Basic Questions - Co2, Ei And Plants

[boxman]

Hi all

After recently purchasing a 2nd hand tank with several fish already inhabiting it (see 40gal sig) I've decided to turn this tank into my planted project. I have a few questions

(I've posted a previous thread on whether pressurised or non-pressurised CO2 is best so presuming I can only afford the non-pressurised please could any answers be based on this)

1) Can I follow Zig's EI guide as well as setting up CO2 with fish in the tank?
2) Should I start the process with CO2 before EI? (I understand CO2 should be stable at 30ppm but would starting these both together be pointless - no I don't want to rush this as I want to get it right but if they can both be commenced at the same time I may as well)
3) Should the plants I'm wanting to grow be kept in the tank prior to installing CO2?
4) Can CO2 / EI effect fish if the parameters go bad, if so what are the symptoms?
5) Probably a silly question but I'll be likely to run my Rena +2 external canister in the project tank, do things like nitrate reduction pouches and carbon pouches etc.. reduce the effectiveness of CO2?

Sorry if these questions have been asked many times but I've read the pinned threads and these are the questions I have left after my research.

Thanks again!!!!

 

[George Farmer]

What lighting?

 

[Themuleous]

1) Yes, you can add CO2 to a tank without all the rest, I have read George recommend you add co2 to most tanks that have plants, I have to agree. It cant really hurt if it does no good (apart from the obvious fish death if it goes really pete tong ). But I would get the CO2 stable before you start to add the ferts and trace mix and the lights.

2) Yes, as above. If you have it all there (lighting, CO2, ferts, substrate), start everything together, it'll help your plants establish quickly and get things off to a good start, that's what I've just done. If you need to get CO2 stable, do this over two days and the rest after that.

3) yes - where else you going to keep them! but I wouldn't order them to much in advance as if the tank isn't ready yet, the more demanding ones may suffer while you're sorting the tank out. A week or so would prob be ok thou.

4) Yes, dont know the details, but nitrate has been found to affect fish if it gets to high, but understocking and regular testing should stop this happening. And obviously CO2 can kill fish if it gets really high, fish breathing at the surface is a clear sign this could be happening. That's the big advantage with pressuried CO2 systems, you have much better control over how much you add.

You dont want to be adding nitrate pouches as they'll remove the nitrate you add for the plants! so bit pointless really. And carbon will remove the trace ferts (iron, etc) you add so dont use them for long period, just to remove any medications, etc if needs be.

BTW what substrate you got? If its just gravel or sand and you're serious about EI then you're prob going to have to change it for a plant one.

Hope this helps

Sam