Bigians 220l Planted Tank, Journal Thingy...

[BigIan]

right according to the ADA aqua soil packaging the As does affect KH and PH so my plan is before starting the CO@ leaver the AS to settle in and see what the ph settles at. then gauge my co2 from the kh/ph readings from there.

Also i`ve just mixed my EI chems, but, most of them havent disolved.... is this normal or did i mess it up?

 

[themissingelf]

Also i`ve just mixed my EI chems, but, most of them havent disolved.... is this normal or did i mess it up?

Interesting... got mine about 2 weeks ago and had exactly the same experience. When I posted a similar question on the forums I received some advice but none that seemed to ring completely true with what I'd experienced.

The chems seem to have since kind of crystalised in a lump in the bottom of each bottle.

 

[Themuleous]

Did you use chucks online cal to work out the mix? If so I suggest you download the program and use that instead. Basically water had a finite ability to dissolve any given substance, the online cal doesn't take account of that, the downloaded version does. I.e it will tell you if you've reached the natural capacity of the water. Sounds to me like you added to much power to too small an amount of water.

Sam

 

[themissingelf]

Hi Sam, I used the downloaded version and stayed within the solubility maximum...

I dissolved 62 grams of KNO3 in 250ml of water, the max is 212.5 grams to 250ml, therefore, I am well within the limit.

All very odd...

 

[voo]

You could double the amount of water in the solution, but also double the amount that you add to the tank. Essentially you are adding the same amount to the tank.

Mine at first didnt totally dissolve, but was all gone by the next morning.

 

[BigIan]

Where do i download it from? i`ve checked chucks page and can`t find a link

 

[George Farmer]

Are you using RO in solution? Try warming it prior to mixing.

All chems dissolve well for me, the only slight problem I've had is K2SO4 but after some some time (and stirring) that dissolves well too.

 

[BigIan]

yep the RO was cold i have to admit as it was fresh out of the Ro unit, still hasn`t dissolved over night.

any one gt a link to the downloadable calculator?

 

[voo]

http/www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_aquacalc.htm

 

[BigIan]

thanks voo,

i now know why the kp04 isn`t disolving, but aparently the KN03 should be disolved....

 

[BigIan]

|When do i set my co2 to come on do i want to have it turn on BEFORE the photo period and turn off just before the lights do. so as to build up some co2 before the plants start to absorb it and so the plants have a chance t absorb all the co2 before the lights shut off?

 

[Themuleous]

Turn it on around an hour and a half before the lights come on, that should give it enough time to build up to the required 30ppm. Then I would shut it off at or a few minutes after lights offs so you don't get a dip in CO2 at the end of the day whilst the lights are still on.

Sam

 

[themissingelf]

Mine's just on the same timer as the lights...

 

[Themuleous]

Mine's just on the same timer as the lights...

This would mean there is an hour or two when the CO2 is not at the right level and that could lead to algae.

Sam

 

[BigIan]

Ok the readings after having the aquasoil in for 4 days are...

Ammonia 1.5ppm
Nitrite <1ppm
Nitrate 5ppm
Phosphate 5ppm
Ph 6 or lower
Kh <1 degree

I can see this being a fun tank to set up. There is an already mature filter on the tank so that should help with getting the amonia down,
I`ve not started with the EI yet as the substrate is releaseing Phosphate and nitrate so no real need
I`m also having an alge break out, unfortunately my co2 kit hasn`t arrived yet so i`m stuck for adding any.
Oh well looks like my carefully thought out plans have gone to pot.