nothing will grow

[Alace]

I have a 240 in wall with 100 fudge and 2 35 gallon sumps so I have about 410 gallon total and everything in the show tank grow good water quality is great.

I add plants to the 100 gallon all the time and they look good all the time but slowly go away.

This is what is in the 100 gallon- sand, main return pump that is sectioned off so the water flows through floss before it goes into the main tank, there also is a a large pump that I made a spray bar and laid that on the bottom so there is water movement and the only other thing in there is a few air stones..I also have lights on it that run 24/7.

I seem to always have this problem and first thought it was due to not enough air so I added the air stones and it didn't help so then I added the pump to move water around more and still nothing....

we feed every other day but its always a heavy feeding... should I feed everyday?

should I change the lights to 12 on and 12 off?

is there any additives that would help I should add more then I do I'm sure... I'm not good with what I need to add... I add kalk, I used to add iodine and strongem but haven't in a few weeks..

 

[sweetcheeks]

I have heard that zero nitrates is no good for plant growth.
You can also try a Carbon Input system (I'm not sure of cost in your area, but a nice compact one that can run a 50 gallon tank here costs about $50).

 

[sweetcheeks]

Also, I know it's best to mimic actual conditions. You can buy a time for $15 at Home Hardware to run your lights for you (or you can switch them on when you wake up and shut them off before bed), but I would recommend 12 hours on only.

 

[Alace]

I have a timer I will put it on today and see if that helps too... what is this carbon input system? I have never heard of one or if I have it was a differnt name.

 

[piercho]

Injecting CO2 (carbon enrichment) is generally not needed to get good macroalgae growth. Keeping the lights on all the time over your algae filter is usually not desirable. The most efficient use of your algae filter lights will be to run them when your tank lights are off. Having the filter lights on when the tank lights are off will moderate system pH levels and help keep O2 levels high.

What plants did you add to the filter tank that failed?
What is your lighting over the filter tank?
What is the flow rate of water through the filter tank?
Do you maintain carbonate alkalinity at 2.5 meq/L or higher?
What is the pH in the filter tank?

Three general ways to improve algae prduction rates are to increase light intensity over the filter, increase the flow rate of system water through the filter, and introduce more than one specie of macroalgae.