Co2 Overdose

[MrNiceGuy]

yesterday i setup 3 diy co2 diffusers in my 20 gallon long aquarium. they're all connected to 1 liter bottles.

this morning both of my bolivian rams were missing and just about 5 minutes ago i found one in a vertical position continually gasping at the surface. i'm guessing theres too much co2 so i removed one of the diffusers.

but is that enough? should i remove another one? i only set up 3 because i've been told that one diffuser wouldn't be sufficient for a heavily planted tank.


edit: I now have 7 white cloud minnows all gasping at the surface along with a bolivian ram. in addition i have 3 corys and another bolivian ram that are completely missing. i also found a ghost shrimp dead on the gravel (i have about 4 of them).

 

[ian]

to be honest, i would be very suprised that three, 1 litre bottles in a 30g tank would be causing your rams to gasp. Has there been any flicking?

 

[MrNiceGuy]

to be honest, i would be very suprised that three, 1 litre bottles in a 30g tank would be causing your rams to gasp. Has there been any flicking?

yeah, i read that it is difficult to overdose co2 with a diy system, but it now seems that my minnows are gasping at the surface too. i haven't seen any flicking though.


could it be lack of circulation? i have very slow water movement for my gouramis. the diffusers are also set up in heavily planted areas... could it be a problem that some of the bubbles are getting stuck in the water and not reaching the surface?


i also read that insufficient light could be a problem but i have T5's going so i doubt thats the problem.

 

[ian]

you want the bubbles to disperse into the water. Have you got a test kit?

You also need good circulation in a planted tank to ensure that all the nutrients get delivered all over the tank. Gouramis don't mind a bit of flow.

also you wouldn't tend to see the fish gasping if the lights are on as the plants should be using the C02 provide.

 

[MrNiceGuy]

you want the bubbles to disperse into the water. Have you got a test kit?

You also need good circulation in a planted tank to ensure that all the nutrients get delivered all over the tank. Gouramis don't mind a bit of flow.

also you wouldn't tend to see the fish gasping if the lights are on as the plants should be using the C02 provide.

nah, unfortunately i don't have a test kit. are you suggesting that the gasping today after the co2 was installed yesterday might just be a coincidence? what else could cause gasping? and thanks for your help by the way.



edit: and now it seems my fish are not eating. i fed them for the first time today and when i left the room and came back i can see a bunch of large flakes have hit the gravel. thats something that never happens so now im a little freaked out. also, i just realized my 3 corys are missing too. this is really becoming a bummer.

edit again: and now i see a dead ghost shrimp lying on the gravel. AHH!

 

[Lolly123]

you want the bubbles to disperse into the water. Have you got a test kit?

You also need good circulation in a planted tank to ensure that all the nutrients get delivered all over the tank. Gouramis don't mind a bit of flow.

also you wouldn't tend to see the fish gasping if the lights are on as the plants should be using the C02 provide.

nah, unfortunately i don't have a test kit. are you suggesting that the gasping today after the co2 was installed yesterday might just be a coincidence? what else could cause gasping? and thanks for your help by the way.



edit: and now it seems my fish are not eating. i fed them for the first time today and when i left the room and came back i can see a bunch of large flakes have hit the gravel. thats something that never happens so now im a little freaked out. also, i just realized my 3 corys are missing too. this is really becoming a bummer.

edit again: and now i see a dead ghost shrimp lying on the gravel. AHH!

I think whether you are having problems or not, a test kit is extremely important. You would most likely know if it was the co2 if you could rule out most other things. No signs of disease or anything?

If you think its the co2 then use something to agitate the surface and get some circulation in there.

 

[ian]

I would do a 50% water change personally. As i say, i can't see it being the C02, however if things were fine before, remove it.

How long has the tank been set up?

 

[MrNiceGuy]

I would do a 50% water change personally. As i say, i can't see it being the C02, however if things were fine before, remove it.

How long has the tank been set up?

its been up for about 2 years now. i took out all the diffusers and i also removed the lid of the tank... thinking maybe more surface air would help... i dont know.

since then the fish look a little bit better although i still can't find my other bolivian ram or my corys.

i've reintroduced one of the diffusers and i think i'll reintroduce the others slowly over time.

I finally thought i had everything figured out, but i guess not.