About Ready to go

[martinphillip03]

I am excited about my first plant. A 55 gallon.
I have bought a 6700k 130 watt power compact, glass hood. 15 lb co2 bottle. A very nice regulator with solenoid and needle valve.
On order from Smith and Foster 12 small sweetwater stones.
From Dave Gomberg, 2 "Gomberg" co2 valves with one T. 20 foot co2 tubing. ( Tom highly recommended them, and if you only order a couple, with shipping they are cheaper)
From the local fish store, 2 bubble counters, and a mess of plants.

My plan is to run two sweetwater stones in the tank. Both on a one bubble a second cycle. My canister filter will push one of the bubbles, a small power will push the other.
Lights will be on for 14 hours. Co2 will be turned off 1/2 hour before the lights. Turned on 15 minutes before.
Now I have to learn about fertilization!
If there are any resevations on my plan, please feel free to speak up. Thats why I joined this board. I am estatic that Tom did this.
Thank you,

Marty

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: About Ready to go

I'd cut the light to no more than 11 hours.
You are fine with the CO2 routine though.

That's the greatest challenge for new folks.
Good plan, dial, in the CO2 with the pH/KH relationship and then tweak further from there slowly.

Ferts are easy:

What is your GH?

You can add about 1/2 teaspoon once a week of the SeaChem Equilibrium or Greg Watson's GH builder once a week if you do not know or if it's low/you are unsure.

KNO3: 1/2 teaspoon, 2x a week
KH2PO4: 1/8" teaspoon 2x a week
Traces: TMG or Flourish 10-15mls 2-3x a week

50% water change a week(you may be able to skip a week here or there without issue)

Plant the tank to the gills, to the point it's hard to cram another plant in the gravel. This will help.

Use the dirt from the old or existing tank's gravel to seed the new gravel/filter.

Prune and keep clean.

That will get you started.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[martinphillip03]

Re: About Ready to go

Tom, Both my KH and GH are naturally low. About 3 drops each on the test kits. I was going to raise the Kh by using Baking soda. From what I read I was going to raise it to 4 or 5 drops.
What is Greg Watson GH builder. Should I go to his website and buy it or can I make it myself? How much higher should my GH be?

Thank you for the input

Marty

That's the greatest challenge for new folks.
Good plan, dial, in the CO2 with the pH/KH relationship and then tweak further from there slowly.

Ferts are easy:

What is your GH?

You can add about 1/2 teaspoon once a week of the SeaChem Equilibrium or Greg Watson's GH builder once a week if you do not know or if it's low/you are unsure.

KNO3: 1/2 teaspoon, 2x a week
KH2PO4: 1/8" teaspoon 2x a week
Traces: TMG or Flourish 10-15mls 2-3x a week


Regards,
Tom Barr[/QUOTE]

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: About Ready to go

Leave the KH alone.
Add about 1/2 teaspoons of gregwatson.com Gh builder, 1-2x a week for GH.
You could likely just add about 1/2 treaspoon of Epsom salt, 2x a week instead of the Gh builder also, that would be cheaper and easier.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[martinphillip03]

Re: About Ready to go

Tom, Went to Greg's website and bought the GH builder, KNO3, and the KH2PO4. I bought the Flourish at the petstore.

Thanks

Marty

Leave the KH alone.
Add about 1/2 teaspoons of gregwatson.com Gh builder, 1-2x a week for GH.
You could likely just add about 1/2 treaspoon of Epsom salt, 2x a week instead of the Gh builder also, that would be cheaper and easier.

Regards,
Tom Barr