Am I Doing This Right?

[purple_jeep]

Hi Guys,

I have a 3ft 120L tank (32G) that we are trying to run as a planted tank with Discus in it and some small Tetras.
Now the lfs got us started on Dupla products so we have about 1.5-2 inch thick 2-3mm gravel base with Duplarit K in the gravel. We use Dupla Plant tablets with every water change and dose with Dupla Plant 24 3 drops daily.

For filtration we are running a Eheim 2026 with Eheim Ehfi Mech at the bottem then the blue filter pad then Eheim Ehfi Substrate PRO followed by the white filter pad. We have an Eheim 100 Air pump running a 6 inch bubble wall. Lighting is a single HOBBY brand Plant light of 30 Watts.

There is alot of phosphates in the tank as we are using Seachem Discus Buffer for the discus (tho we may change this ) and we use Dupla GAN for water conditioning and Dupla KH+ to increast KH. The guy at the lfs says to use a phosphate remover with the seachem stuff to control our phosphates (will prob get Dupla Phos) but not so sure thats the best way to do it....

So any comments critisisms?

What should we change/add?

Thinking of adding CO2 using Dupla CO2 Set Omega which is a yeast based solution and its only $72 at the lfs. Anyone used it before or know if i can use the home made recipe instead of paying $12 a month for a refill. It says it produces CO2 for a month suitable for tanks upto 150L.

Thanks

Chris

 

[Squid]

Sorry im not too helpful here, but i would probabaly remover the bubble wall if starting to use CO2... I believe that too much in the way of surface agitation (**spelling doesn't look right there.. it's late) can drive some of the CO2 out of the tank..

I don't know your co2 kit, but if it has a bottle type bit, some tubing and a diffuser/ladder/bubble counter, then i'm sure the DIYCO2 would be fine.. I have just started using it. Works a treat. Depending on your water stats you may need the bicarb as a stabiliser.

At about 1 watt per gallon, its a low light tank, so just check the plants you use are suitable. I have seen low light tanks benefiting from CO2, mine is only 1.3 wpg..

You may need someone who has discus to advise on plants, ferts PH, KH and disus mix though..

Cheers
Squid

PS..... i have that filter.. great choice

 

[SuperColey1]

Sounds very expensive for a yeast based CO2 when the Nutrafin is £20 inc delivery in the UK, and said to be the best of them ($38)
look on ebay

 

[purple_jeep]

Sorry I should have mentioned that price is in Aussie dollars.

I havent seen the Nutrafin here anywhere, maybe I'll have a better look

Chris

 

[SuperColey1]

If you can't find it in Aus ebay and they won't post you it. pm me and I'll give you my paypal and post to you. Will be cheaper than ebay because I am buying another one in 3 weeks time anyway, so I'll just get 2 and im not paying postage so will be £18+delivery to Aus

 

[purple_jeep]

If you can't find it in Aus ebay and they won't post you it. pm me and I'll give you my paypal and post to you. Will be cheaper than ebay because I am buying another one in 3 weeks time anyway, so I'll just get 2 and im not paying postage so will be £18+delivery to Aus

Looks like I found it

is this it?
http/www.theaquariumshop.com.au/shopexd....+Natural+System

Only issue i see is that it says its only for a 75L tank does that mean i will need two?
While the Dupla says its for a 150L tank?

Chris

 

[SuperColey1]

If you can't find it in Aus ebay and they won't post you it. pm me and I'll give you my paypal and post to you. Will be cheaper than ebay because I am buying another one in 3 weeks time anyway, so I'll just get 2 and im not paying postage so will be £18+delivery to Aus

Looks like I found it

is this it?
http/www.theaquariumshop.com.au/shopexd....+Natural+System

Only issue i see is that it says its only for a 75L tank does that mean i will need two?
While the Dupla says its for a 150L tank?

Chris

Thats the one matey - pinned thread top of Planted section

That will depend on the amount of plants you have (or want), the amount of light you have (or want).

I am getting a second for a 125ltr T connected to one diffusor and am aiming at high light (I already have 70-75% planted substrate)
If you think you need more maybe you should go for pressurised cannisters and the like. Only reason I am not is to keep everything tidy as I have 2 'fiddling' toddlers and I can put these kits on top of the hood!!

I would suggest 1 would be OK, as it works for me unless you have super duper light then you will need more.

Look at the pinned thread from George on this kit and DIY kits in general which is at the top of the planted section. I think with home made recipes this kit works for 100L. can't remember. I will have to re read it

[Just re read the first part but he says it should be OK for a 100LTR 30UK gallon] (not much diff from 125Ltr so I just went with it and nooo problems as yet (be warned I am only 20 days in)

I don't know if this is cheaper with delivery?
http/cgi.ebay.com/NUTRAFIN-CO2-AQUATIC-P...1QQcmdZViewItem