Question About My Lighting Situation/water Chemistry.

[agutt]

I currently have a 10 gal. tank planted with:

anubias barteri var. nana
echinodorus bleheri
glossostigma elatinoides
hygrophila difformis
polygonum hydropiperoides

I have a 15 watt light on them currently because I am waiting for a back ordered light from drsfostersmith, which will be arriving today. It is a satellite single 40watt light with a moonlight. This would be 4wpg or 28-30 LSI for those keeping track. I am also awaiting the regulator for my pressurized CO2 tank. I unfortunately have no idea when this will be coming because I ordered it from Rex Grigg , and have since not heard a peep about my order. It has been almost two weeks, and when the two week mark actually hits if I still have not heard from him I am going to file a dispute with pay pal. Assuming I do not hear from Rex, in addition to the dispute, I am going to order a regulator from Greenleaf. So I am looking at having CO2 up and running by the beginning of Nov. after shipping and what not.

I plan on using my new light as soon as it comes because the plants need it bad especially the glossostigma and the hydropiperoides. My question is: should I only keep the light on for a short period of time until the CO2 is up and running? Currently I keep the 15W on for 12 hours. I fear that a 40W light on for this long will give me algae problems.

In addition my ferts will be arriving soon and I plan to start the EI method. Should I wait for the CO2 to be up for this as well?

Any advice is much appreciated! Thanks!

 

[aaronnorth]

shorten your photperiod to about 6-8hr to minimize algae, dose EI once you get the CO2 up. do you have anything else you can be dosing while it comes?

 

[agutt]

Hi Aaron,

Thank you for answering my questions, as well as the many others you have answered for me. You have been a big help! I am currently dosing with Flourish and Trace and was planning on remaining to do so until I start EI. That should be alright till then correct?

Perhaps another question that I just thought of that you can answer...

I need to get my KH up so that when the CO2 starts up I avoid pH swings. I am using crushed coral which has successfully raised my pH from 6 to 7.2 (its still going up) and my GH from about 6/7 to 8 or so.

I have obviously heard of Baking Soda, but I have also heard of aragonite milk. Any recommendations/thoughts on this?

 

[agutt]

ADD: The crushed coral has had minimal effects on my KH. It is currently around 2.

 

[SuperColey1]

Rex has a very good reputation on the forums. In fact he is a member on most of the planted forums so I think you should let him have a chance before buying a different regulator. Maybe register on aquatic plant central, find a post from him and pm him.

I wouldn't put that amount of light above even with a shortened photoperiod until you get pressurised sorted.

On the Ph front are you saying that it comes out of the tap at 6Ph and 2Kh? No idea what my Kh is or was. I do know that when my water comes out of the tap it is approx 7.2. On the KH front I can't help you I'm afraid.

I know some people talk about a GH booster providing a buffer. Never tested GH or KH with no problems so can't help you any further than that. Maybe registering on barrreport.com and asking there would help you on this regard.

Alternatively UKAPS.Org as in my and Aaron's signature has a water chemistry section where the 'chemistry boffins' can help you.

AC

 

[agutt]

I have tried to contact rex in multiple ways. It seems as if he is sick lately which I completely have sympathy for and I hope that he gets better. However, I don't want to end up waiting a month for it. I figure its just the same to him to refund my money or have paypal refund it for him. I know that hes not trying to scam people. Just want to get things up and running ya know? I'm going to give him a few more days tho...

 

[aaronnorth]

flourish trace is a watered down version of flourish, so no need to dose both.

 

[agutt]

go figure... good to know. thanks!