Is this okay?

[OUTLAW]

Hi, just started my tank 2days ago(1st May), Like to know if this is okay.
Riccia has not grown over the wire mesh..


Beginners Info Sheet
--------------------

Tank Dimensions (LxWxH): 60x30x45
Tank Volume (litres or gallons): 73L
Lighting Intensity(No of Watts) : 2x55W
Type of Lighting (FL/PL/MH) : PL
No. of Hours your light is on : 14
CO2 Injection Rate (bps) : around 1bubble per 6sec
Type of CO2 (DIY/Liquid/Tank) : NutraFin Type
Method of Injection (e.g. Diffusor/Reactor): NutraFin Flipper
Substrate Used : Dennerle Black Coloured Gravel
How Thick is your base fert : 3cm
How thick is your gravel : 3cm
Liquid Fertilizers Used : NotYet
Frequency of fertilization : n/a
Tank Temperature : 27
Type of Filter (overhead/internal/canister) : Eheim 2213 Canister
Filter media used : Ceramic Rings, and normal Eheim Media.(Charcoal, normal sponges)
How long has your tank been set up :2 days
Other equipment : DIY Fan, Rain Bar unit, Flipper

Chemical Properties (Fill what you can)
---------------------------------------
Carbonate Hardness (KH): 4ppm
Total Hardness (gH): n/a
pH : 6.3
NH4 (ppm): NH3 - 0.5
NO2 (ppm): 0.1
NO3 (ppm): n/a
PO4 (ppm): n/a
Fe (ppm): n/a

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

<State what fishes and plants you have to the best of your ability>
Plants - Riccia on driftwood, Micranthemum umbrosum, and (stalks of xmas tree-like plants)
Fishes - 2 neon tetras for testing.

Describe your problem :
Just wanted to know if this is ok/

[joe]

Wow your ligths is way too high!!! 110W for a 2ft is gonna invite lots of algae growth!!! 60-70W should be just nice for your tank.

[joe]

Also you dun need 14 hours of lights ... 10-12 hours will do.

Noticed you mentioned charcoal in the Eheim filter. Charcoal will absorc the nutrients need for plant growth if u r going for a planted tank.

[OUTLAW]

I'll take note of the high light wattage.

I'm not sure if the thin film of sponge is charcoal or not, it came along with the Eheim canister along with some blue sponges.

[M0rph3us]

OUTLAW if its black in colour, its carbon..
best to remove it cause it removes nutrients

[lorba]

u have 5W/USG.

I think its still fine, but you might need to dose fert and trim plants (esp riccia) more frequently. Unbalance in co2 supply or fert might quickly give u algae problem.

[geoffrey]

lorba is right. If 5WPG is too much and can cause algae than people who uses MH light which is 150W per piece can start an algae farm : )

If you have high light and CO2, just make sure your fertilise more and regularly.

[PeterGwee]

DIY CO2 and 5W/Gallon is a seriously bad combo....you would probably see BBA much faster than anything. Unless you can keep up with your CO2 level and fert regime, I think it is wise to drop the extra lightings.

[naturetan]

At 4KH & PH 6.3, the CO2 concentration is >50ppm? Did I/u get it wrongly? [:0] What an efficient Flipper you have for the rate of 1b per 6sec.

[zackdelatoonz]

Outlaw,

Is ur KH 4ppm or 4degree? If it's 4ppm as u've stated, ur KH is only 0.2 degree.

[geoffrey]

Is there charcoal in your filter media? Activated carbon for water clarity type? They work like zeolite but has a shorter effective life span.

[OUTLAW]

Hi, sorry,

Some clarification, i have 4dg. of KH, hehe not 4ppm

And also i intend to purchase cylinder co2.

and as i'm still in the cycling period, i'm told by Teo's ppl that i shldnt put in any liquid fert yet.

Maybe it's time to change my lights, point taken =)

[bclee]

OUTLAW, seems that you are using a pH pen for testing pH. You might want to check the calibration.

BC