Plz Help Me. Im Begging... I Feel Like I Don't Know What Else To Do.

BettaBeGood · Oct 29, 2020

I have a 40breeder
Pressurized co2
Fluval stratum substrate
122watts total 11inches over h2o =
2finnex 24/7planted plus crv models and =
1beamswork da fspec
Nilocg diy ei mix with ex added iron per rotala butterfly
Ph 6.5
Kh 3.5
Gh 5
Temp 73 74f
8hr photo period

Plz help my plants are stunted and twisted and looks like there dehydrated if that makes sense.

Seattle_Aquarist · Nov 6, 2020

Hi @BettaBeGood,

That is a lot of light over a 40 gallon tank. Do you measure your nitrogen level? If so what is it? Hopefully it is 10 ppm or higher.

Based upon the curled under (cupped) leaf margins on recently matured leaves and the interveinal chlorosis on your older leaves in the top picture if the issue isn't nitrate (NO3) related I would suspect insufficient available magnesium (Mg). Try adding sufficient Seachem Equilibrium to increase the dGH by 2.0 degrees and maintain that higher dGH level when you do your water changes. Seachem Equilibrium contains potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and manganese.

Do an initial dose of one (1) tablespoon to your tank. This should increase the hardness by about 2.0 dGH. Thereafter, when you do your weekly water change, add one (1) teaspoon per 10 gallons of new water added to the tank.

Then watch the new growth over the next four weeks; do not watch any existing leaves they will not improve and may continue to decline. Do the new leaves emerge more flat with better color and size? Does the growth rate improve? Do the plants maintain their healthy color and shape as they mature? If so then you are on the right path. Hope this helps! -Roy

BettaBeGood · Nov 6, 2020

Seattle_Aquarist said:
Hi @BettaBeGood,

That is a lot of light over a 40 gallon tank. Do you measure your nitrogen level? If so what is it? Hopefully it is 10 ppm or higher.

Based upon the curled under (cupped) leaf margins on recently matured leaves and the interveinal chlorosis on your older leaves in the top picture if the issue isn't nitrate (NO3) related I would suspect insufficient available magnesium (Mg). Try adding sufficient Seachem Equilibrium to increase the dGH by 2.0 degrees and maintain that higher dGH level when you do your water changes. Seachem Equilibrium contains potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and manganese.

Do an initial dose of one (1) tablespoon to your tank. This should increase the hardness by about 2.0 dGH. Thereafter, when you do your weekly water change, add one (1) teaspoon per 10 gallons of new water added to the tank.

Then watch the new growth over the next four weeks; do not watch any existing leaves they will not improve and may continue to decline. Do the new leaves emerge more flat with better color and size? Does the growth rate improve? Do the plants maintain their healthy color and shape as they mature? If so then you are on the right path. Hope this helps! -Roy

Ty so much for replying... I see on here you help a lot of people or at least try.. but yes I just tested nitrates. I tested about 30 to 40ppm. 3days ago also I took off 1 of the beamswork da fspec fixtures off and am now only working with the 2 finnex planted plus crv models total of 70watts both at full power suspended 6to8inches over water surface. I also started dosing seachem equilibrium 2 water changes ago. Prior my gh was 5. Now its at about 8.5 to 9gh. I'd be lying if I said it doesn't look a lil better yet again I took that 3rd beamswork fixture off maybe 3days ago.. so I'm gonna give it a week. WILL YOU PLEASE BE MY PLANTED AQUARIUM GURU!!!!??

BettaBeGood · Nov 26, 2020

Seattle_Aquarist said:
Hi @BettaBeGood,

That is a lot of light over a 40 gallon tank. Do you measure your nitrogen level? If so what is it? Hopefully it is 10 ppm or higher.

Based upon the curled under (cupped) leaf margins on recently matured leaves and the interveinal chlorosis on your older leaves in the top picture if the issue isn't nitrate (NO3) related I would suspect insufficient available magnesium (Mg). Try adding sufficient Seachem Equilibrium to increase the dGH by 2.0 degrees and maintain that higher dGH level when you do your water changes. Seachem Equilibrium contains potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and manganese.

Do an initial dose of one (1) tablespoon to your tank. This should increase the hardness by about 2.0 dGH. Thereafter, when you do your weekly water change, add one (1) teaspoon per 10 gallons of new water added to the tank.

Then watch the new growth over the next four weeks; do not watch any existing leaves they will not improve and may continue to decline. Do the new leaves emerge more flat with better color and size? Does the growth rate improve? Do the plants maintain their healthy color and shape as they mature? If so then you are on the right path. Hope this helps! -Roy

I've been dosing 30 ml of seachem equilibrium per 20gal of replaced h2o on WC day and still curling. Am I dosing to much now?

