Hi Everyone,
I'm having a few issues in my tank that I am hoping some of you might be able to shed some light on.
Background:
75 gal
KH: approx 4 - ph goes to 7.4 overnight with no CO2. During the day, ph at 6.4.
GH: approx 5
PO4: approx 3-5 ppm
NO3: approx 5-10 ppm
Pressurized CO2 with Atomic 75 mm diffuser which is located directly below a Koralia 750 circ. pump
Filtration - Eheim 2213 and 2217.
Currently dosing EI - used Wet's calc to determine solutions for KNO3 and KH2PO4 for a 70 gallon tank (took out 5 gallons for substrate, etc.)
Using Flourish Comp. for traces 16 mL per day. Occasionally use Seachem Trace instead (trying to get rid of it) along with about 7 mL Flourish Iron. Also dose the substrate with either Aquariumplants.com total pellets, Seachem Flourish tabs. Add Excel daily - 7 mL
I just changed my lighting from a Current Nova Extreme(ly loud) 4x54 to a beautiful ATI Dimming Sunpower 6x54. I know... way too much light, but there are dimmers!!! That way I can utilize numerous types of bulbs. Currently, while I'm still waiting for 4 bulb channel to burn in, I am following this schedule:
12 PM - 2 PM 0-50% (2 bulbs)
2 PM - 3 PM 100% (4 bulbs)
3 PM - 9 PM 100%-0% (2 bulbs)
I am currently growing "beginner" plants as I want to try to get these growing well before venturing out to get others. Amazon Swords, Rotala indica, Cabomba caroliniana, H. difformis and Ludwigia repens. Here are the issues:
Rotala indica - some new growth is stunted and the older leaves are getting brown patches/spots
H. difformis - some new growth abnormal. Older leaves get holes on edges and get GSA (maybe guppies and mollies are picking at the new growth)
L. Repens - lower leaves get a lot of GSA on them
Swords get a lot of GSA and they sometimes get clear patches on them.
Cabomba caroliniana - healthy
One thing I did recently was add about 22 grams of MgSO4 after a water change. This might have caused the H. difformis issues but not sure. However, since then I have only been using Aquavitro Mineralize or Equilibrium to raise GH. Water changes are at about 75-80% each week.
I know the first thing that will come to mind is CO2. I just don't see how I don't have enough though... I go through a 5 lb container of CO2 in less than a month and I pump anywhere from 4-6 bps through the diffuser. I think that there is really good flow between the Koralia 750 and the two Eheim filters. Lighting may be high... Trying to find out what the ideal PAR would be. I have a PAR meter. La di da, but don't know what values I should be looking for and where in the water column... substrate, middle and surface. Advice on this would be much appreciated.
I'm having a few issues in my tank that I am hoping some of you might be able to shed some light on.
Background:
75 gal
KH: approx 4 - ph goes to 7.4 overnight with no CO2. During the day, ph at 6.4.
GH: approx 5
PO4: approx 3-5 ppm
NO3: approx 5-10 ppm
Pressurized CO2 with Atomic 75 mm diffuser which is located directly below a Koralia 750 circ. pump
Filtration - Eheim 2213 and 2217.
Currently dosing EI - used Wet's calc to determine solutions for KNO3 and KH2PO4 for a 70 gallon tank (took out 5 gallons for substrate, etc.)
Using Flourish Comp. for traces 16 mL per day. Occasionally use Seachem Trace instead (trying to get rid of it) along with about 7 mL Flourish Iron. Also dose the substrate with either Aquariumplants.com total pellets, Seachem Flourish tabs. Add Excel daily - 7 mL
I just changed my lighting from a Current Nova Extreme(ly loud) 4x54 to a beautiful ATI Dimming Sunpower 6x54. I know... way too much light, but there are dimmers!!! That way I can utilize numerous types of bulbs. Currently, while I'm still waiting for 4 bulb channel to burn in, I am following this schedule:
12 PM - 2 PM 0-50% (2 bulbs)
2 PM - 3 PM 100% (4 bulbs)
3 PM - 9 PM 100%-0% (2 bulbs)
I am currently growing "beginner" plants as I want to try to get these growing well before venturing out to get others. Amazon Swords, Rotala indica, Cabomba caroliniana, H. difformis and Ludwigia repens. Here are the issues:
Rotala indica - some new growth is stunted and the older leaves are getting brown patches/spots
H. difformis - some new growth abnormal. Older leaves get holes on edges and get GSA (maybe guppies and mollies are picking at the new growth)
L. Repens - lower leaves get a lot of GSA on them
Swords get a lot of GSA and they sometimes get clear patches on them.
Cabomba caroliniana - healthy
One thing I did recently was add about 22 grams of MgSO4 after a water change. This might have caused the H. difformis issues but not sure. However, since then I have only been using Aquavitro Mineralize or Equilibrium to raise GH. Water changes are at about 75-80% each week.
I know the first thing that will come to mind is CO2. I just don't see how I don't have enough though... I go through a 5 lb container of CO2 in less than a month and I pump anywhere from 4-6 bps through the diffuser. I think that there is really good flow between the Koralia 750 and the two Eheim filters. Lighting may be high... Trying to find out what the ideal PAR would be. I have a PAR meter. La di da, but don't know what values I should be looking for and where in the water column... substrate, middle and surface. Advice on this would be much appreciated.
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