Something's amiss here...plants aren't looking healthy

[Jiinx]

Hi there,
I've been reading for a couple of months and have finally put together a 79 g tank I'm really proud of! Prior to this tank I had a low tech planted tank with root tabs and gravel..which was doing well funny enough.

This tank is leaving me scratching my head!
Lights
1 54w geisemann aqua flora 8 hours
Not hung but on legs above my open top
1 54w midday geisemann which has been off bc of this darn GDA on my tank walls. I have it off bc I don't want to fuel the algae.

Co2
My Milwaukee reg isn't working properly but I'm sending some co2 into the tank. I don't know much bc the gauge is flooded or broken. The fish look fine.

Sediment
Ada new Amazonia with Eco complete as a thin layer on top

Dosing
Every other day
1/2 tsp csm

Every other dAy
1/2 tsp of kno3
1/16 kh2p04
1/4tsp of K2s04

Everyday
2.5 ml of excel

Measurements
Gh is 140 ppm ..do I need to use my booster?
Nitrate is 10 ppm
Kh is 100 ppm
pH is 7.5

Perhaps my regulator is really not working well, but pH seems off.
My a. reineckii was a brilliant pink and is now a dull browny/maroon. A cpl of holes in the leaves and some brown spots. I got it a week ago...could it be an adjustment period?

I've really been trying to get this tank going. I had a LOT of melting initially, but things are showing new growth now. Green plants are doing fair. My r. Wallachi tips have closed at the top instead of being spread out.

Any ideas...

Sarah

 

[dutchy]

It seems to be obvious. CO2 is not enough. The signs you describe, are classical low CO2 consequences. Also the pH value shows that. You should correct that. If you're not using a bubble counter, install one, this will give you some idea about how much you're adding. If you have one, increase the bubble rate. Maybe you should replace the regulator if you think it's faulty.

KH, GH and dosing should be fine.

 

[Jiinx]

Silly me. Thank you..will increase it. Yes I have a bubble counter. Getting a proper regulator soon!

 

[Matt F.]

Yeah, I think you're going to notice a big difference once your victor replaces your broken Milwaukee.
You have plenty of light, good substrate and circulation. You're dosing, so....yeah, CO2.
Just make sure your diffuser is cleaned (if you can clean it) and you do your normal pruning and maintenance.