PFP method

Hi all :smile1: On my previous thread people recommended the pfp method to me , and gave me a link to prof dirks post about it..
Now i have bought all i need for this , wich to my knowlidge is the Palmfibre peat bricks , and the hydrophonic chemicult?
Now the packaging on the chemicult says dilute 10g per 5l , should i use this , or what would you guys recommend?
Then , im looking to sok the peat tonight and put it in my tank tomorrow , but if i do this , when can i put my fish back into the tank? Im going to try and keep the water from the tank in containers , so i dont have to use new tap water..
Any other tips relating to this topic would also be greately appreciated as this would be my first time trying this..
Thanks
Johan

 

i used 1 heaped table spoon per 5l

 

See :site:tropicalaquarium.co.za pfp Prof
Found this as the first link - http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/archive/index.php/f-69.html
go to this thread - http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/s...fiber-Peat-soaked-in-Chemicult-as-a-substrate and found that post #8 @Big-G got a nice recipe

You are rescaping your tank i.e. empty it - clean it - add previously prepared PFP, cap it - add water, plants, heat and add fish, post pictures. You should be able to keep the fish happy in a bucket with heater and an air stone while you do the rescaping - fish should be able to go back once the water is cleared and your filters are running (try and keep the media alive while rescaping)

Later Ferdie

 

The prof's thread gives the dosage.

1 heapse TEASPOON (NOT tablespoon) per BRICK

 

tanx for the posts , im going to do this tomorow , will post pictures once im done.. Using pool filter sand to cap the pfp

 

sorry wasnt concentrating

 

oh , and how thick should the pfp layer at the bottom be?

 

Between 1 and 2 cm, depending on how hard you pressed it down.

 

Im finally finished with the whole process.. Heres how it looks:

Some of the new plants.. The hair grass is appart like that because i want it to form a carpet , but i think its gna take long.. Any idea as to how long?


Just a front view of the tank.


A picture of the cave and some more plants..


The peat is about 3cm thick , so i wasnt to far off.. (I hope this wont cause problems?)
If ive done something wrong that anyone can see , please say , this is my first time , so i did most probably make a phew mistakes..
Tanx for all the help!!
Johan

 

Okay , new problem.. The water has turned yellow??? What should i do now , and why would it turn yelllow?

 

The peat is leaching into the water. You did not cap it properly, or some of your fish are diggers.

 

How thick is your substrate over the PFP? It should be a minimum of 2cm if you using a fince gravel.. the bigger the gravel, the thicker it would need to be. The PFP is leeching some colour into the tank. Not a train smash.... and can be taken out with water changes and putting in some AC into your filter. The PFP leeching is actually beneficial to the fish.. HOWEVER the chemicult in the PFP at this stage isn't. Check how thick your capping is.

 

The substrate is pool filtersand , so its relatively fine.. The capping is more than 2cm , exept for at one spot.. Ive got two khuli loaches , do they dig at night? The water was still crystal clear at two this morning (thats when i switched off the lights , i know , shouldnt keep the light on that late , i kinda forgot) but when i switched the light on about an hour ago the water was yellow , and im not liking the effect.. What is AC? Il try capping where it does not seem thick enough and do a 40% water change?
Tanx

 

As said, the yellow water is caused by humic acids from the peat, but is not dangerous. However, if there is leaching, the absorbed chemicalt may cause some problems such as excess ferts in the water. Have you seen the khulis dig? They may possibly...

Make sure the capping is at least 3cm minimum in all places, with a slight slope to the back where you will plant your bigger plants. That fact is also discussed in the PFP thread. Folks needs to read thoroughly.

Solve the leaching issue and do a 50-60% WC today, and 3 days later another one. Repeat until water is clear.

 

okay , tanx.. I hace not seen them dig yet , but maybe they dig at night.. Will keep a close watch over them.. Will add more sand and let you know what the water does in a few days..
Thanks

 

AC = Activated Carbon

 

thanks..

 

Dont stress too much. When I did my tank I used very fine play pen sand and it was a minimum of 2cm thick and I still had leeching. Some peope seem to have more of an issue with it than others take this as a lesson to read through an entire topic before deciding what it recommends will work for you

 

I put a bit more substrate at the parts i thought might be to little , and did a water change.. The problem appears to be gone now , but will see what the next few days bring..
Tanx for all the help

 

some of my fish are eating my plants , but i cant seem to catch it in the act , so im going to give a list of the fish i have , anf if anyone knows wich of them the culprates might be , please tell me.
Ive got: 4 Bala sharks
2 chinese algea eaters
2 siamese algea eaters
4 snails
1 red tail black shark
1 albeno pleco (my main suspect!!)
1 chocolate catfish
1 peppered catfish
1 pakistani loach
2 kuhli loaches
2 jewel tetras
6 albino buenos aires tetras

Any help will be appreciated..
Thanks