Going from High Light to Low Light

[dkarmona]

I changed my co2 tank and my regulator stopped working, maybe I broke it, I don't know yet. But the thing is I had 3.9W/gallon and I inmediatly reduced the light to 1 W/gallon, I though i was going to be able to solve the problem fast. Now I have 1.9W/gallon and don't have CO2, how should I change my dosing amounts?

My thank is 250 lt, I have Java Fern, Hygrophila Corymbosa, Sagittaria Subulata, Alternathera Reineckii (This one doesn't grow) and some crypts.
I change 50% water weekly.

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: Going from High Light to Low Light

Don't change the water.
Add only small amounts, about 5-10x less of nutrients(just once a week).

Allow the tank to be over grown.

You can trim it back when you get CO2 again(or are you not planning on getting CO2 later?)

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[dkarmona]

Re: Going from High Light to Low Light

Jejeje, i got used to changing the water everyweek and now i don't have to, this NON CO2 seems nice since I am so lazy.

I read the Thread non co2 methods and it is definitely very interesting.

But I have the following questions:
1. How does the fish load influence this non co2, I will guess it is for a low load, and currently I have two blue gouramis, 3 dwarf cichilds (not so dwarf if you ask me), two pelvicachromis pulcher, 2 rosy barbs, 1 cherry barb, 4 platys, 62 gallons, that seems like a high load, i don't know.
2. Since You don't change water does this method rely more on test kits?, i don't like, and won't use them until I make some reference solutions. Of course I have cheap test kits.

I guess there could be a middle road, if i get back the co2 i could still use low light, co2 and weekly water changes. I can have the following light levels
0.9 W/gal
1.9 W/gal
2.9 W/gal
3.9 W/gal

Moving in the 0.9-1.9w/gal makes co2 useless and just a big waste? Currently my tank after a week looks nicer than when I had 3.9w and co2, algae seem to grow faster at that light levels, specially some brown stuff on the leaves and green stuff on the glass. I was winning my battle over brush algae, that black stuff was finally not growing anymore, but it seemed I changed one alge for the other.

I don't have working regulator and don't know when I am going to have co2 again and since it seems easier to take care of the tank at this light levels I guess I don't want to raise them to much when I have the co2 back.

Thanks Tom