What am I doing wrong :-(

[Kam Sandhu]

Hi all,

Need some help.

I just cant seem to get my drop checker to go green before the lights turn on.

I have CO2 coming on 3 hours before the lights, I am injecting at such a rate that a bubble checker is useless and the needle valve is now almost fully open.

My tank, I have a Juwel Rio 180, a spray bar across the back, nearly the entire length, and a Hydor 1600 where the spray bar does not reach.

I have a Fluval 406, foam in the bottom tray, biomax in the 2nd tray, purigen and carbon in the 3rd tray and the 4th tray is empty.

I have triple checked for leaks using soapy water, I don't know what else to do. I keeping getting endless GDA on the back glass.

I am at a point now that I am thinking about binning the whole lot and going back to artificial plants.

Oh and the never ending brown algae too.

Any input would be great.

 

[Kam Sandhu]

Edit: the inline atomizer housing is leaking. Looks like it's cracked. Does over tightening cause this?

 

[darren636]

Over tightening can break anything.
Lighting duration/ intensity?

 

[Chris Jackson]

Some drop checkers take an eternity to react. I was using one of those ones that hook over the rim of the glass with Aqua Essential 4dkh solution and it must have lagged an easy 6 hours or more behind the actual aquarium ph as measured by a high quality calibrated probe.

 

[Jaap]

Edit: the inline atomizer housing is leaking. Looks like it's cracked. Does over tightening cause this?

So is this the problem that prevented the DC to change to lime green?

 

[PARAGUAY]

Look at the situation like this- there is a good article about drop checkers by Ceg read that first and then read up on your equipment and what your doing. I wouldnt have the needle valve fully open yet. I dont know the info for inline but a empty chamber in the filter? I agree with Chris that the color change can take a eternity, watchful of the livestock I would maybe opt for in tank diffuser for now,forget the plastic plants all the experts have been through it

 

[Kam Sandhu]

Over tightening can break anything.
Lighting duration/ intensity?

Normally 6 hours, 2 x 45w T5, currently the lights are being kept off.

 

[Kam Sandhu]

So is this the problem that prevented the DC to change to lime green?

I think it is, I'll find out when I replace the broken atomizer.

 

[Kam Sandhu]

but a empty chamber in the filter?

Yes, to increase the flow, which seems to have helped. I have a lot more flow in the tank, I got rid off the extra carbon and filter wool.