Newbie to planted tanks

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Monolicious

Monolicious

Blue Tier VIP
MFK Member
Mar 17, 2008
762
2
323
55
ON MFK
Hi All,

I recently got my girlfriend interested in Aquariums and fish so I recently set her up a 3 x 2 x 2 89 Gal planted discuss tank, We have some Amazon sword plants and a few Anubius plant growing on driftwood and 8 Discuss along with some rummy nose terta.

The equipment used is a 3 foot T8 twin Flouro set up with 2 globes that are supposed to be good for planted tanks a Eheim 2217 witch is creating surface movement a air stone and a Co2 kit witch consist of a Co2 bottle, Regulator, Bubble counter and a glass reactor.

Over the past 2 weeks we have noticed that a few of the plants leaves are beginning to turn brown we have the Co2 entering the water at a rate of 1 Bubble every 7 seconds and we have this running 24/7 we liquid fertilize the tank once a week with flourish by Seachem.

Please assist me in getting my plants lush and green so as to keep the girlfriend interested.
 
Definitely look into root tabs. Especially if you don't have flourite or aquarium soil. I noticed a big problem with this until I added the tabs.
 
Monolicious;3716010; said:
Hi All,

I recently got my girlfriend interested in Aquariums and fish so I recently set her up a 3 x 2 x 2 89 Gal planted discuss tank, We have some Amazon sword plants and a few Anubius plant growing on driftwood and 8 Discuss along with some rummy nose terta.

The equipment used is a 3 foot T8 twin Flouro set up with 2 globes that are supposed to be good for planted tanks a Eheim 2217 witch is creating surface movement a air stone and a Co2 kit witch consist of a Co2 bottle, Regulator, Bubble counter and a glass reactor.

Over the past 2 weeks we have noticed that a few of the plants leaves are beginning to turn brown we have the Co2 entering the water at a rate of 1 Bubble every 7 seconds and we have this running 24/7 we liquid fertilize the tank once a week with flourish by Seachem.

Please assist me in getting my plants lush and green so as to keep the girlfriend interested.
Click to expand...
get a drop checker to tell your co2 levels, remove airstone and stop surface disturbance, this releases all the co2 you inject back into the air.

also you im guessing you dont have enough light with 2 t8's. the light is probably the reason your plants are dying
 
Another vote for root tabs for the swords.

Also with the filter and the airstone disturbing the surface you may be off-gassing your co2.

(Basically everything sostoudt just said)

What are the total watts from that lighting?
 
Thanks for all the input guys.
This is what I have done.

1. Stopped creating surface movement with the filter.
2. Hooked up the air stone to a timer so it only comes on at night ( After Co2 is off ).
3. Hooked up the Co2 to a PH monitor so I don't get a PH crash.
4. Hooked the Co2 up to a timer also so when the Co2 turns off the air stone will be on.
5. Got some root tabs and placed them near the Amazon Sword.
6. Got a constant Co2 Monitor witch is in the green zone now.
7. Adjusted the Co2 input to 2BPS

My only question is that with the air stone off and lack of surface agitation how can I be sure that the discuss and other fish are getting enough oxygen ?

Regards

Peter
 
if you still have problems you can switch to dry ferts (cheaper) and dose more often as well as upping your light to power compact or t-5s. your tank is relatively deep 24" so it will take more/stronger lights to reach the bottom. Light is the most important factor for plants to grow.

your fish should be fine w/o an airstone during the day. I honestly don't even keep one at all in my 75g with no surface agitation at all.
 
Monolicious;3728728; said:
Thanks for all the input guys.
This is what I have done.

1. Stopped creating surface movement with the filter.
2. Hooked up the air stone to a timer so it only comes on at night ( After Co2 is off ).
3. Hooked up the Co2 to a PH monitor so I don't get a PH crash.
4. Hooked the Co2 up to a timer also so when the Co2 turns off the air stone will be on.
5. Got some root tabs and placed them near the Amazon Sword.
6. Got a constant Co2 Monitor witch is in the green zone now.
7. Adjusted the Co2 input to 2BPS

My only question is that with the air stone off and lack of surface agitation how can I be sure that the discuss and other fish are getting enough oxygen ?

Regards

Peter
Click to expand...
your just gonna have to watch them for a couple of days. be aware fishes gills work on a gas exchange principal, if you inject to much co2 they can't adequately remove co2 from there blood and the effect will be similar to not enough oxygen.

but dont worry to much about the co2 2 bps isnt much for a 90 gallon. eventually when you have enough plants they will put enough oxygen in the column so agitation isnt necessary. if your plants ever bead up with bubbles that means the water is super saturated with oxygen(how ever remember that doesnt mean you can go crazy with co2.)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom