I think something that isn't emphasised enough to beginners is the value of a surface skimmer.
When you’re starting out there is a good chance that you are going to battle a bit (or more likely a lot) getting the light Co2 balance and flow just right, this leads to imperfect plant health, which in turn leads to varying degrees of surface film. Under these conditions Co2 saturation tends to build over the photo period, rather than finding equilibrium. This equilibrium is essential for getting the Co2 levels high enough for plants in the crucial early phase of photo period, without then gassing the critters at the end of the period. Furthermore the fluctuating nature of surface film means that the Co2 injection level that was fine for your fish a couple of days before, may now have the poor buggers gasping. Then begins the yo- yo-ing and inconsistent Co2… and because you are a beginner (and because you are hitting the Co2 limit set by your fishy dependents) you assume that the insipid browning of older leaves and inevitable invasion by BBA are related to other parameters or inadequate hardware.
I suspect these may be useful observations for some of those who know they have a co2 issue without being able to pinpoint it.
Yes I am aware that the eheim skimmer is a bit ugly, especially in smaller tanks. A few things on that account
1) You can take it out when everything is ticking along nicely
2) Your Glass box can be as sleek and minimal as like, but if it is full of rotting plants and algae it is gonna be pretty ugly.
3) The eheim skimmer is only about 20 quid
4) There are lily pipe intake skimmers, though nobody yet produces a viable one for shallow tanks (hint, hint sponsors)
5) I’m not affiliated with eheim
Anybody had similar experiences?
cheers
When you’re starting out there is a good chance that you are going to battle a bit (or more likely a lot) getting the light Co2 balance and flow just right, this leads to imperfect plant health, which in turn leads to varying degrees of surface film. Under these conditions Co2 saturation tends to build over the photo period, rather than finding equilibrium. This equilibrium is essential for getting the Co2 levels high enough for plants in the crucial early phase of photo period, without then gassing the critters at the end of the period. Furthermore the fluctuating nature of surface film means that the Co2 injection level that was fine for your fish a couple of days before, may now have the poor buggers gasping. Then begins the yo- yo-ing and inconsistent Co2… and because you are a beginner (and because you are hitting the Co2 limit set by your fishy dependents) you assume that the insipid browning of older leaves and inevitable invasion by BBA are related to other parameters or inadequate hardware.
I suspect these may be useful observations for some of those who know they have a co2 issue without being able to pinpoint it.
Yes I am aware that the eheim skimmer is a bit ugly, especially in smaller tanks. A few things on that account
1) You can take it out when everything is ticking along nicely
2) Your Glass box can be as sleek and minimal as like, but if it is full of rotting plants and algae it is gonna be pretty ugly.
3) The eheim skimmer is only about 20 quid
4) There are lily pipe intake skimmers, though nobody yet produces a viable one for shallow tanks (hint, hint sponsors)
5) I’m not affiliated with eheim
Anybody had similar experiences?
cheers
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