No Pearling!

[lowee]

Well, my tanks been running for 5 days now, there's 3.4WPG, pressurized CO2 and full EI dosing. And i think i have seen 2 pearls in 5 days! Anyone have any ideas why theres no pearling?

Thanks

 

[RadaR]

You say you use pressurised CO2 but do you know what level it is at? You may not be injecting enough and/or diffusing it well.

 

[lowee]

Well, according to the Ph/Kh i have 54ppm (no fish at the moment) and am using a spiral glass diffuser right under the filter outlet, blowing the bubbles around the tank,

 

[RadaR]

Ah, right. I'd advise looking at another method of testing your CO2.

Here's one called the Permanent Co2 Test. It's one of the best.
This is another way. Take 2 samples of tank water. Both the same volume and test one of the sample's pH. Record that down somewhere. Leave the other sample alone for 24 hours and then test it's pH. The drop should be 1 or close to it and that indicates a level of 30ppm.

 

[lowee]

Ok, i will look into other methods, but surely anything around 54ppm should be enough for pearling?

 

[Maximumbob]

I havnt set up a planted tank and gone straight EI, but I would assume that the plants would need some bedding in time to get over the shock of transportation and planting. Give them a little time to settle in and develop root systems and such.

And also an accurate co2 measure would be good too.

 

[RadaR]

surely anything around 54ppm should be enough for pearling?

Yes, it would but your levels may not be around 54ppm. It could be way off. The pH and KH table method has been proven to be inaccurate a fair amount.

 

[lowee]

Yeh thats true, but how far off could they be? im safe by 20ppm either side of 54ppm!

 

[chr15_8]

I havnt set up a planted tank and gone straight EI, but I would assume that the plants would need some bedding in time to get over the shock of transportation and planting. Give them a little time to settle in and develop root systems and such.

And also an accurate co2 measure would be good too.

after planting and adding EI my plants started to pearl within 30 mins with 3wpg (roughly)

the plants have been in the tank for about a week before planting under 1 wpg and co2 but no ferts

im no expert but i'd go with what radar said about co2 levels

 

[Maximumbob]

after planting and adding EI my plants started to pearl within 30 mins with 3wpg (roughly)

the plants have been in the tank for about a week before planting under 1 wpg and co2 but no ferts

im no expert but i'd go with what radar said about co2 levels

wow.. thats amazin. You learn summit new every day!

 

[JamesC]

Yeh thats true, but how far off could they be? im safe by 20ppm either side of 54ppm!

Not necessarily. According to the KH/pH chart method of measuring CO2 I'm at well over 100ppm CO2. I like the drop checker method using KH4 solution for measuring CO2 levels. I run the colour green with a slight hint of yellow. This works well for me.

James

 

[lowee]

OK then, drop checker and 4Dkh solution ordered from Aquaessentials!