Newbie Plant Questions

[Phoenixfish]

hi im considering going more seriously into planted aquariums, i have quite a densly planted rio 125 (33gals ish) aquarium but dont fert or inject and have 2.3wpg
ive read into DIY CO2 and think i could sort that out, im ok with my lighting at the moment but just lost completly with dosing the tank

now in my local they have seacheams fundimentals pack at £16 now does anyone know anyitng about this product? would that be all that is required? or is there more? im just reading the stickies now

 

[Themuleous]

Think the fundamentals pack has flourish, iron and excel, which are ok, but if you are going the high light route, you'll need phosphate and nitrogen as well.

I reckon you'll have more questions after you've read the stickies

Sam

 

[Phoenixfish]

Think the fundamentals pack has flourish, iron and excel, which are ok, but if you are going the high light route, you'll need phosphate and nitrogen as well.

I reckon you'll have more questions after you've read the stickies

Sam

lol well my tank is a Jewel rio so extra lighting may be a problem to attach without removing and changing the whole hood,

i may go buy the fert tomorrow if i have time
and im looking into DIY CO2,
is there any test i need to buy for DIY CO2? i have the standard tests, *i know this sounds bad* but just knock up a batch and let it run its course?
i dont plan on going down the fancy root just a plastic bottle and yeast, it says in the stickys that its nigh impossible to overdose so surely there wouldnt be a need to buy tests, i know this would give me and my plants random CO2 levels (yes ill try to keep it constant but you know ...) but i could live with that for now

 

[Phoenixfish]

oops double post delete please mod

 

[Themuleous]

You need KH and pH test kits to work out the CO2, but for low light tanks, its not as vital to get a stable 30ppm CO2, so I unless you already have the kits, I wouldn't worry about it.

Sam

 

[Phoenixfish]

You need KH and pH test kits to work out the CO2, but for low light tanks, its not as vital to get a stable 30ppm CO2, so I unless you already have the kits, I wouldn't worry about it.

Sam

yeh thats what i ment,ill finish making the bottle thingy tomorrow, got some airtube and a one way valve i just need to find my gluegun and we are set ^^
also ive got a question i brought a load of plants a couple of days ago and on my java fern ive got lots of brown things growing ont he back of the leaves are they normal or snail eggs or something? they dont look like my usual snail eggs?

java fern


plus here are some random plants in my tank dont cringe at any mockery to names i post as im a newbie to planted tanks . . so be nice ^^, also any comments on which might die etc etc would be useful/are harder plants to grow

this thing

pennywort?!? smelt like mint

this thing plus one of my 3 spots

mini swordgrass or something (ignore mess on rocks its remains of an algae tablet)

"normal" swordgrass

Cambomba or something

i also have a variaty of hygrophilia (possible sp) and Anacharis

 

[Themuleous]

Those things on the java fern are normal, most will grow into plantlets, which you can attach to something if you want.

Nice selection of plants, nothing to taxing in there I dont think

Sam

 

[Phoenixfish]

thanks i tried putting together a DIY CO2 kit i killed the first lot of yeast with too hot water lol, added the second lot in about 20 minutes ago goit it running into my powerhead, now ive just got ot wait and see f anyhitng is produced but ive got a feeling that i may have to remake my mixtures but we shall see ive found my old newbie test kit (those all in one test strips) and that had KH and GH so i may try that, what levels dangerous i.e. may cause a PH crash in KH? is it below 2 or something

 

[Phoenixfish]

thanks i tried putting together a DIY CO2 kit i killed the first lot of yeast with too hot water lol, added the second lot in about 20 minutes ago goit it running into my powerhead, now ive just got ot wait and see f anyhitng is produced but ive got a feeling that i may have to remake my mixtures but we shall see ive found my old newbie test kit (those all in one test strips) and that had KH and GH so i may try that, what levels dangerous i.e. may cause a PH crash in KH? is it below 2 or something

edit: KH of 7+