Seattle_Aquarist · Nov 26, 2020

Hi BettaBeGood,

"Do an initial dose of one (1) tablespoon to your tank. This should increase the hardness by about 2.0 dGH. Thereafter, when you do your weekly water change, add one (1) teaspoon per 10 gallons of new water added to the tank."

Seachem Equilibrium is a powder, how are you dosing 30 ml which is a liquid measure???

Have you been monitoring your hardness (dGH)?

BettaBeGood · Nov 27, 2020

I'm sorry for jumping back and forth. I promise I will do better. Ty for helping me.. I will do exactly what you directed me to do. I also take a little tank water and pre mix the equilibrium to help dissolve it a lil faster/break it down

BettaBeGood · Nov 27, 2020

And no I have not been maintaining my gh test like I should.. I will do it weekly or do you suggest more

Seattle_Aquarist · Nov 27, 2020

Hi @BettaBeGood

You indicated that the dGH of your tap water is 5.0, what is the current dGH of your tank?
-Roy

BettaBeGood · Nov 27, 2020

7.5 out of tap
Tank currently at 13dgh
I should have monitored more... smh

BettaBeGood · Nov 27, 2020

Seattle_Aquarist said:
Hi @BettaBeGood

You indicated that the dGH of your tap water is 5.0, what is the current dGH of your tank?
-Roy

My tap dgh moved it is currently at 7.5 to 8

BettaBeGood · Nov 27, 2020

I also suspect some of the curling and stunted was due to insufficient Co2 from what I have read from the forum. But for the last two weeks my co2 is 35 to 45 per ph and kh scale and DC is lime color 1 hr into photo period and slowly climbs up without fish gasping at surface for air

BettaBeGood · Nov 27, 2020

Co2 comes on two hrs before lights come on
At the moment my DC photos were uploaded the lights have been on for 2hr 20mins

Seattle_Aquarist · Nov 27, 2020

BettaBeGood said:
7.5 out of tap
Tank currently at 13dgh
I should have monitored more... smh

Hi @BettaBeGood,

It is not uncommon for tap water dGH to vary over time due to periods of rain or drought. OK, let's do two (2) 50% water changes. Do one, wait two days, and do a second one. Do not add Equilibrium after these water changes.....we want to get your dGH back down to about your tap water level. Ideally we would like to keep your hardness at 2.0 -3.0 degrees higher than your tap water. We may change from dosing Seachem Equilibrium to dosing Epsom Salt (magnesium sulfate / MgSO4*7H2O). If your dGH is running 7.5 out of the tap it is likely that you have sufficient calcium in your local water supply and only need the magnesium.

It looks like there may be some issues with iron uptake. I have e-mailed Colin at nllocg.com to ask if the source of iron in the DIY EI Liquid Fertilizer is the Plantex CSM+B (The Estimative Index (EI) method typically uses CSM+B as micro-nutrient source including iron. CSM+B utilizes ETDA chelated iron which is fine in moderately acidic conditions however the iron rapidly become unavailable to plants as the pH approaches 7.0. At a pH of 7.2 only about 20% of the iron being dosed is available to the plants.

BettaBeGood · Nov 27, 2020

I will do exactly what you suggested... ty so much for doing everything your doing. So I usually dose iron when suggested 2hrs before co2 comes on. When is a good time do you think to dose ferts?? And I will also pick up some epson tomorrow .

BettaBeGood · Nov 27, 2020

I've literally been holding phone in hand waiting on a reply from you. Lol ty. Quick question do you do live chat via Facebook msger ?

BettaBeGood · Nov 27, 2020

When I do these WC's should I stick to my normal dosing regimen??

Seattle_Aquarist · Nov 27, 2020

BettaBeGood said:
When I do these WC's should I stick to my normal dosing regimen??

Yes, except no Seachem Equilibrium

BettaBeGood · Nov 28, 2020

Hello Sir... just keeping in contact.. I picked epson salt up. I plan on doing my 1st of 2. 50% WC tomorrow "Sunday" no seachem equilibrium

BettaBeGood · Nov 29, 2020

1st 50% WC done
3ml of API water conditioner added
72f 73f current temp
10ml of Nilocg D.I.Y E.I Mix Macro added
5ml of seachem excel added
later tonight after the photo period I will test GH of the tank.

Thank you so much for helping... im so excited to see what my tanks can look like!

Chris Noto · Nov 29, 2020

Solid work here, gentlemen. Carry on!

Plz Help Me. Im Begging... I Feel Like I Don't Know What Else To Do.

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