Newbie with algae issues

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mrkookm

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I have the drop checker in the tank, and it was green yesterday, a few hours after sticking it in the tank
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Erk the placement of the checker is important, mount it too close to your Co2 diffusion source and this can give you a "false" reading, the opposite side to where the diff is usually best in my experience.
 
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Erk

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Thanks mrkookm I have an inline reactor on my cannister, and the spray bar is on the right side of the tank, about an inch below the water surface pointed up and on a slight 6* angle left. The drop checker is on the left wall about 3 inches below the water surface.

Do people dose their ferts in the morning with the lights off? Like during feeding time in the am, so the ferts are in the water column before the lights come on, so the plants can use them when the lights come on? Otherwise it will be about 530pm before I get to put the ferts in the tank

Thanks again
 
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Erk

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The dry ferts arrived at work today...cant wait to get home, and dose something! lol!

I got the CSM+B Plantex, potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate, and mono potassium phosphate. From what I gather on here, nobody really doses the potassium sulfate?

I also read its ok to dose these dry straight into the tank. Thats what I would like to do, although I will prolly mix it with some tank water, just to dissolve things a lil bit.

Can these be dosed with the lights off, or is that a no no?

Thanks very much
 
VaughnH

VaughnH

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Fertilizing is like sex! There are lots of satisfactory ways to dose fertilizers. They all work. I just dose mine dry, pretty soon after the lights come on, but sometimes a few hours later. With EI you are aiming to keep enough in the water at all times, so the timing during the light cycle isn't at all critical.

Ok, so fertilizing isn't like sex.
 
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Erk

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Thanks very much VaughnH:D

I will prolly dose it in the am, until things start to happen, then I can prolly relax on the timing of getting the ferts in there.

hahaha....i like your thinking tho:D

Thank you
 
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Erk

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I dosed the CSM+B this morning, with lights off. I noticed last night after dosing the dry macros, these bubbles from the substrate rising up to the water surface, and I havent seen that in some time. I know this can be caused from damaged stems and roots also, but it was nice to see...I guess things are perking up. The drop checker is green, and Im guessing Im about a bubble per second in the bubble counter.....its fairly slow.

I checked the pH last night when the co2 shut off (an hour before the lights) and it was a lil lighter then 6.8 but not 6.6, and its normally 7.0, so not too bad of a swing:) Should I increase my bps very slowly, while waiting for the surface skimmer? I didnt even order it yet, but like I said....backorder until the 13th:( But I do plan on getting one!

Thanks very much....this is a very helpful website! You ladies and gents know your stuff
 
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Professor Myers

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Aug 24, 2006
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Erk;17814 said:
Also, with the skimmer, should I order the one for up to 55 gal, or 75 gallon?

Thanks
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I'm sure the smaller unit would work just fine. It depends more on how much volume you're presently moving through the tank ? For skimming purposes sometimes the lower flow rate is more efficient as it concentrates the surface tension for better adhesion. The mechanics of surface skimming are entirely dependent on the "actual" volume within the system.

I tend to isolate components in the system for point of purpose. This allows me to cut to the chase when trouble shooting water chemistry. IE: Mechanical, Biological, Chemical, Technological/Sterilization, Reduction etc...;) So I would probably focus on the skimming performance and disregard circulation. HTH. Prof M
 
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Erk

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Thanks Professor M....I will order the skimmer for up to 55 gallon very soon...Im very excited to get these plants growing and having happy healthy fish, with only having to dose ferts, PRUNE, and the weekly water change:)

Thanks again for your help
 
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Professor Myers

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Frolicsome_Flora;17821 said:
Prof@

are you suggesting a skimmer because of the fish load and discus? just curious :)
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Yes Primarily because of the Livestock/Discus for higher o2 exchange, and many of the foods Discus eat are laden with fats, and proteins that choke the waters surface. Other than that I've become a firm believer in skimmers over the years, and I especially like the mechanical efficiency of utilizing natural phenomenon to achieve those ends. Discus thrive on High o2 yet their own preferred temperature, water chemistry, and feed continually put them at odds in a closed system. In nature they enjoy a luxury of dilution a hobbiest could never provide.

