Algae and Plants

  In this article we will try to comprehensibly explain how to win algae in high light planted tanks, but by analogy and to successfully grow plants. So let's get right to the point. The most important thing for us plant aquarists to understand the working of the plant through and that the factors influencing the creation of balance and an aquarium.

If we make the order of the most important elements in the aquarium, then this:

Light → CO2 → MACROELEMENTS → Trace elements


Now can someone ask the question how do you beat the algae and when they should be the same for growth. The answer is to provide enough plant mass and the speed of growth of these plants.

Which in turn affects the growth rate of plant mass?

  This is primarily light, ie. More accurately the intensity of light determined by the growth rate of plants. It determines how we introduce CO2 into the aquarium and which will amount macro- and microelements fertilize the aquarium. Less light means less CO2, less fertilizer, slower growth. More light is all the other way around. The light on top of everything, and to him all treated and not vice versa. It is important that all aquarists understand, because it often raises the question of how much fertilizer, which ratios of phosphate and nitrate, but problems with co2, without first not start from the ground up, and this is enabling high-intensity light.


Let's clarify another prejudice with which it is frequently found, and that is:

Why all recommend low levels of phosphates and nitrates?

  Because it relates to aquariums with low light intensity and usually no or very few plants. In planted tanks is different. We need to feed more plants than fish. Limitation of plants to light, co2, macro and micro elements leads to slower growth of plants and algae automatically winning the battle of the plants in a very short time. So as long as you fear to add to the tank of potassium, phosphate, nitrate, iron and you will have algae because they limit the growth of plants. They do not occur if you add in the aquarium phosphates and nitrates, but on the contrary. Focus on it to enable plants food because you will have a constant battle with algae, and which will thus disappear if the plants allow all.

As algae are losing the battle?

  Algae need a lot, a lot a lot less nutrients for the growth of plants, but must obtain them constantly. Plants naturally need a lot more food than algae, but because they can clean up the reserve. If you offer them a uniform diet with nutrients, the plant will make use of them all and algae, nothing will remain. However, if the plants withhold only one of the nutrients they will cease to consume and other nutrients and algae will incur temporary.

Without CO2 because no photosynthesis allows plants to take advantage of the light. If it does not have enough of a certain intensity of light there will be algae, and this relationship should be most of all to pay attention. The amount of CO2 in the aquarium should be between 15-30 mg / l. The only sure way to ustanovit how much CO2 in the aquarium's drop checker with kh = 4 solution inside (it will be the text on that soon). The lack of rhyme or rhythm and CO2 are the most common causes of algae.


NPK - Potassium Nitrate and must always be in the tank in sufficient quantities . When phosphate is easily seen if they are not and the problem can be easily resolved, while the lack of potassium and nitrate problem is much larger. Plants without these two elements will not consume either CO2 or phosphates ... which of course leads to algae.


Potassium can be added when changing the water without any consequences, and half a teaspoon per 100 liters of water (which gives 10-15 ppm potassium + potassium from KNO3, should be enough for every aquarium), or of course you can every day to add 2 -3 mg / l.


That leaves us nitrates and phosphates. With regard them all still wondering how much of what and in what proportions? No one can give a universal ratio for all aquariums, because every aquarium is different according to their needs for macronutrients. As long as they do not restrict the plants with nutrient ratios are not important. The only thing that matters is the constancy of their added. You have a say in the aquarium 2 ppm phosphate and only 3 ppm nitrate, or vice versa more nitrate, less phosphate plant will continue to grow. Algae will not occur until you are constantly adding macro and change 30-50% of water per week. If you skipped the dosage for some reason, and a quantity of macro drops to zero, you get algae as plants cease growth. Preference is high if the substrate have a type that is continuously Aquasoil Amazonia dull nitrates and phosphates in water, so it is sometimes necessary or add. If someone really insists here's some ratios of nitrates and phosphates (in which the ratio of added P: N) used in the world: Tom Barr (EI dosing system) P: N = 1: 5-10, PPS Pro P: N = 1 10, Seachem P: N = 1: 16.6, Tropica plant nutrition + P: N = 1: 19, ADA recommended P: N = 1: 15-25.


Trace elements found in the form of commercial fertilizers and when buying them see that they are balanced. The composition should be the next: 7% Fe, 1.3% B, 2% Mn, 0.06% Mo, 0.4% Zn, 0.1% Cu. This is normally the composition Trop Master Grow. Do not buy fertilizers for which you do not know what it contains or does not say. The trace elements are added in amounts that increase the concentration of iron in the aquarium of 0.1-0.5 mg / l depending on the growth of plants. It should be noted that thisroad and two or three times more than the recommended dose.