Re: "In The Arms of Cthulhu" - 180L - 31st Jan - Over Flow
Hi,
Thought I should update everyone on the progress of this one while I set up the low light DIY job.
It's amazing the speed things happen at jumping from the solid medium intensity light of my corner to the high light of this setup. Not only the growth rates of things like the stems and glosso but also the algae outbreaks come thick and fast.
In the first few weeks I got a lot of new tank setup stuff. A wave of diatoms, followed by a wave of staghorn. Both died down with some mechanical removal and steady increase of algae eating crews. Then a bout of green water, quickly fixed by a addition of a small UV filter internal I have kicking about that specific thing.
More recently I've been suffering from a bit of BBA on the rocks and wood along the front and more on the left side. This is coupled with a bit of green dust & fuzz algae on the sand and moss. All of which point to CO2 fluctuations or distribution.
Since I have A LOT of filtration on this set up I'm starting to form a theory that my CO2 reactor is more trouble then is good. Since it's removal on the corner tank and a switch to conventional ceramic diffuser any remaining algae on that set up has since disappeared. Now that could be down to improved flow rates on that set up but frankly now i'm getting it on this tank I think it could be something else.
When the CO2 enters the reactor it does so at the top of the chamber and then the water direction forces it downwards. This means that over the course of the day a CO2 pocket builds up which, when the CO2 goes off an hour before lights out, then gradually declines overnight. So basically my CO2 injection continues long after I actually stop the supply. In turn I think this leads to a larger CO2 fluctuation then I would get using a ceramic diffuser, causing BBA.
Initially i'm going to try solving this by modifying the timings a touch and reducing the amount I inject. But I think I'll probably end up switching the reactor out for a more traditional ceramic diffuser or an atomiser.
A couple of quick photos I took today after a big scrub clean yesterday to remove the BBA from the rocks -
The glosso was interesting to get carpeting. Initially I did not plant it correctly and a good amount of the plantletts shot up rather then creeping. Through a gradual process of trimming and replanting i've got it carpeting to a extent. Although it's not a densely packed as I'd like so far. It's had two complete trims now.
The hydrocotyle Japan is insane. Probably the fastest growing thing i've ever had in a tank. Still I'm liking the way it has filled out, although i've had to pull it out of every space during water changes.
The moss is a bit ragged in the photo as I've been scrubbing the wood a touch. I'm going to focus on the moss more when I've got the algae sorted out, trimming it to bush it out more. Initially the lower parts of the tied off moss were magnets for the staghorn as they died back.
The stems are on their second trimming and are just getting the pruned look. The Ludwigia Arcuata did not adjust very quickly to the new setup and got swallowed by the Rotala. I adjusted the planting and some stems are surviving at the back but I think I will end up pulling it out. I'll see how it all pans out.
Questions, comments, critique all welcome.
Best Regards,
John
Thanks! During set I was contemplating switching the branches to the other way around and doing "Cthulhu Sleeps".
