[VeeSe]

Hi all,

I'm at a point with my CO2 where if I raise the bubble rate a little bit, the plants stop losing leaves rapidly and being CO2 deficient, but the fish will stop really moving around and being active in the tank (hide all day and only come out to eat when I feed them).

However, if I lower the bubble rate a little bit, the fish become more active, but the plants start to lose leaves (specifically staurogyne repens etc). How can I find the balance here? What do you guys do about this?

As far as lighting goes, I have 1 T5HO bulb 26" above the substrate with a medium quality reflector and glass lids in between in a 55G tank. I would call this low light.

 

[Bluek24a4]

Increase O2 for fish, thus letting you raise your CO2 for plants.

 

[HybridHerp]

Increase O2 for fish, thus letting you raise your CO2 for plants.

To elaborate on this, you need to have surface movement in your tank, and a lot of flow throughout the water column. You also do not want to break the surface of top line of water, only have it constantly ruffling to allow for o2 to be dissolved into the water.

If you break the surface of the water, the co2 gases out of the water, thus being counterproductive towards your goal. But if you have the water only rifling, the co2 still will mostly stay within the water itself while also allowing the o2 to get into the water for the fish.

What I plan on doing as well, is having airstones on a timer, that way I have that running when the lights go off (and the co2) and stop that when the co2 comes on (an hour before the lights is what I've been told is a good idea)

 

[VeeSe]

I already have that ruffling on the surface via a surface skimmer, and I have an Eheim 2217 and a Koralia Nano 240 providing circulation through the tank. I would be worried about adding more flow because it already seems like a decent amount. Sorta struggling on what else I should do.

 

[Bluek24a4]

Does the Eheim have a spraybar? If not maybe point the Koralia more towards the surface.

 

[VeeSe]

Does the Eheim have a spraybar? If not maybe point the Koralia more towards the surface.

Yeah it does. It's currently pointed down to try and get circulation to the bottom of the tank. Same with the Koralia. Basically, I wanted the CO2 to get distributed to the carpeting staurogyne. I could point either of them more upwards.

 

[Bluek24a4]

Angle the spray bar up a little bit to get the surface moving.

 

[HybridHerp]

look at my 75. I have 2 2217's, and instead of a spraybar I have these little outlet things that I point up to make two nice riffles at the top. THen I have my korelia pointing downwards.

Of course, I don't have my co2 hooked up yet, but I am planing on getting that done in about a week, once my tank and drop checkers get here.