Hi all, I'm a moderately experienced keeper, but new to planted tanks and am stuck on a problem. I've read every article i can get my hands on, but still not seeing any answers. Hoping you guys can share some insight.
55G tank, moderately planted, pressurized CO2, very high light.
occasional use of Seachem Flourish
Ammonia -0, Nitrites -0, Nitrates <10
Ph stays between 7.2 and 7.4
KH -7 dKh (about 125ppm)
GH -11 (about 190ppm)
Water overall seems to be healthy. I do regular water changes weekly.
My focus for livestock is livebearers, so I have a variety of Mollies, Platys and Swordtails. Also 2 Cory Cats and 2 Plecos . Total = about 22 fish
My problem is regarding what seems like O2 deprivation. I'm running an air stone but yes I know that nearly negates the CO2 injection. With the CO2 running, whenever i shut off the airstone, within a few minutes my fish go to the surface gasping for air. I'm only running CO2 at about 1 bubble per 2 seconds. My plants are growing very well, everything is deep color and I even got a nice pinkish red on rotala rotundifolia. I could never shut off the airstone nor go to more than 1 bubble every few seconds or else my fish would be gassed!
Why is my tank so much more sensitive to the CO2 injection and/or why is my water so O2 low?
Thanks for help!
55G tank, moderately planted, pressurized CO2, very high light.
occasional use of Seachem Flourish
Ammonia -0, Nitrites -0, Nitrates <10
Ph stays between 7.2 and 7.4
KH -7 dKh (about 125ppm)
GH -11 (about 190ppm)
Water overall seems to be healthy. I do regular water changes weekly.
My focus for livestock is livebearers, so I have a variety of Mollies, Platys and Swordtails. Also 2 Cory Cats and 2 Plecos . Total = about 22 fish
My problem is regarding what seems like O2 deprivation. I'm running an air stone but yes I know that nearly negates the CO2 injection. With the CO2 running, whenever i shut off the airstone, within a few minutes my fish go to the surface gasping for air. I'm only running CO2 at about 1 bubble per 2 seconds. My plants are growing very well, everything is deep color and I even got a nice pinkish red on rotala rotundifolia. I could never shut off the airstone nor go to more than 1 bubble every few seconds or else my fish would be gassed!
Why is my tank so much more sensitive to the CO2 injection and/or why is my water so O2 low?
Thanks for help!