My co2 gear finally arrived today. Seem to have gotten everything up and running properly...running it at 1 bubble every 3 seconds at this stage...I read that's a relatively safe starting point for a tank of my size...will monitor and see how things go. Took some pics but haven't had a chance to upload them yet. In other news the Galaxy rasboras seem to have settled in nicely...very active little fish, not shy at all as I was expecting from what I've read. Hoped they would encourage my strawberry and emerald dwarf rasboras to come out a bit more, but that doesn't seem to be the case...only ever see those other two in the late evenings around feeding time otherwise they are always hidden. Saw my strawberry rasboras today for the first time in a while and wow their colors are really starting to come out nicely...hoping the ones in my office tank development so nicely.
couple more fish pics... A FTS from last night...plants are slowly starting to grow back after the major pruning... ...And finally the obligatory seasonal Xmas pic.
Looks good Mark. You need to get a CO2 indicator. It's a little inverted jar thingy with blue indicator liquid(usually sold separately). The liquid turns green, then yellow when max CO2 level is reached.
Thanks Broder, dont worry I have a drop checker. I placed it in the top right hand corner of the tank...its hidden with the siamese fighter in the FTS ...I assume my placement is correct? Figured opposite side to the co2 diffuser would give me a more accurate reading of co2 in the syste? The liquid is still blue so it seems my co2 levels are still very low in the tank...will see if this increases over the next couple of days of co2 injection. :/
I bought some Ocean Nutrition plant ferts today...not sure how good this product is, but it seemed to be the only real macro element additive stocked? Concerned that with dosing Excel and now the added Co2 plant needs will be greater than what is currently available. Anyone have any experience with this product or suggestions on what to alternatively use?
Will keep you posted. I used the same make of solenoid on my CarX for my marine setup back in the day without any issues, and that was a more elaborate system...so would assume there shouldn't be any issues with it. What have you heard that's the problem?
hmmm Thanks Mark .. interesting read on Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Sulphur (S) and Calcium (Ca) in Fertil+ and acidosis. Water in JHB might not be in need of this extra macro, but keen to see how it impacts on your growth. Later Ferdie
So it seems my regulator has stopped working...not sure what the problem is but it seems blocked and doesn't pass the co2 through it...anyone had similar issues and know what could be the cause?
Well I took the regulator in to my LFS yesterday...they going to have a look at it otherwise send it back to the supplier which only opens again next week after festive shutdown. He was very helpful though and loaned me their regulator for their planted display tank until I receive mine back!
But do they eat plants? I see it burrows into the sand so assuming detritus eater...but fear for my plants!
You're right. They're eat detritus and turn over the substrate. They multiply rapidly, so once established they're hard to get rid of. I wouldn't have a tank without them, but they seem to be considered a pest, so rather remove them if you can't envisage hundreds of them in your substrate and on the glass.
