Tips For A Planted Tank

[johnny70]

Hi

Have a Juwel 180 Aquarium, community setup
Standard Juwel Lighting
Sand Substrate with Tetra Plant Substrate underneath
ph of 6.8 buffered with coral sand
Bogwood
Slate Caves
kh 1
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nirtate 5
23c

When cycling I had the tank at 28c, I now know this was a bit hot for the plants I had in the aquarium.

I have since lost most of the plants, only a few hardy one remaining.

10 X MICRO SAGITTARIA
3 X DWARF SWORDS
2 X SAGITTARIA NATANS
BUNCH (7) BABY TEARS BACOPA
5 X CRYPTOCORYNE WENDTII
1 X NARROW SWORD
BUNCH (10) MYACCA FLUVIATILIS
BUNCH (5) CREEPING JENNY
BUNCH (5) HYGRO. POLYSPERMA
BUNCH (5) STRAIGHT VALLISNERIA
BUNCH (5) ELODEA DENSA
BUNCH (5) LUDWIGIA NATANS
BUNCH (5) GREEN CABOMBA
BUNCH (5) BRONZE BACOPA
BUNCH (5) TWISTED VALLISNERIA
2 X SAGITTARIA NATANS

I have been having a pH problem, keeping it stable at around 6.8-7.0, I have read that adding co2 with lower the pH is that correct?

I will soon be using Seachem Excel and Flourish will these be enough for my plants to grow ok?

Or is co2 viable? if so whats the best solution, I don't really want a canister one have read some stories where they have dumped all the co2 into the tank causing a fish disaster. It confuses me greatly this co2 business, does anyone have a diffinative answer for me or could help unravel the mysteries of co2 and plant growth.


Thanks

JOHNNY

 

[nry]

28c should not kill the plants. Ammonia/nitrIte build up during cycling could do but only if there are not enough healthy growing plants to take up the amminia/nitrIte. My tank often gets to 28c during lighting hours.

23c is also a little cool for tropical I think, usually 25-26 is a better choice, depends on the type of fish you are aiming to keep though! Coral sand will raise the pH and CO2 can lower pH.

Can you describe your pH problem a bit more? 6.8-7 is fine, you may find it fluctuates over the length of a day due to the plants taking in/giving out CO2 during photosynthesis and this will alter the pH.

With standard lighting it is unlikely you will need CO2 for the plants, and uysing CO2 to alter your pH is only do-able with pressurised kits, I would not like to try it with DIY CO2 at all. Your tank should do fine with the standard lights (you may want to look at changing the tubes though) and Flourish/Flourish Excel. You could also consider Flourish Excel alongside Tropica Plant Nutrition which gets superb recommendations on this forum.

 

[SuperColey1]

anything from 21-to 29 should be OK temperature wise.

KH1 is the figure that stands out with alarm bells for me but I wouldn't be able to help any.

someone will come who can explain this but I would think such a low KH could be the problem.

Andy