An excellent video on Co2 for newbies like me :-)

[vinz]

Would excess PO4 mean that something like else is limiting the plants?


What are you using for substrate?
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[Xiaozhuang]

Can't say for sure; if plant mass is not large vs water column and lower lighting is used, fert consumption may not be significant enough to register a change even if plants were growing healthily.

To answer Filet-O-Fish's comments on ADA setups ; the difference is that they use much less light (30-40 PAR at substrate), slower growth rates; and subsequently less dosing and CO2 demand as well. This is matched by a low bio-load and extremely heavy planting to start with; all the ingredients of a stable tank. The smaller size tanks, that have higher lighting levels are ramped up similarly; but it's always easier to get good flow/CO2 in smaller tanks

Filet-O-Fish's setup seems quite standard, low fish load, reasonable plant mix Hmmmm....

[Urban Aquaria]

For now my fish count is only 10 Diamond tetras and 8 Rummynose. Algae eaters: 4 Otos, 6 Amanos and 40+ red cherry shrimps. Is this OK?

Based on the size and volume of your 4ft tank... that's indeed a very light stocking ratio and relatively minimal bio-load.

You still have enough spare volume to add more livestock.

Every evening I see this on my plants. I guess this is sign of good oxygenation?

Plants look very healthy and pearling looks good... i'd definitely consider that a sign that the tank is getting well oxygenated by the plants.

[Filet-O-Fish]

Based on the size and volume of your 4ft tank... that's indeed a very light stocking ratio and relatively minimal bio-load.You still have enough spare volume to add more livestock.

Yes, I know I can have lots more fish but I'm a plant guy.

Plants look very healthy and pearling looks good... i'd definitely consider that a sign that the tank is getting well oxygenated by the plants.

Here's a photo taken a few hours ago before my weekly water change.
Last nite I switched off the pump for surface agitation. This evening, I observed that the fish and shrimps were active even though the DC was showing light green. Slowly I'll wean myself from being dependent on DC color just as Dennis had mentioned a few posts back.

[Filet-O-Fish]

To answer Filet-O-Fish's comments on ADA setups ; the difference is that they use much less light (30-40 PAR at substrate), slower growth rates; and subsequently less dosing and CO2 demand as well. This is matched by a low bio-load and extremely heavy planting to start with; all the ingredients of a stable tank. The smaller size tanks, that have higher lighting levels are ramped up similarly; but it's always easier to get good flow/CO2 in smaller tanks

Filet-O-Fish's setup seems quite standard, low fish load, reasonable plant mix Hmmmm....

Whats your opinion about my EI dosing amount? Is this ok or any tweaking needed?
My lighting is now 50par at substrate level. The lights are 25inches away from the substrate.
Just for info, can BBA grow due to high lights? I know other algae do but what about BBA.

[koky]

Yes, I know I can have lots more fish but I'm a plant guy.



Here's a photo taken a few hours ago before my weekly water change.
Last nite I switched off the pump for surface agitation. This evening, I observed that the fish and shrimps were active even though the DC was showing light green. Slowly I'll wean myself from being dependent on DC color just as Dennis had mentioned a few posts back.

Looks lush and very green!! Impressive pearling too!! Thanks for sharing.

[Filet-O-Fish]

Looks lush and very green!! Impressive pearling too!! Thanks for sharing.

Thanks buddy. Its nice of you to say that.

[Xiaozhuang]

Whats your opinion about my EI dosing amount? Is this ok or any tweaking needed?
My lighting is now 50par at substrate level. The lights are 25inches away from the substrate.
Just for info, can BBA grow due to high lights? I know other algae do but what about BBA.

It grows in low light as well.. Hmm I agree with UA your plants look healthy. I don't think tweaking your nutrient levels will have an effect on BBA unless it changes/helps plant growth.... I see BBA in tanks with both very lean or very heavy nutrient levels

[Filet-O-Fish]

It grows in low light as well.. Hmm I agree with UA your plants look healthy. I don't think tweaking your nutrient levels will have an effect on BBA unless it changes/helps plant growth.... I see BBA in tanks with both very lean or very heavy nutrient levels

Hi Dennis
Hearing from UA and you that my plants are healthy is a great compliment. I've always that my plants are so so only. That's way I don't even want to post a full pix of my tank. I'm still learning on placing plants in the right area to create a nice scape.

