[accordztech]

I had this tank running for a month now. 12 gallon jbj.

plants:
anubus 2
wisteria 6
onion plant 2
dwarf hair grass
ricca
diy co2 bubble ladder diffuser

lighting
3wpg *2x24*
light 10 to 12 hrs a day (i know ill cut back)

Just did a water change (50%) 3 days ago added gh booster

dose schedule w/dry ferts EI method
csm+b every other day N and P

water perameters:
ph-6.5
kh-8 degrees
gh-7 degrees
No2-<.3 mg/l
Nh3- 0

My tank is growing nice, i still get some algae but i belive its due to a long duration of light. however I calculated my co2 with the ph and kh and im at 77 ppm??? isnt that to high? I want to know if i am in a good condition to add some fish. According to Nh3 it seems ok?

any help , i tried to be pretty detailed.

 

[accordztech]

*scratch n sniff*

 

[Left C]

You need NH3 and NO2 at or very near 0 ppm. You have "No2-<.3 mg/l."

You should be able to measure some NO3 at this time or very soon.

 

[accordztech]

but the nh3 ammonia, could the reason be that im not seeing it is cause the plants are absorbing it?

how about my co2 ppm?

 

[Left C]

but the nh3 ammonia, could the reason be that im not seeing it is cause the plants are absorbing it?

Plants and some bacteria use the ammonia for food.

Your nitrite reducing bacteria aren't well established yet. That is why you have a nitrite reading and no nitrate reading. They convert nitrite into nitrate.

however I calculated my co2 with the ph and kh and im at 77 ppm??? isnt that to high?

how about my co2 ppm?

You really can't use the pH/KH/CO2 charts/calculators to calculate the level of CO2 in an aquarium because aquariums have other buffers and acids that can skew the results usually to the high side. The chart/calculator is only good if there are only carbonates/bicarbonates to act as buffers in the aquarium, but isn't the case with aquariums. Phosphates are just one of the factors that can skew the test.

In answer to your question, since you aren't adding any CO2, you probably have around 3 ppm of CO2.

 

[accordztech]

i am using diy co2 at the moment. just made my reactor last night but currently have a bubble ladder.

 

[Hoppy]

Depending on how much plant mass, especially the wisteria, I think it is perfectly safe to begin adding a few fish. If you add otos and possibly 3 cory cats now, after another week or so you could add any other fish you plan to add. With all of that light it is unlikely that ammonia could survive long enough to ever be a problem.

 

[accordztech]

Going to probably keep this thread as my update thread

just tested my water again. I been neglecting the tank for about 2 weeks without dosing and turned the light on every other day. still had some co2 going but not as extreme as my last mix.

ph-7.5
kh-8
gh-6
no2-<.3g/ml
nh3-0

This time i didnt add any gh booster after my 50% water change last night. From the looks of it, it seems that the gh booster isnt needed any more right? the only thing i saw change was the PH. Im testing the water again tomorrow (i dosed nutrients today)

I have 1 ghost shrim in there been there for 2 weeks he seems to be having fun. Last night I just hooked up my reactor for my co2 with a slightly higher flowing pump.