orionblu

I just got my plants in the mail and started my co2. I'm running the light for 12 hours because that what they told me to do. My temp in the aquarium is 81. Is this ok. My water is a little cloudy. When is the best time to run the lights and how long. I don't run the co2 at night.
Here are my specs
pH 7.0
Phosphates 1 ppm
Nitrite 0 ppm
Nitrate 10 ppm
Ammonia 1 ppm I did a water change last night and added ammonia chips in my canister it was higher and it came down.
GH (3) 50-100ppm
Kh (6) 50-100ppm

Jay

Hey Orion..

You have not given us quite enough information to help you.

We need to know....

How big is the tank?
What is the wattage on the lights and what kind, compacts, t-5?

IMO 12 hours is too long, try 8 and adjust form there

IMO your GH could stand to come up a bit, say 6-8

Temp at about 76-78 would be good.

What is your CO2 level and your injection method?

Regards,

Jay

orionblu

Jay

75 gal
my light is a nova extreme high output T5x2 lighting system 2 lamps one is 54 watt slimpaq freshwater T5HO Lamp and the second is 54 watt slimpaq 10,000k T5HO Lamp total of 108 watt (i think the lamp is raising my water temp) Before i got the plants i had the lights on only 8 hours and had no trouble.

I tried to check my co2 either I don't have enough going in or I need a new test kit.

I have the red sea co2 system I had less than 60 bubbles a minute now it is a little more than 60 bubbles a minute.

Jay

I'M not really familiar with the Red Sea system, I looked it up, and assume it is some type of pressurized CO2, but you are right the amount of dissolved gas based on your numbers is way low.

I need 180 bpm in my 75 to hold a good gas level.

Try to find where Tommy Gun put my CO2 chart sticky "article". Take 15 ml of tank water out tonight; let it sit over night and test the pH. Let your CO2 system in the tank go tomorrow for two hours and then test the pH of the tank water. Check the chart and see what your actual ppm CO2 is.

I think your light is a tad low, I corrected the volume for substrate and decorations but still come up with 1.6 watts per gallon. IMO I would shoot for a minimum of 2 wpg.

Hey...no panic or problem here we just need to keep you headed in the right direction.

Regards,
Jay

orionblu

Jay

How long and when do you run your co2 and when do you run your lights?

About my lights they told me they would be suffcient, because they are more powerful than other lighting systems. I guess that is not true.

I also have a uv sterilizer.

Jay

I'm sorry man, I have been on the road all day today and my mind is toast.

I will pick up on this tomorrow with you and we can go from there. Ok bye you?

Find out where Tommy put my CO2 post , and we will talk tomorrow.

Jay

orionblu

Jay

I found it and will do the test tommorrow

Thanks

Jay

While it is true that T-5s are good tubes, there are some other factors like the reflector, evenness of illumination over the bottom of the tank, etc. which will impact on their overall effectiveness. The plants will let you know The intensity of the light drives the photosynthesis engine, thats why with bright light you go to the trouble to inject CO2.

Jay

orionblu

Jay I did my tests these are my results

pH was 7.0 and went to finally a 6.4 I had to adjust several times so my co2 right now is 16ppm
ammonia 1.0 still having trouble going to do another water change
nitrite 0
nitrate 10
phosphate 1.0
KH 5 drops 50-100ppm
Gh 4drops 50-100 ppm

once you get enough co2 how do keep the ph stable with the co2 off at night and on during the day

Thanks orionblu

__________________
75 gal tank
Live plants
CO2
RO water
Rena Filter xp3
My pride and joy are my 3 Clown Loachs, 1 is 16 years old and 6 inches and the other 2 8 years old and 5 inches.

Jay

IMO & IME you just don't need to worry about it in a planted tank !

Jay