Do I need fertilizers?
 

I have a planted 14 gallon biocube. I have sand and gravel as substrate and have a co2 system.The lighting is two 24w coralife each 10,000k. Do I need fertilizers? I now petco sells those plant tablets should i use those?

First, welcome to Tropical Fish Keeping forum. I know I've posted in a couple of your previous threads, but neglected to welcome you. Glad you found us and joined.:-)

Yes, you will need fertilizers. With that much light and CO2, other nutrients will be needed in quantities higher than what the fish will provide. Light and nutrients must be balanced; if any thing is missing, plants cannot photosynthesize. And the more light, the more nutrients needed, otherwise algae will take advantage of the excess light.

The type of fertilizer depends upon the type of plants (species). If you can list the plants you have, I can suggest the best fertilization.

Byron.

planted1 - 14 gallon Freshwater fish tank heres some pictures.I only now what some of them are called if you could tell me it would be great.

They are all stem plants, and you have an algae issue. That is due to too much light without sufficient nutrients for the plants to use it, so algae takes advantage.

Liquid fertilizer is needed if you are going to continue CO2 and bright light. I would suggest Seachem's Flourish Comprehensive Supplement. Start with once a week. Stem plants assimilate nutrients via the roots and leaves and roots appear along the stem in many species so liquid fert is better than substrate additives. Also cheaper and easier to dose.

How long is the light on daily? Are they fluorescent tubes or compact fluoreswcent bulbs (screw in)?

Byron.

+1

I have the lights on for about 12 hours a day, and there compact bulbs.

Two options to resolve the algae issue [I assume you are aware of it, that stringy green stuff on the plant leaves].

Reduce the intensity; two 15w CF bulbs would probably be sufficient. I would normally suggest 10w but you do have CO2 diffusion so that requires a bit more light to balance or the CO2 is wasted. I think 15w would work.

Reduce the period of light. Plants can manage with as little as six hours. The CO2 should only be on during the light period, otherwise again it is being wasted and could cause problems with CO2 excess. In strong light the plants will assimilate it (provided the other nutrients are also available--the Flourish Comprehensive mentioned previously will deal with this aspect), but not otherwise. Going down from 12 to 9 hours at this stage might work, then monitor plant response and algae.

Thanks byron, i cant aford to change the lights at the moment but i can shorten how long they are on for, yesterday i bought a bottle of flourish comprehensive like you mentioned, how much of it should i use?

Dose the volume indicated on the label (quantity), no more, and with CO2 and more light as you have I would do it twice a week, first on the day following a water change, then 3 days after that.