So back to BBA, can I say that BBA in tank is triggered by fluctuating Co2 levels. Today I observed that after I decreased my Co2 bubble count slightly lower, after about 30 minutes, the bubble count was higher. I notice that my ANS brand co2 regulator is not consistent. Maybe I may have to go for a better brand.

I've also noticed that I need to clean my in-line diffusers every month, if not co2 diffusion is slowed down due to clogged ceramic diffusion tubes. Maybe it's due to high plant growth and hence more organic matter.

BTW are you in the middle of producing you next video. Please don't make us wait too long. :-)
Cheers

[Ingen]

Hi Dennis

Today I observed that after I decreased my Co2 bubble count slightly lower, after about 30 minutes, the bubble count was higher. I notice that my ANS brand co2 regulator is not consistent. Maybe I may have to go for a better brand.

Just had this happened to me on 1st May... I must have accidentally turned the needle valve while tightening the screw on the Intense regulator before I head out for dinner, and it wiped out all the fishes in my 1ft and only 1 ruby tetra and panda loach left alive in my 2ft tank... Hard lesson, some of the fishes had been with me for 2 years +...

[vinz]

Today I observed that after I decreased my Co2 bubble count slightly lower, after about 30 minutes, the bubble count was higher. I notice that my ANS brand co2 regulator is not consistent. Maybe I may have to go for a better brand.

Has your cylinder pressure started dropping from the 1000psi "full" yet? If it is, then the output pressure might rise if you are using a single stage regulator like ANS.

I checked around local online LFS and e-catalogs of local LFS... all are single stage as far as I can tell. Didn't have time to go shop at the LFSes to see what else are not listed.

I'm waiting for my CO2Art dual stage regulator to arrive sometime this two weeks. They are having a sale at the moment and prices are pretty good for a dual stage. Shipping only GBP2.99 if you choose non-tracking and willing to wait 1 to 3 weeks for delivery.

Alternatively, search out dual stage from industrial sources here.

I was reading up on CO2 and came across a "why didn't I think of that" idea from Tom Barr for measuring uncountable BPS. Simply let the CO2 bubble into an upturned ml measuring cup. Read the ml of CO2 over a fixed time and use that as your measure. Troublesome, but better than gauging uncountable bps. Can't help for an inconsistent regulator though.

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[Filet-O-Fish]

Just had this happened to me on 1st May... I must have accidentally turned the needle valve while tightening the screw on the Intense regulator before I head out for dinner, and it wiped out all the fishes in my 1ft and only 1 ruby tetra and panda loach left alive in my 2ft tank... Hard lesson, some of the fishes had been with me for 2 years +...

My god! So sad to hear that.


This kind of thing has happened to me also but not so tragic as yours. Once after water change, I forgot to turn on the tap control for my canister filter. I discovered it only after 12 hours when I noticed that the tank was clear with no Co2 microbubbles.
So for 12 hours there was no filtrationat all to my tank.

[Filet-O-Fish]

Has your cylinder pressure started dropping from the 1000psi "full" yet? If it is, then the output pressure might rise if you are using a single stage regulator like ANS.

Hi Vinz,
No, tank is still 3/4 full. Really this ANS regulator is crap. The bubble count is not the same every day.

I checked around local online LFS and e-catalogs of local LFS... all are single stage as far as I can tell.

Not much choice for good quality regulators here

I'm waiting for my CO2Art dual stage regulator to arrive sometime this two weeks. They are having a sale at the moment and prices are pretty good for a dual stage. Shipping only GBP2.99 if you choose non-tracking and willing to wait 1 to 3 weeks for delivery.

Yeah. That's way I'm following your post to see the outcome.

