updated- my 4ft tank... after 3weeks

**acidjc** · 20th Dec 2004, 17:50

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so far the temp is kept at 26.5-27 using 2fans.
but the water still seem abit greenish and my jap grass is not gorwing well.. everyday also got dropped leave from the japgrass..

and I chg 20% water 3days ago.. and since yesterday my tank water is slightly smelly.. why?

any guru here can advise me.. thanks

**PeterGwee** · 20th Dec 2004, 19:35

Fill in the info...

Beginners Info Sheet
++++++++++++++++++

Tank Dimensions (LxWxH):
Lighting Intensity(No of Watts) :
Type of Lighting (FL/PL/MH) :
No. of Hours your light is on:
CO2 Injection Rate (bps) :
Type of CO2 (DIY/Liquid/Tank) :
Method of Injection (e.g. Diffusor/Reactor):
Substrate Used :
How Thick is your base fert :
How thick is your gravel :
Liquid Fertilizers Used :
Frequency of fertilization :
Tank Temperature :
Type of Filter (overhead/internal/canister) :
Filter media used :
How long has your tank been set up :

Chemical Properties (Fill what you can)
---------------------------------------

Carbonate Hardness (kh):
Total Hardness (gH):
PH :
NH4 (ppm):
NO2 (ppm):
NO3 (ppm):
PO4 (ppm):
Fe (ppm):

Bioload (Your Fish and Plants)
------------------------------

State what fishes and plants you have to the best of your ability

Describe your problem :

problem description. If you have picture which could help then please post them

Regards
Peter Gwee

**acidjc** · 20th Dec 2004, 20:14

Beginners Info Sheet
++++++++++++++++++

Tank Dimensions = 4ft x 2ft x 1.5ft
Lighting Intensity = 36W x 4
Type of Lighting = FL
No. of Hours your light is on: 6Hr
CO2 Injection Rate (bps) : 3bps
Type of CO2 = Tank
Method of Injection (e.g. Diffusor/Reactor): = Diffusor
Substrate Used : fine gravel
How Thick is your base fert : (only use 1 pack JBL)
How thick is your gravel : 2cm front 4cm back
Liquid Fertilizers Used : HPC
Frequency of fertilization : 5drops aft water chg weekly
Tank Temperature : 26-26.8
Type of Filter (overhead/internal/canister) : Canister
Filter media used : Normal wool, bio volcanic
How long has your tank been set up : 3weeks

Chemical Properties (Fill what you can)
---------------------------------------

Carbonate Hardness (kh): 4
Total Hardness (gH): NA
PH : 7
NH4 (ppm): NA
NO2 (ppm): NA
NO3 (ppm): NA
PO4 (ppm): NA
Fe (ppm): NA

Bioload (Your Fish and Plants)
------------------------------

Fishes and others =Tetra, OTO, SAE, Yamato
Plants = Jap Grass, Glosso, Moss and crypts

Describe your problem :
Water smelly, greenish even aft 3 water chg of 20% during the past 2 weeks, Japgrass not growing well.

**BFG** · 20th Dec 2004, 21:24

For a 4ft, you only use 1 pack of JBL base fert? My 3ft uses 2 pack of JBL base fert. Your lighting is not enough imo. It's the same wattage as my 3ft, 4x36w pl.

**PeterGwee** · 20th Dec 2004, 21:44

The amount of light you have over your tank is fine. Just make sure that no plants get overshadowed once the tank fills in.

Now, CO2...what kit are you using to measure the pH? For your KH, use only CO2 and drop the pH to 6.6 and keep it there for the entire photoperiod. Once the CO2 is take care of, you can proceed with the nutrient dosing since your substrate (backup nutrients) is way too lean.

Routine
1)Trim off dead leaves or algae
2)50% water change
3)Add 3/4 teaspoon of KNO3 once a week for now and later 2x a week once the plants fill in.
4)Add 1ppm of KH2PO4 once a week and 2x a week once the plants fill in.
5)Add Lushgro Micros or any forms of commercial trace mix at 12ml once a week and later 2x a week when the plants fill in.
6)Keep the CO2 near 30ppm throughout the entire photoperiod. (This is the most important but you have more margin for error with the amount of light you are using.)

Regards
Peter Gwee

**acidjc** · 20th Dec 2004, 22:12

yes Peter, thank you for your advise.. I will go C328 tmr to get all the things and test kits.

The PH and KH kit used are those normal type where I take a small sample of the water adn drop a few drops of the liquid and see the color change.

**PeterGwee** · 20th Dec 2004, 22:38

You only need a narrow range pH kit and a normal KH kit for the estimative index routine.

Regards
Peter Gwee

**acidjc** · 20th Dec 2004, 22:54

hi Peter, sorri me still new to this.. can u explain more detail on

1) how to measure 1ppm?
2) What is the KNO3 and KH2PO4? I mean if I going to buy these, what or how the container look like. or do I have to look thur all the chemical there for their scienific name..
3) 50% water chg is per week or fornight?

can advise ..thank

**acidjc** · 20th Dec 2004, 22:56

[quote:e2ba12c0e3="BFG"]For a 4ft, you only use 1 pack of JBL base fert? My 3ft uses 2 pack of JBL base fert. Your lighting is not enough imo. It's the same wattage as my 3ft, 4x36w pl.[/quote:e2ba12c0e3]

hi BFG, ya I oso think abit too little, but since the gravel is from my friend and he have added 4packs of fert last time.. so this time I think I just add 1 will do.

**PeterGwee** · 20th Dec 2004, 23:15

[quote:9cdc62f863="acidjc"]hi Peter, sorri me still new to this.. can u explain more detail on

1) how to measure 1ppm?
2) What is the KNO3 and KH2PO4? I mean if I going to buy these, what or how the container look like. or do I have to look thur all the chemical there for their scienific name..
3) 50% water chg is per week or fornight?

can advise ..thank[/quote:9cdc62f863]

1)Slightly less than 1/8 teaspoon of KH2PO4 for your water volume. Check out Chuck Gadd's dosing calculator.
2)You can get it from Dr Mallick's retail outlets at crawford lane, Eco-Culture and etc. Check out his website www.singaporehydroponics.com for details.
3)Weekly. Too much? Why not go non-CO2 then...no water changes for months.

Regards
Peter Gwee

**rijac** · 21st Dec 2004, 00:41

[quote:0bd8759c36="PeterGwee"][quote:0bd8759c36="acidjc"]hi Peter, sorri me still new to this.. can u explain more detail on

1) how to measure 1ppm?
2) What is the KNO3 and KH2PO4? I mean if I going to buy these, what or how the container look like. or do I have to look thur all the chemical there for their scienific name..
3) 50% water chg is per week or fornight?

can advise ..thank[/quote:0bd8759c36]

1)Slightly less than 1/8 teaspoon of KH2PO4 for your water volume. Check out Chuck Gadd's dosing calculator.
2)You can get it from Dr Mallick's retail outlets at crawford lane, Eco-Culture and etc. Check out his website www.singaporehydroponics.com for details.
3)Weekly. Too much? Why not go non-CO2 then...no water changes for months.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[/quote:0bd8759c36]

i've read several comments about non-co2 tanks not needing water changes for months... but surely that would depend on the bio load right? the plants might do well and algae free but wont the fish be stressed?