Low tech-ish planted tank question

[Cliff]

I’ve always preferred my planted tanks with easier to care for plants that required mid to low light. I don’t like using CO2 (tried DIY once) and I don’t like having to use a lot of (if any) ferts. I’m currently not using any CO2 and I am not adding any ferts to the water, only using root tabs. So I must say, I’m taken back a little by the growth of my vals. They are taking over my tank. I’ve already removed a lot of them and they just keep growing and growing. I don’t want to remove the vals as I love the more natural look it gives when there is not too many of them


I think it’s mostly due to having a lot of fluorite mixed in the substrate, root tabs, and higher lighting levels of 6700K light. Right now I have a 4 bulb T5 fixture with only two bulbs on for 9 hours and all 4 bulbs are on for only 4 hours of that. I’m thinking about reducing the lighting to slow down the growth by only using 2 bulbs for 8 hours.

What would you guys think

You’ll have to excuse the diatoms in this tank as we get silicates in our water supply every spring around here so I get a small diatom outbreak every May/June that lasts for a few weeks. This one should be gone soon so I’m really not worried about it.

[smaug]

Cut the light back to just 2 bulbs on for 8 hr days........and give the fish machetes1

[Brhino]

I think vals must just do really well in low tech conditions. I'm always having to prune mine too, as well as removing runners that are reaching outside of their designated zones.

[Cliff]

I guess the last time I had vals they were all eaten by my apple snail so I did not notice how fast they can grow, because they didn't stand a chance with the snail

I'll keep trimming back and cut the lights

Cheers