Problems With Plants In A Big Tank

[Iiriva]

Ok, here's the thing...

I've had a 1125 liter tank for few weeks now. We have two 150w metal halide lamps, and just got a third one. It has few types of anubias, few types of sword plants. And the plants are not doing good.

At the moment it seems the wood in our tank is lowering the pH, which is only 5,6! And we just tested Co2, the test showed we had too much of it, even though we don't have a Co2 system, just fishes.

pH 5,6
gH 6
kH 3

We use Seachem's fertilizer and just started to use Easy-Life ferro, too, as it seems the plants are not getting enough iron. So, is the problem with the plants only because we should use liquid fertilizer and iron more, or what the heck it is?

 

[SO19Firearms]

And we just tested Co2, the test showed we had too much of it, even though we don't have a Co2 system,

That seems unlikely.
Re: Metal Halide - A lighting guy would have to tell you where you stand on that front.

 

[Iiriva]

I just don't understand. The Co2 test (bought today) shows that actually the levels of Co2 should be fatal in 1125L. Tested the 200 liter one, too, and it came our fine. Whaaaa?

Edit: Our fishes are doing perfectly fine, looking healthy, being active, eating, all normal. O.O

 

[ian]

what C02 test kit is it? C02 cannot be at fatal levels with the introduction of pressurised C02. It just isn't possible, you'd see fish gasping and fish deaths.

as for light, you have plenty of light.

got any pics of the plants?

 

[Iiriva]

That's what makes it so odd... It's Sera Co2 liquid tester.

"For the qualitative, continous measurement of Co2 in freshwater. Contents: Co2 long-term indicator with sucktion cup, 15ml / 0,5 fl.oz. dropper bottle, color chart, directions for use. Reagent contains ethanol. Manufacturer: Sera GmbH"

Noooooo... wait. Argh. My husband used the test in a wrong way. It's supposed to stay in a tank for multiple days, not just for a while.

We need to do the test again... But still, after 30 minutes it showed that the levels were fatal, even though it's tecnically impossible.

Hmh.

Don't know what to think. I knew that the level can't be right as the fishes are healthy, we don't have too much fish, we only own few plants and we are not putting any in Co2 in, we are going to buy a kit for it so that's why we are testing it...

 

[thereverendturtle]

A high CO2 level would explain the low pH. Swords and anubias would do much better if the pH were closer to 6.5-7.2

 

[Iiriva]

Hmh... I just removed two indian almond tree leaves from the tank, which lower pH. I'm not sure if it's the cause of it's, though, ad the usual dosage is 1-2 leaves per 100 litres and we'd put 2 leaves in 1125 liters... I'm confused. It's just not possible for the Co2 to be that high in any way. And the low pH worries me too (I got it tested in an aquarium shop with a digital pH tester as I though mine was broken when giving such a low number) as now it is 5,6 and used to be 6,8. The pH in our tap water is around 7.

 

[ian]

plants don't really care much about Ph, they will adapt, to any Ph. Ph will drop in a tank after a while...

as for the C02 drop checker, these are designed to be used in aquariums with pressurised C02. They just don't work in a tank without. The regent also needs to be mixed with 4dkh water to get an accurate reading.

As above it is impossible that you have high C02 in your water without injecting C02. Do you have any pics of the affected plants?

 

[Iiriva]

yes.

 

[ian]

to me they look like old leaves that need to come off. Old leaves tend to attract algae as the plant puts more of its energy into growing new leaves.

 

[thereverendturtle]

The crypts are going through crypt melt, which is fairly common when you move them.

 

[Iiriva]

Ok, thank you both!

On sunday we are having our clean up day, so we'll do a proper water change (I don't like to write wc because in here it means toilet ), do a bit of gardening and then test some water again. I'm going to start adding baking soda to the new water as it lifts kH up little by little, so pH stays more stable.