[vinz]

Hi Vinz,
No, tank is still 3/4 full. Really this ANS regulator is crap. The bubble count is not the same every day.

Meaning its at 750psi? Or 3/4 into your usual usage duration?

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[Filet-O-Fish]

Meaning its at 750psi? Or 3/4 into your usual usage duration?

Re-checked just now, it's still at 1000 psi.

[Filet-O-Fish]

I was reading up on CO2 and came across a "why didn't I think of that" idea from Tom Barr for measuring uncountable BPS. Simply let the CO2 bubble into an upturned ml measuring cup. Read the ml of CO2 over a fixed time and use that as your measure. Troublesome, but better than gauging uncountable bps. Can't help for an inconsistent regulator though.

That's one way possible also. Never thought about that.

Anyway, what I do is take a shot of the bubble counters using my iPhone 6 which comes with slow motion video capture function ( and I'm sure Androids have the function too).
You need a stopwatch but in my case, I used a spare iPhone 4.
Place a torch light facing the bubble counter just like in the video. I tried without the torch light but the final video was too dark to count the bubbles.
Take a video for about 1 minutes and try to keep the camera as still as possible ( using a tripod will give better results).

Then you play the final video in slow motion on the phone and count the bubbles to your heart's content.
Just to be sure, you can show it to your family members and ask them to count too ( humm.....can become a family bonding activity)

Like in my case, Co2 bubble count was between 6 to 7 BBS in each counter.
In the video below, after the 45 seconds time mark, you can see the actual speed of the bubbles in real time . Do you think you can count them?

Hope you give it a try and find it useful.
Cheers.

P.S. In my rush to upload into my brand new ( 30 minutes old) Youtube channel, this clip has no sound and a bit of error in the spelling of words.

[Filet-O-Fish]

OK something is happening in my tank but don't know what's causing it. During the past 1 week, I notice BBA is growing at a faster rate than before.Now they can be found in small patches all over the tank and even on glass panel.
I'm really worried by this.
I've placed 2 Co2 drop checkers on opposite side of the tank and both are showing lime green. Saw some fish gasping.

As for changes made to my tank for the past 1 week.
1. Installed lily pipes as my inflow. Previous setup using Eheim green pipes.
2. Two pieces of BorneoWild Minerock medium sized into tank.

No changes to:
Lights
Fertilizers
Position of outflow pipes

Anything I can do?
Thanks.

[vinz]

Any changes in water temperature due to the increasingly hot weather?

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[Urban Aquaria]

OK something is happening in my tank but don't know what's causing it. During the past 1 week, I notice BBA is growing at a faster rate than before.Now they can be found in small patches all over the tank and even on glass panel.
I'm really worried by this.
I've placed 2 Co2 drop checkers on opposite side of the tank and both are showing lime green. Saw some fish gasping.

As for changes made to my tank for the past 1 week.
1. Installed lily pipes as my inflow. Previous setup using Eheim green pipes.
2. Two pieces of BorneoWild Minerock medium sized into tank.

No changes to:
Lights
Fertilizers
Position of outflow pipes

Anything I can do?
Thanks.

Wow, this BBA issue in your tank is really persistent... the algae could be so established in your tank that whatever you do, they will still keep appearing.

Guess it might be time to do tank-wide chemical warfare, shift all livestock to a temporary holding tank, then bomb H2O2 + Excel "One-Two Punch"!

[Xiaozhuang]

Any changes in water temperature due to the increasingly hot weather?

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He has a chiller I think. Some other questions; has your bubble counter stabilize yet ? It can take plants awhile to adapt to a given level
I went back to read some details on the tank; if it's been setup for a long time, is there a lot of organic waste buildup in the upper layer of the sediment, and have you done light vacuum on it before?
Is there over-crowding of old growth ? Do new shoot tips have space to grow and are actively doing so - meaning that pruning needs and is done regularly ?
Maybe unrelated but what kind of Fe/trace mix are you using - the copper levels seem very high relative to Fe