Any Easycarbo Experts About?

[pauly]

Tank Details:
180l Tank
2 x 35w T5's with reflectors
2 x plants
fully stocked with fish

Problem:
I decided to get plants a while back, just added fertilser under my sand and then added nutrients with every water change. I lost all but two of my plants, the surviving ones were in bad shape.

I've since started using EasyCarbo, adding 2.5ml daily. The surviving plants have improved but aren't great (though they had a week with no dosage at all).

The EasyCarbo instructions strongly advise against overdosing.

I've noticed some black bush algae appearing on my bogwood and rocks which I believe is a sign of low CO2. I therefore tested my PH and KH and used an online calculator to determine my CO2 level is only 6ppm.

The recommended CO2 level is around 30ppm, so how do I increase it without overdosing the EasyCarbo? I've already reduced the amount of time the lights are on for.

Any help, much appreciated.

Pauly.

 

[SexyFishKeeper]

EC does not supply CO2 to the water, the plants use EC to make a carbon source, so the pH and kH test is a waste. Same as a drop checker is a waste when the only carbon source is EC.
What plants are you talking about?

 

[pauly]

Ah that makes sense, thanks.

Not sure what my plants are, maybe Jungle Val (Vallisneria americana).

Pauly.

 

[SexyFishKeeper]

Vallis and liquid carbon do not mix as they don't convert it to carbon easily as other plants.
Whilst when I had vallis and dosed EC, it was ok, most people see that vallis fails when dosing liquid carbon.

I would suggest that you either change the vallis to something else, or that you look into getting another co2 source.

 

[aaronnorth]

pH/ KH charts dont work due to acidic compunds in the water. if you have a pH6.6 & KH4 then it is highly unlikley you will have 30ppm CO2 without even injecting any
EC is made up of gluteraldehyde which is a complex carbon molecule, plants break this down through chemical processes and convert it into carbon.
Similar plant to vallis is cyperus helferi, or crptocoryne balansae.