Hi Guys,
Hope everyone is well!
Im writing out of a little bit of desperation as after nearly 5 years in fishkeeping I still cant get my tank right and I struggle to grow some typs of plants and keep algae at bay. I'll give a detailed run through of what i'm running and the problems I'm having. I'm after setup suggestions, investment suggestions and any other suggestions to help my experience.
The tank: 180l Juwel Rio
Lighting - 4 x T8 for 9 hours per day
Filtration: Eheim Pro 2 (850lph) Tetratec Ex1200 (1200lph) koralia powerhead (1000lph). Both filters have spray bar outlets
CO2: 5kg FE with JBL regulator using an Aquamas inline reactor
Dosing: EI as per theplantedtank.co.uk
Configuration is as follows:
TT EX1200 has the inline reactor on its outlet going to the left of the tank. The inlet is on the left.
Eheim has outlet on the right of the tank with the inlet on the left.
This is done so that the enheim, which does not have a CO2 input to it, pulls in CO2 rich water and outputs it to the other side of the tank.
Both spraybars point forward to the front of the tank. The koralia blows form left to right.
Problems:
I seem to hit an equilibrium with the external reactor. I can't put any more CO2 in because the filter isn't putting enough water through it and I quickly get a large gas buildup. I can only see a more powerful filter being the answer to this but I'm open to suggestions.
I'm growing most plants OK but older parts of the stem plants have the leafs die off and I have been told this is down to CO2/flow issues.
Algae, mostly BBA at the moment, is also an issue. I'm getting some SEA's to help with this but I'd like to be able to have a clean tank without the need for a clean-up crew!
Based on this, if there was something you could change, what would it be? Investments have to be kept to a minimum.
All help is greatly apreciated!
Hope everyone is well!
Im writing out of a little bit of desperation as after nearly 5 years in fishkeeping I still cant get my tank right and I struggle to grow some typs of plants and keep algae at bay. I'll give a detailed run through of what i'm running and the problems I'm having. I'm after setup suggestions, investment suggestions and any other suggestions to help my experience.
The tank: 180l Juwel Rio
Lighting - 4 x T8 for 9 hours per day
Filtration: Eheim Pro 2 (850lph) Tetratec Ex1200 (1200lph) koralia powerhead (1000lph). Both filters have spray bar outlets
CO2: 5kg FE with JBL regulator using an Aquamas inline reactor
Dosing: EI as per theplantedtank.co.uk
Configuration is as follows:
TT EX1200 has the inline reactor on its outlet going to the left of the tank. The inlet is on the left.
Eheim has outlet on the right of the tank with the inlet on the left.
This is done so that the enheim, which does not have a CO2 input to it, pulls in CO2 rich water and outputs it to the other side of the tank.
Both spraybars point forward to the front of the tank. The koralia blows form left to right.
Problems:
I seem to hit an equilibrium with the external reactor. I can't put any more CO2 in because the filter isn't putting enough water through it and I quickly get a large gas buildup. I can only see a more powerful filter being the answer to this but I'm open to suggestions.
I'm growing most plants OK but older parts of the stem plants have the leafs die off and I have been told this is down to CO2/flow issues.
Algae, mostly BBA at the moment, is also an issue. I'm getting some SEA's to help with this but I'd like to be able to have a clean tank without the need for a clean-up crew!
Based on this, if there was something you could change, what would it be? Investments have to be kept to a minimum.
All help is greatly apreciated!