New Co2 Pressurised System, Am I Doing Anything Wrong?

[rich05uk]

I've just installed a new Dennerle CO2 pressurised system (including Drop Checker) and just wanted some reassurance that it's working right and I'm not doing anything wrong. Also I want to confirm if my water parameters are ok for a fully planted tank.

I have a 136 Litre Tank (36 US / 30 UK Gallons). I have 90 Watts of light, not sure if WPG is measured in US or UK Gallons? But it's either 2.5 (US) or 3 (UK) WPG? I have the lights phasing in over 1 hour, on full for 10 hours then phasing out over 1 hour, is this ok?

My water parameters after a 50% water change and before starting installing the CO2 are as follows

Ammonia (NH3/4)………….0PPM
Nitrite (NO2)………………..0PPM
Nitrate (NO3)……………….5PPM
Potential Hydrogen (PH)……7.6
Carbonate Hardness (KH)…..60PPM (3.36 dH°)
General Hardness (gH)……...160PPM (8.96 dH°)
Phosphate (PO4)…………..1
Calcium……………………...Concentration 40PPM / Hardness 100PPM
Magnesium…………………..Concentration 15PPM / Hardness 60PPM
Iron (Fe)……………………..Non-Chelated 0PPM / Chelated 0PPM

I am adding TropiFlora Freshwater Aquarium Plant Fertiliser as per the instructions but I'm not sure if the parameters above are good enough for a planted tank, in particular the Magnesium and Iron? What values should they be and how do I increase them?

I have been running my CO2 system for 1 full day and the only change is the PH which has dropped to 7.2PPM, I believe this needs to drop to 6.6 or 6.5 to get a 30PPM mixture CO2, is this correct? Seems a lot to me?

If this is correct, how long should it take to reach 30PPM CO2? I started as per the instructions at 15 bubbles per minute (10 BPM per 100 Litres of Water) but after 6 hours noticed no change in PH so have now increased this to 30 bubbles per minute and have only just noticed the small drop in PH of .4 so wondered, do I need to increase this to about 60/70 bubbles per minute to drop the PH by 1 to hit the target of 6.6?

Sorry if this information is already somewhere else in this forum but I've been reading the pages on this forum for a couple of hours now and not come across any of my questions so any help is much appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[Dave Spencer]

For a high light, high growth tank like yours you may find the nitrates and phosphates to be a bit too low. I usually aim for around 25ppm nitrate and 4ppm phosphate. Have a read of the EI sticky at the top of this forum for a comprehensive guide to plant nutritional requirements.

Adding a decent trace element fertiliser will sort out any iron problems. As for Mg, you have softish water, but it may well contain enough of this, plus Ca for your plant requirements. I have very soft water, so I add GH booster every water change as a "just in case" precaution.

Are you using 4dKH water in your CO2 drop checker?

To be honest, I would try to move away from using test kits, if I were you. Dose to excess and let your plants and fish tell you if anything is wrong. Test kits for the hobby are unreliable and not too accurate. Unless you are carrying out lab analysis, I would seriously doubt your results for iron etc.

Dave.

 

[rich05uk]

I'm using the pre-made Dennerle Indicator Solution that came with the Dennerle Drop Checker. Its supposed to work very well and is made using the finest precision so in theory should be better than making my own, although more expensive but I'm not too concerned as it costs about £6 for 5 months worth of solution.

I'm not sure what exactly the Waterlife TropiFlora I'm using has in it, I have read all the instructions and it just seems to say

Maintains vigorous plant growth and helps to suppress algae. The trace elements and plant foods present in tropiflora are complexed for slow release over a 10 - 14 day period. Does not contain nitrates.

After reading the EI article, I think I need to invest in some better Fertilisers for my plant nutritional requirements, any recommendations? I think I'm looking at Tropica, Seachem or Dennerle products? Is it better to buy the individual fertilizers (e.g. Iron, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium & Trace Elements in separate bottles) or buy a combined product with everything in such as Tropica Plant Nutrition+ which seems to have everything you need all in one bottle? Finally, is it better to use liquid or dry fertilisers?

Oh and I agree with what you said about my Nitrates and Phosphates being too low, I just tested them again and the Nitrates are now 0ppm and the Phosphates are now 0.5ppm. Fingers crossed I can keep my Algae under control until I can balance everything out.

 

[aaronnorth]

it will probobaly be ok, sometimes 5dkh solution is used. If you ever need anymore it is available from Aqua Essentials.

I would be adding a plant fertiliser with nitrate it in, the reccomended is 20ppm & yours is only 5ppm. BGA is linked with low NO3. When it says suppresses algae, i also think that it may not add PO4 either looking at your levels.

I would go with TPN+, it contains everything which seachem produce but a lot cheaper compared to buying all tose bottles! Dose it at 5ml per 100l daily or every other day and adjust this as necassary. Dry powders may be slightly better but not much. They are a lot cheaper so it is better for larger tanks.

 

[rich05uk]

Ok, I'll order some Tropica Plant Nutrition+ then. Is it also worth getting some non + (which is the same but without Nitrogen and Phosphorus) so I can firtalise whenever without worring about adding too much nitrogen and phosphorus? Also, you say to add daily or every other day but tropica's website says to add each week after water changes?

Also, what about my CO2, i'm upto 100 bubbles per minute now and my drop checker has finally gone a dark green colour which i beleive is 20PPM, does that sound about right, seems alot as the istructions again say to start with 15 bubbles per minute for my tank size?

Thanks.

 

[aaronnorth]

for the tropica liquid, get either one, or the other. I think i read that a 5ml dose per 50l adds 6ppm Nitrate so i doubt you will overdose. Tropica reccomends that, but dosing less more often is better for your plants as the nutrients are guaranteed to be there, they might run out by next week!

green drop checker = 30ppm CO2. Aim for a greeny yellow. BPM are not that accurate, they are a guideline so you dont inject to much from the start. I run 3BPS which is 180 BPM on my 60l! (sounds more when you do it in minutes!)

 

[rich05uk]

Thanks aaronnorth, I think I'm going to get the full TPN+ then. I'm happy with my CO2 now, I’ve reduced my surface agitation and with 100 BPM i have had a stable CO2 of between 20ppm - 40ppm (dark green/light green) which I believe a certain swing is inevitable between first thing in the morning (lights come on) and last thing at night (lights going off).