Will active (activated) carbon absorb away the fertiliser?

[Aquanoob]

This is the situation.
I have active carbon in my top filter, as well
as the normal and bio-filter and ceramic ring.
I am under the impression that active carbon will
absorb both the bad substances and smell, as well
as the good substances aka nutrients in the tank water,
so will it also absorb the Seachem Flouish that I use right now?
What I am doing right now is I will switch off the
filter, add-in Seachem, then turn on the filter again
and the light after 30 minutes, is this way ok?

Next, concerning the CO2 content in the tank.
I know that Seachem Excel will address this issue,
which mainly add the essential Carbon C to the plant.
From what I read on Diana Walstad's Ecology of the Planted Aquarium,
she said that we can add Baking Soda (NAHCO3) and
Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) which also provide the Carbon C,
is this a feasible way?
She also said that by adding Epsom Salt (MgSO4) can boost the
Magnesium Mg and Sulphur S which plants absorb.
What will all these chemical do to the fishes is my main concern?
Has anyone tried putting Baking Soda, Calcium Carbonate, Epsom
salt into the aquarium before?

[barmby]

so will it also absorb the Seachem Flouish that I use right now?
What I am doing right now is I will switch off the
filter, add-in Seachem, then turn on the filter again
and the light after 30 minutes, is this way ok?


From what I read on Diana Walstad's Ecology of the Planted Aquarium,
she said that we can add Baking Soda (NAHCO3) and
Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) which also provide the Carbon C,
is this a feasible way?
She also said that by adding Epsom Salt (MgSO4) can boost the
Magnesium Mg and Sulphur S which plants absorb.
What will all these chemical do to the fishes is my main concern?
Has anyone tried putting Baking Soda, Calcium Carbonate, Epsom
salt into the aquarium before?

First question - don't think you need to switch off filter. Observe your plant growth. IF they still flourish, it means it is ok.

Second - I think the above chemical has no ill effect on fishes if they are dose in moderate amount. I do know they can kill shrimps if overdose. I did that with K2so4

To address Carbon issue, it is still about controlling your CO2 content in the tank during lights on. IF not, you are merely guessing..

Yes, magnesium and calcium is good for plant. They are just TE. In the end, still CO2, NPK, and Trace in the order..and must be in order.

[Shaihulud]

If you add baking baking soda and limestone into your tank, it will make your water hard and raise the ph, its good for some fishes.

[Blue Whale]

1. No effect.

2. Bicarbonate of Soda increases water hardness.
What does it mean? Tap water is soft. So you use a cake of soap and there are a lot of bubbles. Hard water means there is almost no bubbles. SGD$1-2 depends on brand.

Hardwater means that ph will not go up and down so fast but that does not mean it does not. Just at slower pace so you will still want to make sure that the PH is maintain at a certain level.

At Yishun Aqua Star Trading, the water are treated to PH 7.2 with a label sticker onto the tanks if you observe carefully. Waterworks supplying water for Yishun, Admiralty, Marsiling, Woodlands currently supply water between PH 7.6 - 8.0, quite scary if you look at it. There are ways to control PH, either via tank environment or water. Tank environment such as plants, rocks, sand bed, gravels, etc. You would be interested to read more threads in AQ concern these topics. This is not going to be a "Okay, I read one thread and issue is resolved" thingy. So you have to do "on job training". Yes, you would understand by now that it is long way and there will be different learning curve for each individual since the understand capability differs.

So question now, where to start? Read old threats, in Planted Tank (except viva section), Fish care, nutrition and water management.

[blue33]

The area i stay in Woodlands the PH is 7, dont know why yours is so high.

[Blue Whale]

Yours is new woodlands or old woodlands? Mine is new woodlands, closest to Ave. 12.
Biotope there measured about 8, Victor recalibrated his ph tester. Myself using solution based test kit. Vista point LFS also tested around 8 or so. We tested tap water.

[blue33]

Yours is new woodlands or old woodlands? Mine is new woodlands, closest to Ave. 12.
Biotope there measured about 8, Victor recalibrated his ph tester. Myself using solution based test kit. Vista point LFS also tested around 8 or so. We tested tap water.

I stay around that cluster also. I'm using digital PH test pen btw.

[Blue Whale]

Yo...high time to recalibrate liao..ha ha.

[blue33]

Dont worry, i have most equipment with me. You might need to do more research before comments. IMHO

[Blue Whale]

Nope. Based on actual experience and knowledge. I do not like to cling to theory too much. I got warnings that white cement affects water color and ph. So far tested negative. Too much research cloud the mind. This current AQ account is created simply because I forget the password and id.

[blue33]

I would definitely be curious of your past experienced.

[Blue Whale]

Our area used to be at pH7.2 a few years back. PH Test conducted at Vista Point itself and my 5 room flat. Past experience would be around 2003 period before AQ switch to PHP to powered AQ. Was a shitty noob back then, have GoonDoo, StormHawk, Mrs Oink, BCTeo, Stan, Choy, Vinz, Wackytpt etc. to guide me along the way. Some are not administrators but good sensei.

The current PH tests were conducted after the Vista Market FS (obviously a different FS) alerted me to batches of fish dying. The water ph from fish farm are worst according to what I ask at the same place, BioTope, AquaStarTrading, one shop at C328, something close to 8. Since then I have already re-condition my water. Both fish and plants are still doing fine. Just working within acceptable perimeters.

[blue33]

If you check my Journal thread, i directly introduce tap water straight into my tank with those anti-chlorine stuff and i change lots of water each time, >50%. My fauna has never die because of that. Lots of times is the person who are not sure of what they are doing, problems usually lies with humans and those who do not know and anyhow teach.

[Blue Whale]

Well my 3ft is losing water, so now got 50% left after being knocked by my parents causing some leaking problem at the center, that is why I need to shift the plants and fish to the new tank that I am currently setting up. Bobian (No choice). As you can see I ain't have much 50% of water to change.

Teach must teach correctly lor. Aeration hmm...really need to? I don't think so, geographically speaking. Dechlorination a must. It depends, some solutions have dechlorination and stablising properties at the same time. I doing each manually, wanted to learn it last time so still have the skills to maintain it. Not too bad I could say so myself. So long the plants can accept all the fertilizers that we dose, then it is not wasted effort. If not, we be throwing money. E.g. not enough lighting. Fish don't die easily. Human is the problem. agreed.

[Merviso]

haha... well, since both of you stay at woodland... why not just go down together to Biotope for a cup of coffee, and then test the water together... If not, you test your home water and he test his home water... both can still be correct....

[barmby]

pH high , fish tend to have better appetite. and grows at faster rate

[Blue Whale]

Biotope that row does not sell coffee. across the street have. Heh. If both of us go Admiralty, it would be closer...heh heh.

ph high = better appetite? hmmm....

[barmby]

Nothing, it is just a myth that I believe

[Blue Whale]

That's alright. Got belief means got chance to prove and test it. ^o^Y Paiseh, I do not share this belief. For me, if they are hungry, they will eat the plants if you don't feed em sufficiently....and that is bad bad bad bad news for the plants. Having said that, feeding itself is also an art by itself, because you want to feed the fishy but don't want to overfeed. Put less, feed twice is also another method.

[An2timun]

The area i stay in Woodlands the PH is 7, dont know why yours is so high.

sorry off topic...i thought your location is "mai ka lu kong"?..you just divulge yourself.....anyway you still get my salute with a spring for the IAPLC 2009 ranking