Git, with specific instruction how to control this BGA(cyanophyta) as quoted here..

Cyanophyta Algae Control
1. Suck away Cyanophyta with a hose
2. Supply Phyton Git with a syringe to where the Cyanophyta was accumulating
3. Apply aeration and keep lighting turning off for approximately three days.
4. After three days, change the water in the tank(1/3 to /12) and remove remaining Cyanophyta.

However, many people have successful controlling BGA only by using step 1(cleaning) and 3 (keep lighting turning off for approximately three or more days).


Regards

Hi,

It have been 17 months since I setup this tank. A lot have been learned through this tank and I am still discovering something new every day.

So to capture back the setup process and the progress I made to this tank, I include some of the pictures.

Initial setup, 1 Oct 2005

The next day, crystal clear water!

Planted more fast grower plants.

After 1 month.


...continued

Moved all of my Rainbows to this tank from my 2.5 feet tank. This tank was setup for them!..

No more Rainbows, almost all died, because of 'unknown' reason.

Replanted the glosso and propagated the Eriocaulon cinereum sp., planted some more difficult plants like Toninas, P. Stellata...

At this time, joined this forum, so see the first page of this thread, to get the full story..hehehee


...continued

...continued

Currently, this is how the tank looks like..

Trying to get the foreground going again...

Add a second filter (bought used filter) Eheim 2215 just for extra waterflow to the front and bio-filter. The filter is using ADA Bio Rio stuff (2 Kg)..


Regards

Wow, it seems your tank has had many looks and all of them look great.
This will still be in time for ADA2007!

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So many aquascapes, so little time...http://www.my-mac.net/forum/

Thank you for looking.

ADA2007, closing date 31 May 2007!. I hope so too. Entering just for fun of it. This year can even enter online, but just wondering what picture size, resolution and other details though..still finding that out..hehe..and the camera..mm..

Hope my foreground will be ready soon. By the way since this setup is 17 months old, I still considering to use Brighty Step 3. Should I?

Regards

Nas - 2 words - simply amazing. The transformation was really interesting to follow.

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The nose runs and the feet smell - go figure
Steven

Nasir, I like the look of your tank which had the yellowish Stellata. May I know how you managed to get it to look that way? Whack it kau-kau with lights and iron tabs? Or is it a different species?