Deficiency?

ltb420

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Your UV sterilizer may actually be taking some of the chelated iron out of solution so a deficiency may be more in order. Dose the water become slightly hazy after trace dosing?
 
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There are thread here that note that plants don't do well with both CO2 and glut.


Also, 2-3bps is relatively meaningless. I used 2-3 bps in my 10gallon and 3-4bps in my 60gallon to get the same concentration of CO2.

How do you explain the tank running better with less CO2 though?
I don't know enough of your observations or how accurate they are to make any kind of judgement call.
 

bcarl_26gal

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No I do not notice a haze, the UV sterilizer comes one periodically through out the day in intervals of a couple of hours.
 

ltb420

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While iron test kits are not very accurate it can at least tell you if there is some iron present.
 

ltb420

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CO2 being one of the most important nutrients, if it is deficient it will slow all other nutrient uptake. This is what causes most cases of stunted plants. Color may also be an issue as trace elements are also not being taken in normally due to the carbon deficiency.
 

Pikez

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This forum is very pro-high CO2. If your CO2 is spiky, then fix that. Since you have it on 24/7, I doubt it's spiky. Try higher CO2 if you must. I doubt you will find that it's the solution to your problem. If you have issues at an even and steady 25-30 ppm CO2, you're not going to fix it at 50 or 60. I think Solcielo is right about high light. BML is powerful. Cut it back to 30 or 40%. I'd stop the glut. Toss the liquid ferts. Get teeny tiny spoons and go with dry ferts. Go very, very light on ferts. I still think you're killing them with kindness. Hard to hurt plants with macros in slight excess if you do big water changes, but traces can hurt them before you get around to water changes. That's been my experience.
 

Tom Barr

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Flow, filtration, degassing rates, surface scum formation, Temps, all impact CO2 and BBA.


 

Tom Barr

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Red mac is easy, high light helps, but the type of light also helps. T5's will give you better red color IME.
 

ltb420

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CO2 is much easier to manage at lower light levels but those that run high light tanks CO2 can become deficient as plant mass increases. Most just set CO2 and forget it then as plant mass increases your CO2 levels may now not be enogh. Setting CO2 to a slight excess just accounts for the extra CO2 required as plants fill in. We usually set CO2 levels with very few plants then as things fill in the problems start. By no means should you use CO2 at levels that would harm your live stock. ADA light levels are actually surprisingly low and yet they grow all of the light and CO2 hungry forground plants without issue. I feel that is because CO2 is much more manageable with light at the 50 PAR level. With all that said the mertricide may still be the culprit. Metricide14 is 2.6% glut while excel is only 1.5%.
 

bcarl_26gal

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Thank you guys for all the help. So I have upped the CO2, when the tank was running well I mistakenly had 6dKH solution in the drop checker that was kept at lime green. This would amount to much higher Co2 than I have. I am going to watch the tips of the mini and that should be pretty telling. I am going to leave the lights dimmed at about 50% until I can get the balance with that lightning level/Co2 then we can debate a slight increase.


As for the glut, I have removed it from my regimen. I do not see much benefit in adding it and at the end of the day it is a harmful chemical.


I am looking into upgrading to a 5lb tank with a better regulator because paintball may be too small and the aquatek regulator is inconsistent and just low quality. Also working on finishing building my reactor which should help make diffusion even more efficient.


Thank you again for all your help!
 

bcarl_26gal

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Quick update, I have been cranking the CO2 way up the past few days. The tips of the mini look better but still slightly curling. Also I attached a picture of the same stem of R.Macandra thats now green. What do you guys think more CO2 or just give it time? I know the drop checker is not a great indication but it has been yellow, fish are still happy.




View attachment 10181

View attachment 10182

IMG_1130_zpsnucpbfl4.jpg


IMG_1129_zpsmcfof7kc.jpg
 

bcarl_26gal

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The ludwigia is still showing green in the tips of the new growth which is unusual, but it its not distorted. Any thoughts? Do they just need more time?
 

onlycrimson

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Bcarl, I've had very similar issue to you. I have a thread at that other plant forum as well. I have a 12 Gallon long with eco complete, a Planted Plus light and I dose EI with pressurized Co2. My S. Repens developed the clear parts in the leaves after a week and then my Hygro started doing it after like 3 weeks of amazing growth. I'm still in the midst of the problem, but my theory is I drove the tank too hard at the beginning with the light right over the shallow tank. I think the Repens were stunned a bit right from that and there were not enough nutrients to keep up with the continued growth. Same thing with the Hygro is my guess and the Ludwigia Repens it is also happening too. Oddly enough many of my other plants don't have the issue, like my AR mini. I have my Co2 cranked and have upped my dosing and I'm hoping that the problem will eventually stop. I have also raised my light to reduce intensity. Anyways, thought I would chime in because of the similarities.
 

bcarl_26gal

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I will say, in my case I think the star repens was due to the lack of CO2. Since adding more CO2 I have a few stems that look very promising. The AR mini is less stunted and are starting to look better. The lack of coloration in the red plants is concerning. I have to CO2 up very high and I don't want to jeopardize my fish by raising it much furthers especially if I do not need to. Its weird though some ludwigia almost turns to like the color of the statute of liberty...
 

bcarl_26gal

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Quick update, not much has changed since the last picture. The CO2 is around 70ppm according to my drop checkers. The fish are still fine and look comfortable with that much CO2. The ludwigia has not changed over the last few days. Should I continue to increase CO2 or will I not see much change if I go higher? Flow looks good all plants have a slight sway. Any suggestions?
 

bcarl_26gal

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Nov 11, 2014
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I agree.... I dose one ML of flourish iron in addition to about 2 ML of traces which is the standard pps pro mix. I am waiting on some chleated iron to come in. I also havent used the sterilizer in a while so it no longer messes with the iron.
 

Pikez

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bcarl_26gal said:
Quick update, not much has changed since the last picture. The CO2 is around 70ppm according to my drop checkers. The fish are still fine and look comfortable with that much CO2. The ludwigia has not changed over the last few days. Should I continue to increase CO2 or will I not see much change if I go higher? Flow looks good all plants have a slight sway. Any suggestions?

If a steady/even 25 ppm didn't fix things, a steady/even 70 ppm will not either. The key being steady/even CO2.