Algae removal for plants

[vinz]

Fill in the "newbies" form at the top of the "Planted Tank" forum. That will give us more details and hopefully tell us what is raising your pH so high. What are you using to measure your pH?

If your plants are growing well, most likely you have enough CO2.

Does the packaging/manual indicate the optimum levels of CO2 that the indicators are suppose to measure? E.g. if the manufacturer sets the optimum level to be 20ppm and maintain 30ppm in your tank, the indicator will always tell you you have too much CO2.

[cheefw]

I'm using a PH pen to take measurement.

[vinz]

I suggest you calibrate your pH pen.

[bttay]

A CO2 reactor helps to disolve CO2 gas into the water. If you don't use a reactor, most probably the CO2 bubbles are just going to raise to water surface and disappear into the air. You won't get much effect from the CO2 injection in that case.

[cheefw]

could not locate the form!

[PeterGwee]

Here you go...

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

Tank Dimensions (LxWxH):
Tank Volume (litres or gallons):
Lighting Intensity(No of Watts) :
Type of Lighting (FL/PL/MH) :
No. of Hours your light is on :
CO2 Injection Rate (bps) :
Type of CO2 (DIY/Liquid/Tank) :
Method of Injection (e.g. Diffusor/Reactor):
Substrate Used :
How Thick is your base fert :
How thick is your gravel :
Liquid Fertilizers Used :
Frequency of fertilization :
Tank Temperature :
Type of Filter (overhead/internal/canister) :
Filter media used :
How long has your tank been set up :
Other equipment :

Chemical Properties (Fill what you can)
---------------------------------------
Carbonate Hardness (KH):
Total Hardness (gH):
pH :
NH4 (ppm):
NO2 (ppm):
NO3 (ppm):
PO4 (ppm):
Fe (ppm):

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

<State what fishes and plants you have to the best of your ability>


Describe your problem :

<problem description. If you have picture which could help then please post them>

[Plantbrain]

CO2 is your issue at present, then take a trip down and get the KNO3, K2SO4, and KH2PO4 from Teo's, Dr Malick's(?) etc.
TMG is good.

Dose 2-3 x a week, 40-50% weekly water change.

For each dose add:
1/2 teaspoon of KNO3
1/16 teaspoon KH2PO4
15mls of TMG.

After water change also add 1/2 teaspoon of K2SO4 and dechlorinator.

Add enough CO2 gas to drop the pH to 6.7-6.9 range for the entire lighting period day.
Test when the lights come on and when they go off. Make sure the pH is in this range. It's unlikely the KH measurement is an error, double check the pH though.

Tell us more about the CO2 reactor diffuser set up. It is your Achillies Heel.
2 bubbles a second should be enough to have juicy CO2 reading if you use a reactor for this size of tank with CO2 to spare.

Everything else looks okay.
Amano shrimps are very good for hairgrass but the puffers would eat them.

If you can do these recommendations, you'll be 70% of the way there. Won't cost much either.

Regards,
Tom Barr