Help with New Tank Questions

**shrimppaste** · 5th Jul 2010, 22:44

Hi Everyone,

I have a few questions. I just started a 5 X 2 X 2 Tank. I am using EI method which I have been using very successfully on my 3 foot tank. However, recently I am starting to see Rhizoclonium and I am trying to quickly nip the problem before it gets out of hand. So here are my questions.

I am using 6 X 80 watt for this tank wwhich is 150 gallon. Which means it comes down to 3.2 watts per gallon. Is this too much for a 5 foot tank? I heard somewhere that the W/G for a bigger tank shold be lower than a smaller tank. And also I am just having low light plants like moss and bolbitis an java ferns in my tank. However, I have fissiden sitting on the bottom, which is 2 feet deep which is why I thought using more lights would be better to reach the fissidens at the bottom.
I am using 1 CO2 tank situated at the corner of the tank. Is this enough? I am using like & bubbles per second but the drop checker is still blue. I have heard that the biggest cause of Rhizoclonium is low CO2 level and I have heard that for 5 feet tank, it would be better to use 2 CO2 one at each corner.
So if I were to do something immediate, would you suggest for me to first increase CO2 (meaning add one more tank) and make sure the drop checker turns yellow? Or would you suggest I drop it down to 4 lights to go down to 2.13 W/G? and keep the CO2 the same?

Thanks a lot. Please help me on this as I need to act on it soon. Thqanks so much everyone.

**barmby** · 8th Jul 2010, 13:04

Hi,

I am using 1 CO2 tank situated at the corner of the tank. Is this enough?

Not enough.

Connect your CO2 to a powerhead (Dolphin). Put powerhead at the back of the tank, connect the powerhead to a tube (with holes) run it along the bottom back of the tank.

In addition, add one more CO2 with diffuser at another corner of the tank.

Lights is not a problem. CO2 is - I believe. Circulation for 5 x 2 x 2 is very difficult. Click on my tank below - you can see my pipe.

**shrimppaste** · 9th Jul 2010, 14:25

Hi Barmby,

I see you have a lot of light so you think the light is not the issue? More of the CO2? Thanks.

**barmby** · 9th Jul 2010, 14:37

CO2 is always a problem for big tank. Light - no issue. In fact there are losses when light reaches the bottom of the tank. This tank cannot grow Glossostigma elatinoides and Hemianthus micranthemoides

PS: Lighting does affect plant growth patterns!

**shrimppaste** · 9th Jul 2010, 15:42

Ah ok ok. Thanks. So I think I will do a black out and increase CO2 then. Thanks!

**Shadow** · 9th Jul 2010, 15:54

split your CO2 and inject it from 2 different corner. Are you using glass diffuser or reactor? Trust your drop checker because bps can be vary depending on how efficient is your diffuser/reactor.

**shrimppaste** · 9th Jul 2010, 16:06

I am actually running one more reactor

So 2 reactors.

**Shadow** · 9th Jul 2010, 16:09

Cool, that should improve CO2 level.

**shrimppaste** · 9th Jul 2010, 16:47

OK ok thanks!

**Fei Miao** · 12th Jul 2010, 10:54

Yes, CO2 is usually the issue, crank it up and as Colin and Robert stated, adding a powerheads having 2 reactors will ensure more effective distribution since the it's a large tank, I would also do massive WC to nip the problem at the bud. Looking forward to your posting of the tank.

Read up on Tom Barr's articles.

Cheers