Finally got my tank going (56K warning)

[Diamond Discus]

looking good! what are you using to monitor your co2 levels?

I'm using a drop checker from Green Leaf Aquarium. I have had trouble getting the CO2 high enough since the addition of many more plants. I am tweaking my way up with upping the bps and if I don't get a green drop checker I lower the PH with the PH controller. I think I am getting close today. It's green, but not light green.

You be an expert at planted tanks after this.. you will be able to tell us how all the plants do .. what each require... which ones grow the best.. start your own plant sticky... keep us updated.

LOL, it will take years for me to feel like an expert. Right now I feel like a kindergartner in plant school.

I discovered what the two mystery plants were from the guy who gave them to me.
Najas roraima (I love this plant, it has a spotted almost a dark segmented look to the fine leaves)
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/myplants/191-Najas_sp_Roraima_Najas_Roraima.html

And some type of Tonina, possible Tonina sp. belem
http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide_viewer.php?id=278

 

[jcardona1]

I'm using a drop checker from Green Leaf Aquarium. I have had trouble getting the CO2 high enough since the addition of many more plants. I am tweaking my way up with upping the bps and if I don't get a green drop checker I lower the PH with the PH controller. I think I am getting close today. It's green, but not light green.

LOL, it will take years for me to feel like an expert. Right now I feel like a kindergartner in plant school.

I discovered what the two mystery plants were from the guy who gave them to me.
Najas roraima (I love this plant, it has a spotted almost a dark segmented look to the fine leaves)
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/myplants/191-Najas_sp_Roraima_Najas_Roraima.html

And some type of Tonina, possible Tonina sp. belem
http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide_viewer.php?id=278

right on. i cant really tell what my bps is, but i think its about 6bps. i dont know how people determine bps anyways, can people really count that fast??? lol

i turn on my co2 1hr before so its a nice deep green color just a little bit into the photoperiod. by the end of the day, its a lime green color. fish show no signs of stress.

another thing to think about...if you cant get your co2 levels high enough, it could be that your reactor isnt properly mixing the co2 with the water. just a thought...

 

[Diamond Discus]

right on. i cant really tell what my bps is, but i think its about 6bps. i dont know how people determine bps anyways, can people really count that fast??? lol

i turn on my co2 1hr before so its a nice deep green color just a little bit into the photoperiod. by the end of the day, its a lime green color. fish show no signs of stress.

another thing to think about...if you cant get your co2 levels high enough, it could be that your reactor isnt properly mixing the co2 with the water. just a thought...

LOL, I know what you mean about counting the bps. It's a SWAG estimate. (scientific wild *** guess)

I was advised to keep my CO2 on 24/7. I tried it on a timer but again, having trouble with acheiving the "green". I will eventually have discus in the tank (I'm sure that is a huge surprise), so I want to keep the PH with minimal fluctuation.

I got my reactor from Orando at Green Leaf Aquarium. He made it. I think it works, because I have acheived the color green before adding all of these plants. I'll ask you a question though...do you have much surface movement. I have had my spray bars pointed up to make ripples. Am I losing a lot of CO2 that way?? I also have powerheads just below the surface.

 

[jcardona1]

hmm, yeah its hard to say. surface movement is always good, i have two powerheads as well that cause slight movement. i dont have a spray bar though, its just a regular output nozzle.

i dont think the surface movement could be the cause, it doesnt sound like you have water splashing. im also assuming you have 4dkh solution in your drop checker that gets changed every 2-3 weeks, so i dont think youre getting inaccurate readings (algae is the best indicator of low co2!!!)

why dont your try running your setup w/o the ph controller and just set your solenoid and lights on a timer? that way you can tweak the co2 to achieve the right level of "green" in your drop checker. once you get everything established and get rid of the algae, you can use the drop checker again to keep the ph constant for your discus.

OR, you could start dosing with Excel everyday to help with the plants/algae issue. this is what i do in my tank and i have no serious algae. i have gotten a little bit of GSA lately which can be either caused by low phosphates or low co2. i dont think its my co2 since my drop checker is usually a lime green color, so ive started increasing my dosing of phosphates.

well see what happens!

 

[Diamond Discus]

hmm, yeah its hard to say. surface movement is always good, i have two powerheads as well that cause slight movement. i dont have a spray bar though, its just a regular output nozzle.

i dont think the surface movement could be the cause, it doesnt sound like you have water splashing. im also assuming you have 4dkh solution in your drop checker that gets changed every 2-3 weeks, so i dont think youre getting inaccurate readings (algae is the best indicator of low co2!!!)

why dont your try running your setup w/o the ph controller and just set your solenoid and lights on a timer? that way you can tweak the co2 to achieve the right level of "green" in your drop checker. once you get everything established and get rid of the algae, you can use the drop checker again to keep the ph constant for your discus.

OR, you could start dosing with Excel everyday to help with the plants/algae issue. this is what i do in my tank and i have no serious algae. i have gotten a little bit of GSA lately which can be either caused by low phosphates or low co2. i dont think its my co2 since my drop checker is usually a lime green color, so ive started increasing my dosing of phosphates.

well see what happens!

OK, the kindergartner just learned something. You have to change the 4dkh solution in your drop checker 2-3 weeks?? Mine has been in there since December 4th. I think my first step is to take the checker out to clean it and replace the 4dkh solution. I also think that the CO2 must be low because of the algae, as you said.

You are right, I don't have water splashing so I must be OK with surface movement. I can't use Excel because I have Corkscrew Vals, and it melts them.

Gosh, I'm glad to have learned that about the 4dkh solution. Wonder why the thing didn't come with those instructions?? LOL

 

[Red Devil]

sounds like a lot of expertise going on here already.. i think you just flew through a few grades ... straight to professor.. you left alot of us in the dust...

 

[Diamond Discus]

sounds like a lot of expertise going on here already.. i think you just flew through a few grades ... straight to professor.. you left alot of us in the dust...

That wasn't dust...that was my brain cells drying up and flaking off. I'm pretty sure the expertise was coming from jcardona1...have you read his planted tank thread?? That was a dumb question, of course you have. Because "you're all over this place like white on rice"!! I just love that signature of yours Liz!! I finally put up my signature. Thanks for the quick email today. Stay warm!!

 

[le patron]

sweet! the setup looks incredible and the discus look even better

 

[jcardona1]

good stuff going on!

yeah the solution has to be changed every few weeks or it could cause inaccurate readings. the instructions that come with a few of those are completely worthless! they tell you to use aquarium water which will give you even wackier readings.

let us know how it works out

 

[Diamond Discus]

I changed it yesterday and replaced the drop checker in the tank, upped the bps to "oh my god that is fast" and dropped the PH to 6.0. We acheived green this afternoon!! And the PH controller is shutting off and popping back on periodically for a few minutes until it goes back down to 6.0. It's working like a charm. Thanks, you eased my fear of bubbles and I was able to let 'em fly!!!!