Leah95
Member
Hey everyone!
So, I set up my new tank 1 week ago and its been a rollercoster! I’m very new to keeping a planted tank so I’ve been reading and asking my LFS as much as I can but, I just wanted to check in with people here to see if anyone can help with some issues I’ve come across (My original post with all my tank details are here: First Aquascape! but, for a quick overview, it’s a Aquanano 60 100l tank with a sump and co2 injection):
Current parameters:
I’m using the JBL pro Aquatest lab set. The tank was set up on the 11th and I was using the API master test kit beforehand but it didn’t measure everything and I knew something was wrong so I brought the better set. The first day I tested was also the first day I introduced co2. Firstly, the KH was awful but I’ve managed to increase that by dosing the water column with AquaVitro carbonate but now the GH has gone down? I have increased the iron using 1/2 cap of flourish iron daily. The silicates were so high they were off the scale so I’ve added 43ml of Phosguard to the filter (recommended by LFS) and I’ll be testing the silicates on Thursday, however, I tested the phosphates today and they’ve increased?! Most alarming is the o2 levels which went from healthy to barely anything, I noticed the fish were panting and lethargic (not at the surface)and thought it may be the co2 but the drop checker and the stats below suggest it should be fine, please can someone help me figure out what is wrong? I’ve done a 30% change today to add some oxygen to the tank and reduced the bubble count to 1 every 4 seconds and the drop checker hasn’t changed. I also have a large amount of white stuff on the new spider wood. I presume it is biofilm, I did soak this for 2 weeks and the LFS said this is normal, however, I am worried this may be the cause of the rapid decline in oxygen.
Plants:
Most of my plants are looking worse for wear. I think some are experiencing melt and the Amazon sword is showing signs of iron deficiency (I’ve now started dosing with iron so hopefully this will help). I have the stock light on from 2-9pm and the co2 at 1 per 4 secs (see above for why) but this has only been running for 2 days now so I’m not expecting to see much improvement. I’ve attached some other photos so, if anyone can point out alternative theories as to the reason behind their decline, that would be ace. Also, if this is normal for a new tank, please let me know because I can’t find any help online. I have been treating them with Flourish x1 a week and flourish excel everyday.
Co2:
I managed to get myself a co2art Pro SE complete set. I have it running off a FE and the solenoid is on a timer (turns on 1.5hrs before lights on and goes off 1hr before lights off: lights running 2-9pm). Co2 is being diffused in using a JBL Taifun reactor (I don’t like the look of it but I was told it was the most efficient way for in-tank diffusion). The problem I am having is when the solenoid goes off, the working pressure increases from 24 to 57psi and stays there so, when it turns on, the bubbles go crazy. Luckily I’ve been here both days since it’s been setup to adjust it but I want to just let it run without worrying. Does anyone have any advice for this? I have contacted co2art, just waiting for a response.
These are my main questions at the moment, they’re a bit of a mix but I’m really hoping someone may be able to point out what I’m doing wrong or whether some of this is normal. I’m actually really enjoying having a planted tank despite all of this as I like the challenge, however, I don’t want my plants and fish to suffer in the process so all advice is welcome
(Cables in the pic were close to the tank as I turned off the filter to feed the fish and the tank currently has a 1cm overhang but I’ve ordered some 18ml ply till the custom tank is built, and it has soft felt attached to the bottom)
So, I set up my new tank 1 week ago and its been a rollercoster! I’m very new to keeping a planted tank so I’ve been reading and asking my LFS as much as I can but, I just wanted to check in with people here to see if anyone can help with some issues I’ve come across (My original post with all my tank details are here: First Aquascape! but, for a quick overview, it’s a Aquanano 60 100l tank with a sump and co2 injection):
Current parameters:
I’m using the JBL pro Aquatest lab set. The tank was set up on the 11th and I was using the API master test kit beforehand but it didn’t measure everything and I knew something was wrong so I brought the better set. The first day I tested was also the first day I introduced co2. Firstly, the KH was awful but I’ve managed to increase that by dosing the water column with AquaVitro carbonate but now the GH has gone down? I have increased the iron using 1/2 cap of flourish iron daily. The silicates were so high they were off the scale so I’ve added 43ml of Phosguard to the filter (recommended by LFS) and I’ll be testing the silicates on Thursday, however, I tested the phosphates today and they’ve increased?! Most alarming is the o2 levels which went from healthy to barely anything, I noticed the fish were panting and lethargic (not at the surface)and thought it may be the co2 but the drop checker and the stats below suggest it should be fine, please can someone help me figure out what is wrong? I’ve done a 30% change today to add some oxygen to the tank and reduced the bubble count to 1 every 4 seconds and the drop checker hasn’t changed. I also have a large amount of white stuff on the new spider wood. I presume it is biofilm, I did soak this for 2 weeks and the LFS said this is normal, however, I am worried this may be the cause of the rapid decline in oxygen.
Date | 17/1/21 | 18/1/21 | 18/1/21 | 19/1/21 |
Time | 14:00 | 14:00 | 20:00 | 16:30 |
Temperature | 23.2 | 23.1 | 23.7 | 23.2 |
KH | 0-1 (No blue) | 2 (With blue) | 6 | 6 |
pH | 6.5 | 6.9 | 7 | 7 |
GH | 3-4 | 2 | 2-3 | 2 |
NH4 | 0 | 0 | ||
No2 | 0 | 0 | ||
No3 | 0 | 0 | ||
Po4 | 0.4 | 0.8 | ||
Sio2 | 6+ (Dark blue) | |||
Fe | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
Cu | 0 | 0 | ||
o2 | 6-8 | 1 | ||
Co2 | 10 | 18 | ||
Bubble Count | 1ps | 2ps | 1 every 4 secs | |
W/C | 50% | 30% |
Plants:
Most of my plants are looking worse for wear. I think some are experiencing melt and the Amazon sword is showing signs of iron deficiency (I’ve now started dosing with iron so hopefully this will help). I have the stock light on from 2-9pm and the co2 at 1 per 4 secs (see above for why) but this has only been running for 2 days now so I’m not expecting to see much improvement. I’ve attached some other photos so, if anyone can point out alternative theories as to the reason behind their decline, that would be ace. Also, if this is normal for a new tank, please let me know because I can’t find any help online. I have been treating them with Flourish x1 a week and flourish excel everyday.
Co2:
I managed to get myself a co2art Pro SE complete set. I have it running off a FE and the solenoid is on a timer (turns on 1.5hrs before lights on and goes off 1hr before lights off: lights running 2-9pm). Co2 is being diffused in using a JBL Taifun reactor (I don’t like the look of it but I was told it was the most efficient way for in-tank diffusion). The problem I am having is when the solenoid goes off, the working pressure increases from 24 to 57psi and stays there so, when it turns on, the bubbles go crazy. Luckily I’ve been here both days since it’s been setup to adjust it but I want to just let it run without worrying. Does anyone have any advice for this? I have contacted co2art, just waiting for a response.
These are my main questions at the moment, they’re a bit of a mix but I’m really hoping someone may be able to point out what I’m doing wrong or whether some of this is normal. I’m actually really enjoying having a planted tank despite all of this as I like the challenge, however, I don’t want my plants and fish to suffer in the process so all advice is welcome
(Cables in the pic were close to the tank as I turned off the filter to feed the fish and the tank currently has a 1cm overhang but I’ve ordered some 18ml ply till the custom tank is built, and it has soft felt attached to the bottom)