Hello Tom;
I have a problem and need some direction...
My tank seems to be doing fine from a plant perspective I suppose... here is a fast pic I just snapped... (not a quality pic - just a fast snap) The tank has been running now for about 2 years.
OK - out of my tap and aged, my water is
I have no real algae growing except some in amongst the Java fern on the piece of wood... and the fish (Discus, cardinal tetras, Corries, and a bristlenose) are doing fine and have been in there now for the full 2 years+. I have NOT vacuumed the flourite (ever) so there is I am sure a lot of mulm down there.
Ok - I just tested my tank water... and at the moment it is....
OK - so needless to say the PH controller is not kicking in, and growth is slow. I am running an air-stone 24/7 at the moment... I tried running searches here at planted on dropped KH and PH etc.. but the search won't let you use "PH" and "KH" as terms as they are too short... (or I was unable to figure out how to do it)...
So I would rather NOT be fishing out the fish... but I think a gravel vacuuming is going to be required... any suggestions as to a good course of action to get this back on track?
The basics of the setup is: 77 Gallons - 3 WPG GE 9325 lamps - 100% Flourite substrate - Eheim Pro II 2028 - Eheim Ecco 2231 - Eheim Surface Extractor - Coral Life 9W TurboTwist UV Sterilizer (lamp 2 years old) - Pressurized CO2 system - Aqua Medic Co2 Reactor 1000 - Milwaukee pH controller and regulator.
Shhh... Yes I have cross-posted this over on .plantedtank.net... sorry up front if that crosses some etiquette rules...
I have a problem and need some direction...
My tank seems to be doing fine from a plant perspective I suppose... here is a fast pic I just snapped... (not a quality pic - just a fast snap) The tank has been running now for about 2 years.

OK - out of my tap and aged, my water is
- PH 7.8
- KH 3.9ºdH
- GH 5.6ºdH
I have no real algae growing except some in amongst the Java fern on the piece of wood... and the fish (Discus, cardinal tetras, Corries, and a bristlenose) are doing fine and have been in there now for the full 2 years+. I have NOT vacuumed the flourite (ever) so there is I am sure a lot of mulm down there.
Ok - I just tested my tank water... and at the moment it is....
- PH 5.5
- KH < 0.56ºdH (ie < 10ppm)
- GH 6.0ºdH
OK - so needless to say the PH controller is not kicking in, and growth is slow. I am running an air-stone 24/7 at the moment... I tried running searches here at planted on dropped KH and PH etc.. but the search won't let you use "PH" and "KH" as terms as they are too short... (or I was unable to figure out how to do it)...
So I would rather NOT be fishing out the fish... but I think a gravel vacuuming is going to be required... any suggestions as to a good course of action to get this back on track?
The basics of the setup is: 77 Gallons - 3 WPG GE 9325 lamps - 100% Flourite substrate - Eheim Pro II 2028 - Eheim Ecco 2231 - Eheim Surface Extractor - Coral Life 9W TurboTwist UV Sterilizer (lamp 2 years old) - Pressurized CO2 system - Aqua Medic Co2 Reactor 1000 - Milwaukee pH controller and regulator.
Shhh... Yes I have cross-posted this over on .plantedtank.net... sorry up front if that crosses some etiquette rules...