Co2 Tablets

[matistp]

Hi there,


I do have a 45l tank and I have noticed that I have green spot algae spreading.

From what I was reading it might be due to the fact I do not have enough co2 in my tank. This might also explain why my Eleocharis Acicularis (Hair Grass)is slowly dying.
I do not really want to put proper co2 solution as I do not have enough space and £££ so I found this on eBay.
Is this any good ? anyone tried this ?
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/CO2-carbon-dioxide-Aquarium-plants-seaweed-36-TABLETS-F-/380243203749?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item588842d6a5

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/CO2-Plant-Tablets-Trace-Elements-30TBA-/140417952827?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item20b18fec3b

IN my tank I keep
12 Tetra neon’s
2 pleco (black and gold) Any idea why they will always hide and I never see him eating any algae from glass walls? and even when I feed shrimps with algae waffle when they see me they hide behind rock.
couple of cherry shrimps (15-20)

Plants
Aquafleur Anubias Nana Bonzai
Hair Grass
Cabomba caroliniana
and two more small plants but I dont remember their names right now.

Filtering is done by
RESUN CY-20 working about 4-5h a day and i keeps water clean very nice.

I also have this cut in 5 pieces and place near plants

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170424139708

water change is done every 1-2 weeks 30-40% each time

lighting is a normal 11w lamp as i do have just normal light socket under hood


thanks!
marcin

 

[PDSimon]

Whats your substrate?

I don't know what the demands of hair grass are but it sounds to me like you have inadaquate lighting and you don't dose with any ferts? You know you can buy liquid carbon to put in tanks? its very simple.

 

[OldMan47]

I am moving this post to the planted section where people who know plants tend to hang out and can help. In the meanwhile I am going to give you a strong suggestion. Do not turn off your filter ever. It needs to run 24 hours every day or it will never develop the bacterial colonies needed to keep your fish from being poisoned by ammonia and nitrites. Vigorously growing plants can help out the filter but dying plants make the problem worse than having no plants at all.

 

[ian]

OM47 is right, never turn your filter off. This could be one of the explanations of why your getting green spot. When the water isn't flowing evenly around the plants, some plants are going to use what c02 you have and others are gonna suffer. So the algae will take over. Using a good fert like Tropica Plant Nutrition plus could also be useful as it contains phosphate, which is another cause of green spot. However i'd try the first explanation, give the algae a good scraped off first.

As for c02 tablets, i cannot comment as i have never used them. However, from what i have read, they are a waste of money. You'd be better using DIY c02 on a tank the size of yours.

have a read of...

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=164548&st=0

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=212550

or try dosing flourish excel or easycarbo like PDSimon recommends.

 

[matistp]

how can i scrape it from plants ?

 

[lljdma06]

This is 45L, go the DIY CO2 route, if you wish. It is easy, cheap, and with a dropchecker and two canisters, you'll get quite stable CO2 levels. I used fermentation CO2 injection in my 8g when I set it up for scapes. If you have two canisters or containers and alternate changing them, you'll can get a stable green color in your dropchecker or even a yellow, depending on your mix and what your goals are.

Two links for you.

Nutrafin CO2 Basic user Guide

Drop Checkers

Yeah, pressurized is ultimately better, but sometimes, especially for the little tanks, I just don't see the point. A glass diffusor will also help spread the CO2 around.

I don't know, just a thought if you're considering CO2 injection.

Liquid carbon is also an option for a small tank. My beef with liquid carbon is that you can't measure the levels, and it can sometimes damage certain plant species. Easycarbo and Flourish Excel are the two most prominent brands of liquid carbon.

llj

 

[matistp]

HI there,

So i am looking to build my co2 diy setup and i think i go with yeast solution but what will be better ladder or Diffuser ?

also should i consider this as an option ?
http/www.rocketaquatics.co.uk/hagen-plant-natural-system-p-2352.html