Co2 difussion question (newish tank)

[mrfuzz]

Hi there,

I have setup my first real planted tank (will provide pix later). It is a 38 gallon bow front.

I have the following:
38 Bow front
Aqua Clear 70 w. custom media (Sponge, Media bag, Media balls, Polishing pad)
Coralife T5 30" fixture - 61 watts (10k + actinic bulb)
Co2 Regulator - Aqualife dual regulator w. solenoid & needle valve
2.5 LB Co2 tank
Glass diffuser (ceramic disk) - http://www.marinedepot.com/Mr._Aqua..._for_Aquariums-Mr._Aqua-AZ1913-FICOBC-vi.html

co2 tubing.

Dosing Methods: I started off with just Florish, and now im adding a little Potassium and nitrogen.

Substrate: Eco-complete (50lbs) + 15 lbs of another brand.

Question for you guys out there.

I purchased an amazon sword - It was in pretty good shape, However, after time i noticed pond snails.. I have finally picked them all off. This hurt the plant and it started to die. brown leaves, holes in leaves etc...

Furthermore, I have anubas nana that are doing 'good'.(tied down to my drift wood)

Best of yet, I purchased a bunch of Green Mysis plants... They are THRIVING.. within two days they grew an inch.. no joke..

HOWEVER, seems they are slowing down their growth, as I moved my co2 diffuser. the diffuser was pretty much right next to the plant. With it being so close to the plant, seems the Co2 was sticking to the plant but not traveling throughout the tank.

The Co2 diffuser is now sitting next to my Intake tube of my AC70, but the CO2 does NOT seem to be staying in the tank?? I am not seeing CO2 bubbles resting on the plants what so ever.

Although, I see the CO2 whirring around and being pushed down by the output of the filter. (fish seem to like it)

Anyone help with methods of better Co2 diffusion?

 

[mrfuzz]

bump

Forgot to mention.

I'm using RO/DI water in this tank, as the city water SUCKS. PH of 8.0 and hardness of 240++ PPM.

I do 75% RO/DI and 25% waste RO water.

 

[jcardona1]

1. sword plants are known to go through a transition phase. it will bounce back, just give it time.

2. do you have a drop checker? how do you know what your co2 levels are?

 

[mrfuzz]

I was at doubt for the sword, with the black algae and the holes on the plant, I pruned the dead / dying leaves off and it seems to be bouncing back now.

no to the drop checker - i didnt think it was worth it, as im not wanting to do 'high-tech'.

 

[jcardona1]

I was at doubt for the sword, with the black algae and the holes on the plant, I pruned the dead / dying leaves off and it seems to be bouncing back now.

no to the drop checker - i didnt think it was worth it, as im not wanting to do 'high-tech'.

But you are basically high-tech. Adding a drop checker doesn't make your tank high tech lol. It's a measurement tool. It's like not wanting to know the temperature of your tank. If you're adding co2, why WOULDN'T you want to know how much co2 you have? That is a risky game you're playing. You may not have enough co2, or you have add so much that you could kill your fish.

Or, you could have good co2 levels right at the diffusor, but on the other side of the tank the levels are very low. co2 disperstion and circulation and important things in a planted tank.

 

[mrfuzz]

Understood very much,

I also know that surface agitation from HOB filters can cause issues with CO2 aswel. Althought, I do my best to keep the level topped off. The back side of the tank is open due to the T5 light fixture, I have yet to get plexi glass made up to cover that. Front side of tank I have the original cover. So there should also be atmospheric co2 aswel? Or would that cause issues.

I will get a drop checker next time i make a purchase online (after holidays). You could be right, the co2 levels might be lower on the other side of tank now.

From the diffuser I left the rate so there is decent amount of flow coming from the ceramic disk (still very small bubbles)

This is actually my second defuser - the first one i shattered the glass while removing Co2 tubing. For awhile I was using a limewood airstone.. this seemed to work just as good if not better??

 

[jcardona1]

Yeah, surface ripple/current is good, splashing is not. I would make sure the co2 bubble are near your filter's output, so they get pushed around throughout the tank.

As for the lids, it won't matter. Here's my 57g, completely open top

 

[mrfuzz]

Awesome looking man!!!. I will have pictures and a short video for you once I get off work. So you can see the tank. Its not as lush as that, but its work in progress.

The Co2 diffuser is on the left side of Filter Intake so half of the co2 bubbles are sucked up into the filter, the bubles trail up and then are pushed down by the output of the AquaClear.

AC70 on a 36 gallon - provides pretty good current (no splash) the school of Rasbora's I have go up toward the current, and let it push them back.

Also, When I first got the Rasboras, they were at top of tank, seems like I had oxygen depletion. So at night I have an air stone on a timer.

Tank stock:

5 Tet rasboras
9 Neon tetras.

Plant Stock thus far:
1x amazon sword - Medium
2+ Spiralus? (Not liking this)
1 bunch - Myrio green (very lush) - ive already trimmed plant twice and replanted.

After Xmass I'll be adding some other tetra's and two(2) bolivian rams.

 

[jcardona1]

Thanks!

Just a theory, but it could be that a lot of the co2 is being gassed off by going into the filter's intake (since it's an exposed hang-on filter). I would avoid having them go into the filter. Only real way to know where you're at is with a drop checker, placed at the opposite side of the tank.

Another thing, you may have a nutrient deficiency. You have the lights and the co2, but not the ferts. You need to keep all 3 balanced, and you can't pick and choose. You'll need nitrogen, phosphorus/phosphates, potassium, as well as your trace minerals. That, or lower your lighting to reduce the plants demands on co2/ferts.

 

[mrfuzz]

Since last friday, I have increased my ferts. Just got some new ones in. I had a hunch that I was not dosing enough. Noticed some yellowing near the bottom of my Myrios.

Im dosing:

Flourish (1 time)
Potassium (2x already this week)
Nitrogen (same above)

Should I go ahead and pick-up the phosphorus? (Florish not providing enough??)

And should I get Florish Excel? Or the Bightwell Aquatics FlorinMulti?