Over the years the trends come and go, but somehow people seem to glean individual details whilst the rest zip right by them. Co2 injection IS a boon for live planted aquaria, but Plants DO require o2 as well. Once you throw livestock into the mix what was once a simple balance of chemistry becomes a great deal more complex. Often at the fishes expense, and ultimately our own $$$ ;)

Edit: FTR it really doesn't take much skimmer to get the job done. The problem for the retail consumer is sorting through the elaborate Rube Goldberg Devices on the market to find the best combination of economy, and simplicity. I have owned virtually all of them currently on the market, and even designed a few of them. I personally was quite impressed by the simplicity, and performance of the Bio-System units. I do loath shills, but perhaps it's best to give credit when credit is due ? These units work extremely well for the price point, and perhaps even exceed the performance of several costing a great deal more. Someone deserves a bit of thanks for a job Well Done ! :)
 
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Frolicsome_Flora

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Professor Myers;17822 said:
Yes Primarily because of the Livestock/Discus for higher o2 exchange, and many of the foods Discus eat are laden with fats, and proteins that choke the waters surface. Other than that I've become a firm believer in skimmers over the years, and I especially like the mechanical efficiency of utilizing natural phenomenon to achieve those ends. Discus thrive on High o2 yet their own preferred temperature, water chemistry, and feed continually put them at odds in a closed system. In nature they enjoy a luxury of dilution a hobbiest could never provide.

Over the years the trends come and go, but somehow people seem to glean individual details whilst the rest zip right by them. Co2 injection IS a boon for live planted aquaria, but Plants DO require o2 as well. Once you throw livestock into the mix what was once a simple balance of chemistry becomes a great deal more complex. Often at the fishes expense, and ultimately our own $$$ ;)
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one day when im brave and rich ill do a discuss tank.. stunning fish
 
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Professor Myers

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Frolicsome_Flora;17823 said:
one day when im brave and rich ill do a discuss tank.. stunning fish
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I Do admire nice Discus, but there is a significant part of me that becomes quite disturbed by the Selective Genetic Bastardization of God's creatures. Give me a simple grip of Altum Angels and Lots O' green Any Day !!! :cool:

Only a human being could be arrogant enough to try and improve the Majesty of Nature...:rolleyes:
 
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Erk

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Yes I do enjoy having these fish! i have kept a few different species over the years, but this time around I wanted to do discus, and then during my research, I read they like live plants...which was another first for me, so here I am. The discus themselves seem great! Outside of me messing with their O2 levels trying to get the co2 down, but now I feel I have less co2 being pumped in then before, and the checker is a nice shade of green to tell me things are good, so I can relax about it, and let things "happen"

Im sure if I can do it, any of you ladies and gents could do it

Im soooo focused on my plants its crazy, and I think my friends that dont have fish tanks think im nutso, but thats ok......now if I could just see some results, my impatient self would be much happier! hahaha.....good things take time I know

This is the link to where I ordered my babies from.....it was quite the trip for them, but they a great job, and have been doing great so far....when I feel my tank is a lil more "up-to-par" I will get some pics up here of them and the tank

Images, Mac's Discus, Discus Fish Breeder

Thanks everyone for your help
 
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Erk

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Jun 28, 2007
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I guess Im gonna do the 3day blackout tomorrow, since wednesdays used to be one of my normal water change days in the past when I would do two a week

Im curious....ive read on here about doing daily water changes and adding a lot of seachem excel. Can I do the water change tomorrow turn lights out afterwards, and hang up some trash bags until saturday and do another water change? Using excel daily? Since I use RO water, and only got the 24gpd model, I cant really get water fast enough to do daily water changes?

I could just add the excel when I feed? Or am I not feeding during the blackout either?

Im gonna miss them for a lil bit, but its for the best, and I can get back to growing plants....I see new growth on the glosso, the giant hygro, banana plant, both tiger lotus, and the rotala mac....its not much at all, but I do see it, so I guess now is a good time? Have the dry ferts? So guess Im ready to "start over" haha

Any suggestions?

Thanks very much:)
 
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Erk

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blackout in effect until saturday.....feeding lightly. Havent dosed excel yet. Gonna place my order for the skimmer today too:)

Im curious to see what things look like when I take the trash bags off

Also, should I dose excel, with riccia, or no?

Thanks again very much
Eric
 
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Erk

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Jun 28, 2007
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Thanks very much Flora.....I didnt know I wasnt supposed to feed the fish:(

Maybe I will let the blackout go until sunday then to make up for feeding lightly last night and this am so far

No excel either

Thanks for the tips
Eric
 
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