Hey I'm having this dilemma
Now my PH in my tap water is ~7.5 best I can tell from both high and low range PH test. And after sitting out the PH is 8.0. Now I had talked about this before and someone told me the reason this happens is that there is likely CO2 in the water in the pipes and it off gasses.
I have a GH/KH test kit but for the life of me cannot locate it. I tested once right when I got it and both GH/KH were ~20 IIRC and if I did it correct(the 1st drop counts also correct?) Never tested in the tank or after off gassed.
I know that CO2 fluctuations can occur from tap water from what I've read and there is info that says lower tech/non CO2 injected tanks may be better to not do as many water changes due to this.
Measuring CO2 levels in a Planted Tank
I also know about the phosphate throwing that chart out the window. I have a phosphate test kit on order, never tested.
Now my question is, can my CO2 in my tap water be like 10ppm straight out of the tap?
The reason I ask is this:
I have a 55G, was planning to go w/ the non CO2 methods of dosing that I found here in an article.
I had some issues so I had to do some water changes, I do them at least 4hrs before the lights come on or right after they go out. TO help CO2 fluctuations. But I think the CO2 levels linger for much longer.
Also I have green algae, hair/thread/fuzz and I try doing manual removal but I thought it was best to also do a vac/WC right after to remove the floating stuff as this stuff dissolves easily and not easy to remove(mostly wipe off). This is actually hurting my situation I believe.
My plants came from a CO2 injected higher light tank. I have a 55G with a great shoplight(best one I have seen, has a solid reflector) and I have 2x 32w T8 bulbs that I ODNO 2x them to get more out of.
I was thinking I was going crazy b/c some days the plants seemed to be catching on, then would be looking poor. I believe that this is due to CO2 from PWC's.
As I did a 12G WC the other day(2 days ago) and then the plants(lets talk about Rotala rotundifolia) were the best I have ever seen, pearling and standing up straight. This plant has been leaning over since I got it. The algae was not showing up on the driftwood either. Then one day later and no WC it is back to leaning over and I see bubbles on the wood and algae starting to grow.
This algae is nuts, it pearls everyday, all day. Like today after ~1hr of lights on I see pearling on the driftwood and its starting to take off again.
The only plant that has had good growth is the Nymphoides sp. 'Taiwan', it seems not to care as much about the CO2 fluctuations. I'm sure w/ CO2 it would shoot even faster towards the surface and grow new sprouts faster.
Am I going crazy or what? I know plants take like 6weeks to adapt to low CO2 environments, and I plan to not do any WC's but I have algae so its like I'm chasing my tail here.
I do have Excel on order so hopefully this will be a cure for the short term.
Also does anyone(Tom) have any input on a split lighting period(siesta) and if that is good for plants and bad for algae or just hogwash?
Help me!!
Thanks in advance. I have more to add, but I'm sure this will be long already
Now my PH in my tap water is ~7.5 best I can tell from both high and low range PH test. And after sitting out the PH is 8.0. Now I had talked about this before and someone told me the reason this happens is that there is likely CO2 in the water in the pipes and it off gasses.
I have a GH/KH test kit but for the life of me cannot locate it. I tested once right when I got it and both GH/KH were ~20 IIRC and if I did it correct(the 1st drop counts also correct?) Never tested in the tank or after off gassed.
I know that CO2 fluctuations can occur from tap water from what I've read and there is info that says lower tech/non CO2 injected tanks may be better to not do as many water changes due to this.
Measuring CO2 levels in a Planted Tank
I also know about the phosphate throwing that chart out the window. I have a phosphate test kit on order, never tested.
Now my question is, can my CO2 in my tap water be like 10ppm straight out of the tap?
The reason I ask is this:
I have a 55G, was planning to go w/ the non CO2 methods of dosing that I found here in an article.
I had some issues so I had to do some water changes, I do them at least 4hrs before the lights come on or right after they go out. TO help CO2 fluctuations. But I think the CO2 levels linger for much longer.
Also I have green algae, hair/thread/fuzz and I try doing manual removal but I thought it was best to also do a vac/WC right after to remove the floating stuff as this stuff dissolves easily and not easy to remove(mostly wipe off). This is actually hurting my situation I believe.
My plants came from a CO2 injected higher light tank. I have a 55G with a great shoplight(best one I have seen, has a solid reflector) and I have 2x 32w T8 bulbs that I ODNO 2x them to get more out of.
I was thinking I was going crazy b/c some days the plants seemed to be catching on, then would be looking poor. I believe that this is due to CO2 from PWC's.
As I did a 12G WC the other day(2 days ago) and then the plants(lets talk about Rotala rotundifolia) were the best I have ever seen, pearling and standing up straight. This plant has been leaning over since I got it. The algae was not showing up on the driftwood either. Then one day later and no WC it is back to leaning over and I see bubbles on the wood and algae starting to grow.
This algae is nuts, it pearls everyday, all day. Like today after ~1hr of lights on I see pearling on the driftwood and its starting to take off again.
The only plant that has had good growth is the Nymphoides sp. 'Taiwan', it seems not to care as much about the CO2 fluctuations. I'm sure w/ CO2 it would shoot even faster towards the surface and grow new sprouts faster.
Am I going crazy or what? I know plants take like 6weeks to adapt to low CO2 environments, and I plan to not do any WC's but I have algae so its like I'm chasing my tail here.
I do have Excel on order so hopefully this will be a cure for the short term.
Also does anyone(Tom) have any input on a split lighting period(siesta) and if that is good for plants and bad for algae or just hogwash?
Help me!!
Thanks in advance. I have more to add, but I'm sure this will be long already