New Co2 System Setup, Need Advice!

[james 3200]

Hi all,

I set up my JBL Profi 500 Set 2 ( the one with a solaniod) yesterday and have a few qu regarding using CO2 in my aquarium. For the bubble rate, i have been told not to go above 10/minute at the start. Is the bubble rate the ammount of bubbles that come out of the top of the diffuser, or that go up through it?

I also think that i have a mineral defiency, because some of the plants that i have, develop brown leaves, but they take a while to die. They brown at the margins of the leaf to start, and some have brown patches. There is new growth, and i have read up and cant figure out exactly what is missing in my fetilisiation. I do a 15-20% water change every week and my nitrates are low so i dont think its excess phosphate? Some of my plants fair better than others. Pretty sure one has Cryptocoryne Rot, as half of the leaves have browned, and theres v little new growth, infact its coming out now.

Im thinking of re-desgining the tank, and get rid of the ocean rock which is taking up valuable space.. Im new to planted tanks, and havent had that much success yet. Will post some photos of the tank soon, so you can see what im talking about!! Would also be good to get advice on what plants would keep well in my tank, as ive only just got the hang around fishkeeping!!

My reading are, PH- 7.1, KH- 179ppm, CO2- 24ppm, Ammonia - 0, no2 - 0, no3 20
My tank is a Juwel Trigon 350 with lots of plants / bogwood / and some ocean rock, Substrate - Sand with fertiliser tabs (recently added), 90w Lighting (I think i need more?)
I use this fertiliser - http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/BIOMAX-TROPICAL-AQUA...1QQcmdZViewItem
Fish; 6 tiger barbs / 2 longfinned / 4 red rainbow / 5 corys sterbai (Nxt additions: 8 rummy nose tetras)

Anything else you need to know please ask,

Thanks in advance

James

 

[zig]

Hiya James

Its the amount of bubbles that you count going through the bubble counter before they go through the diffuser, not after they come out the other end of the diffuser.

Do you have any limestone in the tank? Do you have any seashells or anything like that in the tank, what sort of substrate (base layer) are you using? any of these things will affect your KH.

You need to find out whats wrong with your KH it doesnt just drop from KH 11 to KH 1, are you sure you are doing the test correctly, have a look at the manufacturers website for the instructions if yours is lost, i would suspect human error given the fact you are a beginner or as allready suggested something is in your tank which is radically affecting the water chemistry.

You need to find out what is causing this problem.

Do not try any artifical buffers until you are absolutly sure nothing else is affecting the water, like i say the first suspect should be something in your tank, and then you should suspect your testkit.

Check the KH of your tapwater if that is higher than the tankwater then there is something in your tank causing this radical change.

How much light do you have over the tank?

Once you get the KH sorted out working out the co2 should be easy enough.

 

[james 3200]

Hi Zig,

I was being a bit to fast to react! I did the test wrong, and the KH is still 11! As i said i lost the booklet and havent tested it in a while, but i forgot it had to change back to yellow.

I edited the first post i made, and as you can see its digressed into another qu, regarding my plants. You can also see all my reading now and info on my tank.

I didnt get a bubble counter with my set-up Can you reccomend a brand? Guess i need it fast 2?!

James

 

[RYO]

I thought jbls bubble counter was the vario reactor.

 

[zig]

RYO is probably right about the bubble counter im not quite sure i just presumed it came with a seperate bubble counter.......never presume i guess.

Your lighting is quite low, i see you have a link in the hardware or DIY section about a lighting upgrade, others have done this i know the Trigon is a difficult tank to work with but it can be done, use the search function in the hardware or DIY sections im sure others have done this before you.

Id also suggest you read the pinned article on lighting and EI at the top of this section.

Crypts are prone to melt this is quite common they do come back after a while in most cases, as you dont specifically mention the names of the other plants its hard to advice, it could be the lack of light and also the fact that the tubes that come supplied with Juwel tanks are not suitable for growing plants, this is one upgrade you could do straight away, read the lighting article and then change the tubes to something more suitable (the article gives some options on different tubes) this will give an immediate boost to your plants.

You really need to decide what type of tank you want, high tech or low tech, and that will really determine the plants that you can grow, the lighting article is the place to start, the EI article is geared towards proper fertilisation in a highlight tank.

If your not sure about anything just ask but id start by swopping the tubes for something more appropriate, i also wouldnt bother with the Biomax fertiliser id use something like Kent Botanic Grow or Seachem Flourish these should be widely available.

 

[james 3200]

Ive done some reserch and the bubble count for my sytem is the number of bubbles that come out of the tube at the bottom of the reactor.

I agree that my lights are the problem, I want over 200w but only have 90 at the moment. Ive seen the DIY post you mentioned, and im going to ask the author where he got his lights and some more information on his setup. I think investing in a new hood may be a bit much, but if i can im going to try and find some more powerfull lights as soon as i find them. I wouldnt mind a high tech tank as i do have the time to tend, and i do want a heavily planted tank.

Will also get some more fertiliser, i have been advised to use dry fert and mix my own, does this sound like a good idea? http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?...x&cPath=145_146

I will also get a photo up.

Thanks so far,

James

 

[zig]

Yes if you want a highlight tank dosing dry ferts is the way to go, thats why i mentioned to read the EI article it explains it in detail, have a read of it and then you can order any ferts you may need.

I think it was Tiggs another here who had done the modification on the Trigon 350, power compacts are probably the best way to supplement the lighting but im sure he will give you some advice, he got a new hood made but im sure you can find a way around this, Interpet do a range of PC lighting that are quite small in size but definatly pack a punch and would probably be ideal for a Trigon given its difficult dimensions.

 

[james 3200]

Thanks Zig,

My research last night found me the following: http/www.surreypetsupplies.co.uk/acatalo...er_Compact.html

The Twin 55W unit should do the trick?! Will get that unit today perhaps, its not 2 far lol. I will also upgrade the lights at the front from 2x30 to 2x39w, so i should be looking at around 218w in my tank, gives then a figure arouind 2.8w / gallon, also get the reflectors for my existing lights.

Heres the photo of my tank this morning, not the best photos but they show you what i have.

You can see in the third photo clearly that i the plants are growing well, but the older leaves turn brown, pretty much the same situation with most of the plants in there appart for the one at the back left of the first photo, that just grows so fast, cut it once a week, but the older leaves die too fast. Unfortunatly there is too much glare to take a front on photo, will do at night though.

As i said in my last post, i want to re plant the tank according to what advice i get, as the LFS is rubbish with helping with plants. For the Fert, im going to go down the road of dry ones, as i invested so much time & money already... you would want the best results. I have some ideas on the layout i want in the tank now, and esp with the new lighting i should be able to grow all the plants i want. This is my first tank and first planted tank, so i need as much advice on the plants as i can, as i havent made the best choices so far.

Thanks again,
James