Bacms
Member
- Joined
- 13 Aug 2015
- Messages
- 284
Hello everyone,
I have started my first planted tank about a month ago and I am still struggling with algae. First it was diatoms now blue/green algae and some filaments of green algae. So I have decided to take action and buy a pH probe. Most people say I should aim to a 1 pH unit drop, which looking at the CO2/pH/Kh table makes sense.
The problem I have been having is that to get a full unit drop my CO2 drop checker is way into yellow and I am worried I will asphyxiate any critter I will introduce.
My missus have been at home this week and I have asked her to keep measuring the pH during the day. This is the results I have got for the last 2 days:
before bed pH measurement -> 7.2
before CO2 on (6am)-> 7.2/7.3
Lights on (10am)-> 6.8(lime green drop checker)
11:47 am -> 6.7 (yellow drop checker)
13:02 -> 6.6
13:53 -> 6.4/6.5
14:00 CO2 off -> No measurement
16:00 (Lights off) -> 6.7
Reduced CO2 and light to try and prevent the drop during day to make it safe for the 6 ottos I introduce yesterday so wanted to be sure I didn't kill them.
before bed pH measurement -> 7.4
6am (CO2 on) -> NA
8am -> 6.9
9am -> 6.8
10am -> 6.8/6.7 (Lime green drop checker)
11am -> 6.7
12am -> 6.5
13:00 -> 6.7 (probably a bad measurement)
14:00 (CO2 off)-> 6.3
16:00 Lights off -> 6.8
Based on these readings I am not even close to get 1unit of drop by lights on but the pH continues dropping during the photoperiod so I would assume I need to lower the bubble rate and start earlier, but my main problem is that I already have a yellow drop checker and don't want to kill the ottos and most certainly don't want to kill the amano shrimp when I add them later this week.
BTW distribution is via in-line diffuser with a spray bar. I can see bubbles all around the tank lower in the corners and substrate level which is where the drop checker is placed. Also ottos seem to not care at all during today light period even with the drop checker on yellow but I am worried this may have long term effects.
So question is what am I doing wrong? I also use a sodastream bottle in about 2 weeks so I am injecting quite a lot of CO2.
I have started my first planted tank about a month ago and I am still struggling with algae. First it was diatoms now blue/green algae and some filaments of green algae. So I have decided to take action and buy a pH probe. Most people say I should aim to a 1 pH unit drop, which looking at the CO2/pH/Kh table makes sense.
The problem I have been having is that to get a full unit drop my CO2 drop checker is way into yellow and I am worried I will asphyxiate any critter I will introduce.
My missus have been at home this week and I have asked her to keep measuring the pH during the day. This is the results I have got for the last 2 days:
before bed pH measurement -> 7.2
before CO2 on (6am)-> 7.2/7.3
Lights on (10am)-> 6.8(lime green drop checker)
11:47 am -> 6.7 (yellow drop checker)
13:02 -> 6.6
13:53 -> 6.4/6.5
14:00 CO2 off -> No measurement
16:00 (Lights off) -> 6.7
Reduced CO2 and light to try and prevent the drop during day to make it safe for the 6 ottos I introduce yesterday so wanted to be sure I didn't kill them.
before bed pH measurement -> 7.4
6am (CO2 on) -> NA
8am -> 6.9
9am -> 6.8
10am -> 6.8/6.7 (Lime green drop checker)
11am -> 6.7
12am -> 6.5
13:00 -> 6.7 (probably a bad measurement)
14:00 (CO2 off)-> 6.3
16:00 Lights off -> 6.8
Based on these readings I am not even close to get 1unit of drop by lights on but the pH continues dropping during the photoperiod so I would assume I need to lower the bubble rate and start earlier, but my main problem is that I already have a yellow drop checker and don't want to kill the ottos and most certainly don't want to kill the amano shrimp when I add them later this week.
BTW distribution is via in-line diffuser with a spray bar. I can see bubbles all around the tank lower in the corners and substrate level which is where the drop checker is placed. Also ottos seem to not care at all during today light period even with the drop checker on yellow but I am worried this may have long term effects.
So question is what am I doing wrong? I also use a sodastream bottle in about 2 weeks so I am injecting quite a lot of CO2.