Ways To Add Co2 To My 55 Gal

[snowflake311]

I have had my tank up for 3 months now only planted for 2 months. The plants are growing but I have some different types of algae growing. I have been adding excel to the tank but I might miss a day or not add as much some days.

I have read that algae could be caused by change in co2 levels.

its a 55 gal so is a DIY system out of the question. It is a low light set up.

I'm going to clean my filter out on my day off too. rinse it all out.


Here is the algae I have

Black Brush Algae, BBA - Only a bit on my rocks were the spray bar flows out.

Blue Green Algae, BGA- just a tiny bit on wood.

Hair, Thread, Fuzz, etc - This is all over my wood.

Diatoms, Brown Algae - This stuff likes to grow on my plants. and glass.

Yup so I have it all. Just little bits here are there.

Water stats
PH 6.5
ammonia 0
nitrates 20
nitrites 0

I do 40% water changes every week sometimes every 5 days. I suck up all the poop off the sand. I was using Some liquid plant frets. I am cutting back on that. I use the in substrate plant tabs only with some Excel. I was using Flourish iron and just the basic flourish stuff and excel. I felt like I was feeding the algae more then the plants.

Filter is the Eheim classic 2215 rated for a 93 Gal tank. I have air stones in the tank too.

Temp is 78 F

 

[Geoff1991]

What wattage is your lighting and how long is it on a day?

Edit: Sorry, missed the question.

The best way IMO is fire extinguisher co2, cheaper than a pressurised set, works just as well and is way better than yeast based kits.

You can set it up for about £70-£80

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=212550

 

[lljdma06]

You are doing DIY with a rather large tank. How many canisters do you have setup and how are you measuring your levels? How densly planted is your tank? Maybe you need more. What is the gallon per hour rating on your filter? Aim for 10x turnover. What is the precise wattage of your tank lighting and what type of bulbs are they.

 

[snowflake311]

You are doing DIY with a rather large tank. How many canisters do you have setup and how are you measuring your levels? How densly planted is your tank? Maybe you need more. What is the gallon per hour rating on your filter? Aim for 10x turnover. What is the precise wattage of your tank lighting and what type of bulbs are they.

I'm not using CO2. Only thing I use is excel . The light is 1 WPG.

 

[Geoff1991]

Ah, you dont necessarily need co2 then.

 

[snowflake311]

Right . BUT part of my algae problem has to do with changes in the amount that is in the tank. I want to get rid of my gross algae.

 

[three-fingers]

1) Improve turnover with the addition of powerheads/circulation pumps.
2) Reduce photoperiod, down to around 7 or 8 hours straight using a timer.
3) Turn off the airstones - these are increasing surface area and are very highly resulting in you losing extra CO2 that is produced by fish/bacteria, as CO2 levels will be closer to equilibrium level, and all the figures I've seen suggest heavily that this is lower than what most fish tanks have without surface aggitation.

Depending on how light demanding your other plants are, you could also add floating plants which would block some light reducing the CO2 demand of the other plants. Floating plants can get all the CO2 they need from the air, so are great for competing with algae as they have a huge advantage.

 

[baron von bubba]

Right . BUT part of my algae problem has to do with changes in the amount that is in the tank. I want to get rid of my gross algae.

You kinda partly answered this in the OP. Be more consistent with the excel dosage. Or dont dose at all?!

Also bear in mind the water changes will mess up you co2 levels. Many ppl rarely change water in low light set ups.
Or it would help to let the water sit overnight to gas off the excess co2 before changing, altho this can prove impossible for some. Depends on your personal set up at home.

 

[lljdma06]

I forgot to ask the photo period. I'd go as far as reducing it down to 6 hours for now. What are you growing in there?

llj

 

[snowflake311]

I should cut the light down. I leave them on way too long like 12hr. . I should turn my air bubbles off I have them going in 2 parts of the tank 25-7.

my plants are

Java fern
Onion plants
Jungle Vail
Cork screw vail that is doing better then the "Jungle Val"
nano Anubias
And a bigger Anubias
Cryptocoryne wendtii
Wisteria



I can't cut back on my water changes. Should I keep useing the Excel?

 

[lljdma06]

I can't cut back on my water changes. Should I keep useing the Excel?

What is your livestock?

Is this why you can't cut back on your water changes?

 

[snowflake311]

Well I have 2 plecos a bn and a medusa pleco. Both poop a lot so I don't want to cut back on water changes.