having a look at your pictures I can see that your filter outflow is pointing slightly downwards and it is not probably creating too much rippling on the water surface. The Koralia although being well positioned to create a nice circular flow, is also quite low IMO to be able to ripple the surface
Hi Jordi, thanks for your help!
Your right about the flow pattern. It is so strong leaving the outlet that it erodes the soil in the bottom right corner and the air in the drop checker actually 'wobbles' in the current.
flow by
pepedopolous, on Flickr
The Koralia, now pointing down, doesn't ripple the surface so much but I think it is the skimmer that provides a decent amount of rippling and degassing as it acts like a mini overflow...
P1270778 by
pepedopolous, on Flickr
It's a never ending chore to remove all the
Staurogyne leaves...
P1270775 by
pepedopolous, on Flickr
I think I have maximised flow by having minimal filter media (most importantly no floss) and as short as possible lengths of tubing.
PC057425 by
pepedopolous, on Flickr
P1270786 by
pepedopolous, on Flickr
If I didn't have decent degassing/agitation, I wouldn't have such a stable pH when the CO2 is on: -
pH profile by
pepedopolous, on Flickr
So, what is the
Staurogyne telling me? This pic is about a week old, when I was already a bit concerned about the leaves falling off: -
P1170539 by
pepedopolous, on Flickr
The roots go right to the bottom glass.
And now a pic from today. This Stauro is right in the path of the filter outflow in the bottom right corner. Wherever you look the water is carbonated!
P1270758 by
pepedopolous, on Flickr
Another shot to show the lemonade. CO2 bubbles are collecting under the
Microsorum leaves.
P1270755cr by
pepedopolous, on Flickr
Facing the filter outlet head on: -
P1270750 by
pepedopolous, on Flickr
More Stauro this time on the left hand side: -
P1270768 by
pepedopolous, on Flickr
P1270767 by
pepedopolous, on Flickr
The middle patch of
Staurogyne. It is now possible to see the stems and substrate where before there was simply loads of leaves.
P1270769 by
pepedopolous, on Flickr
I haven't changed the drop checker fluid in ages as I check the pH with a meter. The DC never goes blue, it's lime green when the CO2 is on: -
P1270788 by
pepedopolous, on Flickr
The force of the CO2 when it first comes on drives out the water in the bubble counter within days.
P1270784 by
pepedopolous, on Flickr
No leaks here?
P1270785 by
pepedopolous, on Flickr
The 'Monte Carlo' doesn't seem to care so much for CO2!
P1270789 by
pepedopolous, on Flickr
I've had this afternoon to look at the aquarium and the pH right now (18:00) is at 5.79. At 14:00 was about the same (5.82). It as only at about 17:00 that I noticed any fish at the surface. They are all there right now but to be honest I wonder if they are just hungry and also they all love the flow.
I know from bitter experience that when I push the CO2 too high, the Amano shrimps start jumping out. This hasn't happened yet with this scape.
So, I'm thinking I could increase the CO2 a bit more (when I refill the bubble counter!) and also maybe stop the CO2 earlier for the sake of the fish.
At the moment I stop it at 20:00, 2 hours before lights off. Maybe I could stop it 3 or even 4 hours before lights off?
My next task for this evening is to calibrate the pH meter again, do a KH test and get out the PITA Seneye to check the PAR again. I have NO algae and with many people running Aquaskys with 100+ PAR at the substrate, what harm can I do if I double the PAR to say 40?!
Thanks for looking,
P