I have been aquascaping for a number of years with a 45P sized aquarium and have some knowledge of running planted tanks with CO2. Earlier this year I decided to upgrade and go for the Aquascaper 900 with Twinstar 900 III light system, Oase 850 Thermo with inline CO2 diffusion. Planted using Tropica Substrate and tropica plants. Riverwood used as decor. To say I have had a new tank nightmare is probably an under estimation. The first few weeks were absolutely fine, running the lights at 50% with some CO2 being injected. At this stage I didnt know how much was being injected in the tank.
After week 3, I noticed that some of the Elecharis Montevidenis grass going brown and dying off. After a few days, I decided to pull it out and saw that this had rotted. At the same time, I noticed that some of the Elocharis Mini Hairgrass has done the same. as the days progressed, I saw my buces melt and the leaves dropped off too. I spoke to the retailer and it was observed that possibly my CO2 was too low. I increased this and purchased some new plants, replanted and it happened again. I checked the CO2 levels and it appears they still may be too low with not enough CO2 getting around the tank.
Week Five and I have started to see some slight green algae appear - This was a tell tale sign that either my lights were too bright at 65%, still not enough CO2, or the fact plants were decaying causing an ammonia spike 0.25. I took action and started to do regular water changes, scrubbed the algae off, cut out all the decaying plants, reduced light to 50% and increased CO2 incrementally until the drop checker was green when lights come on.
I have measured the PH prior to lights coming on - so the schedule looks like this:
09:30 - PH 7.2 (using the API Test Kit)
10.30 - CO2 comes on
11:30 - PH 6.8
13:30 - Lights come on - PH 6.8
15:30 PH 6.6
Reduced the temp to 22.C and am dosing 5ml of APT Zero daily from 2HrAqaurist
I am at the monitoring stage now to see how things stabalise - but do you think the process above is right? Would anyone have done anything else?
After week 3, I noticed that some of the Elecharis Montevidenis grass going brown and dying off. After a few days, I decided to pull it out and saw that this had rotted. At the same time, I noticed that some of the Elocharis Mini Hairgrass has done the same. as the days progressed, I saw my buces melt and the leaves dropped off too. I spoke to the retailer and it was observed that possibly my CO2 was too low. I increased this and purchased some new plants, replanted and it happened again. I checked the CO2 levels and it appears they still may be too low with not enough CO2 getting around the tank.
Week Five and I have started to see some slight green algae appear - This was a tell tale sign that either my lights were too bright at 65%, still not enough CO2, or the fact plants were decaying causing an ammonia spike 0.25. I took action and started to do regular water changes, scrubbed the algae off, cut out all the decaying plants, reduced light to 50% and increased CO2 incrementally until the drop checker was green when lights come on.
I have measured the PH prior to lights coming on - so the schedule looks like this:
09:30 - PH 7.2 (using the API Test Kit)
10.30 - CO2 comes on
11:30 - PH 6.8
13:30 - Lights come on - PH 6.8
15:30 PH 6.6
Reduced the temp to 22.C and am dosing 5ml of APT Zero daily from 2HrAqaurist
I am at the monitoring stage now to see how things stabalise - but do you think the process above is right? Would anyone have done anything else?
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