Require Some Answers to Some Queries

[arclaveus]

Hey guys! It's me again ANyway, i like to ask for some help regarding some issues as in how tos n wad tos.....so pls help me out here! Thanks Just revised some details in red which i was wrong about..sorrie

Finally managed to get the names of the flora i haf in my tank. Here is my updated details of my current setup:

Tank: 3ft x 1.5ft x 1.5ft Nismo
Lights: 3 ft Lamp 36watt x 2 PL
3 ft Lamp 24watt x 2 PL
Total: Abt 120watt/abt 8hrs a day
Filtration: Eiheim Professional II
Co2: 2.0bps/24ppm
KH Level: 2dkh
pH Level: 6.4
Sand: Lapis
Fertilizer: ADA Aquasoil (Each layer 0.5inch, alternating with sand) Total: 5inches of Substrate n Base Fert combined
Temp: 26-28 degree celcius
Water Change: 25% per week
Age of tank: 1 week now
Fauna: 40 x Cardinal Tetra
24 x Rummie Nose Tetra
01 x Emperor Tetra (Freebie from LFS )
02 x SAE
10 x Different Types of Cories & Catfish
05 x Oto
09 x Yamato Shrimp
06 x Cherry Shrimp
05 x Blue-coloured Shrimp (Dunno name )
Flora: 1 x Anubias Congensis, 1 x Anubias barteri, 1 x Anubias Nana, 1 x Bacopa, 1 x Cabomba, 1 x Pennywort(Hydrocotyle leucocephala), 1 x Egeria Najas, 1 x Tiger Lotus(4 colour), 1 x Amazon Broadleaf(Echnidorus Bleheri)and 1 x Melon( Ech, Osiris)
Additives: Seachem Flourish Potassium n Flourish Iron

Q1) How long shld i run Co2 into the tank a day? Or do i jus leave it diffusing into the tank all day?

Q2) Are my current flora under the cat of low requirement?

Q4) Jus added a Co2 test kit today n it seems to read sufficient Co2 in the system...but y arent my plants pearling in streams?

Q5) All the plants are growing well n new leaves r growing oredi...i believe i need to trim em...so can anyone advise me on how to trim each of the plants in my current flora types?

Thanks in advance! Cheers all!

[PeterGwee]

1) Only when the lights are "on". Keep the CO2 at 30ppm during the entire photoperiod when the lights are "on" is all you need to do.

2) Should be easy enough if you keep up on things.

3) Use a narrow range pH kit coupled with a KH kit for the CO2 measurements. Keep it at 30ppm throughout the entire photoperiod. Keep the KH at 3 or above.

4) Look up on the web and the forum for tips on prunning.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[arclaveus]

Thanks bro!

More advise input pls!!

[|squee|]

Believe PeterGwee answered most of your queries.

I have some thoughts about your setup though.

Your tank is a 3ft, and you have 82 fish in there, not counting shrimps. Now, I don't know how much a 3ft tank can stock, but that sounds to me like a real high bioload. I do not know what you have in mind ( some people have high stock of fish to fertilise their tank another way ) but just in case you do not know, that high bioload and improper fertilisation will cause algae very soon. And your tank isn't thickly planted enough to soak up all that fish/fish food waste, unless you have a very efficient filter. Of course, if things are all allright, good job.

As for trimming:

1 x Anubias Congensis -- This plant grows slowly, cut off old leaves as you see fit.
1 x Anubias barteri -- same as above
1 x Anubias Nana -- same as above
1 x Cabomba -- Cut at the stem frequently, this will produce a bushy effect.
1 x Egeria Najas -- Same as above
1 x Tiger Lotus(4 colour) -- Trim off decaying/overlarge leaves
1 x Amazon Broadleaf(Echnidorus Bleheri) -- Same as above
1 x Melon( Ech, Osiris) -- Same as above

I've omitted some plants because I do not know how to trim them

[arclaveus]

Thanks bro!

[Nevada]

Believe PeterGwee answered most of your queries.

I have some thoughts about your setup though.

Your tank is a 3ft, and you have 82 fish in there, not counting shrimps. Now, I don't know how much a 3ft tank can stock, but that sounds to me like a real high bioload. I do not know what you have in mind ( some people have high stock of fish to fertilise their tank another way ) but just in case you do not know, that high bioload and improper fertilisation will cause algae very soon. And your tank isn't thickly planted enough to soak up all that fish/fish food waste, unless you have a very efficient filter. Of course, if things are all allright, good job.

I AGREE WITH HIM! !!! ur tank bioload is really too high! be cautious about algae with that kind of bioload...

[arclaveus]

I AGREE WITH HIM! !!! ur tank bioload is really too high! be cautious about algae with that kind of bioload...

So wad shld i do now??
Plant heavily?? Wad plants wld u recommend??
E.tenellus???

[|squee|]

Fastest way will be stem plants, they suck up alot of nutrients. Either that, or remove part of your bioload down to say, 30-40 in number?

[squall99e]

ADA Aquasoil will bring down the pH of the water, so the normal Kh/pH table may not be that accurate to judge the CO2 level. Your CO2 may be lower than 24ppm. Also I would prefer that you use a reactor for better effect.

[arclaveus]

ADA Aquasoil will bring down the pH of the water, so the normal Kh/pH table may not be that accurate to judge the CO2 level. Your CO2 may be lower than 24ppm. Also I would prefer that you use a reactor for better effect.

Actually bro, i'm using a reactor...so any other solutions?

[|squee|]

That's the problem of ADA Aquasoil. What I do is to max out my C02 as far as I dare to, without harming my livestock.

[lorba]

I on my CO2 24hr a day, at a lower bubble rate. No problem with the livestock. To play safe, make sure the fan is also running during lights out period to increase gas exchange at the surface.

There should be ways out to measure even in ADA soil tank, peter should be able to provide a way?