[oblongshrimp]

Like the title says guys help me figure this one out. This is a 120gal tank with 2x175 MH lights that run for 8hrs a day. I have pressurized CO2 that should be at 30ppm (to confirm this tonight). The substrate is aquasoil. I dose 1/4 teaspoons of KNO3, and 1/8 teaspoon of K2SO4, PO4, and CSM+B, and 1/2 teaspoon Mg (epson salts) each day. I cut back from .5 teaspoons of KNO3 because of all my fish and I was getting really high nitrates on my test kit (like 80+). Let me know what you guys think and what I need to change so I can turn this tank back into the jungle it once was and can be again.

 

[Green Leaf Aquariums]

are you dosing all micro and macro at the same time?

 

[oblongshrimp]

yes I have always done it that way. My dad also does it that way and he is not having the same problems I am. I dry dose everything. I also use almost all RO water.

 

[Green Leaf Aquariums]

Hows your FE? Phosphates?

 

[mistergreen]

K & Ca
potassium & calcium

 

[oblongshrimp]

Not sure about FE....I will test Phosphates in the morning but who knows about the kit

 

[oblongshrimp]

what makes you say that mistergreen?

 

[hooha]

That's an awful lot of phosphates daily. Have you checked your phosphate level? I bet it reads over ten.

My guess is that there isn't enough CO2....how many bubbles/second and what diffusion method do you use?

 

[oblongshrimp]

I use 2 of the redsea 500 diffusors. I run probably 7-8 bubbles a second between the two. I have had to turn it down slightly because my fish begin to gasp at the surface later in the day.

 

[oblongshrimp]

Sorry its an 1/8 teaspoon of K2SO4, PO4, and CSM+B that I add each day.

 

[Oqsy]

looks like light/co2 to me... with those MHs you should be alright on light... are you sure your CO2 rate is where it should be set? sometimes near the end of a co2 bottle mine gets unpredictable...

Oqsy

 

[hooha]

Recheck your CO2 levels and phosphates, that's a start. If you don't have a Lamotte test kit, your Nitrates may or may not be that high.

How often do you do a water change?

 

[oblongshrimp]

I also just tested my phosphates and nitrates. Phosphates looked to be between .1 and .2 and nitrates were somewhere between 0 and 10. I am red green colorblind so i have a REALLY hard time figuring out what color these things are but they should be somewhere within that range, assuming the test kit is even accurate. I do a 30% or so water change once a week.

 

[hooha]

next step would be reassessing your CO2 - what's your pH and KH?
Or try the pH-change after outgassing method (I would suggest doing both and seeing what the results are).

 

[oblongshrimp]

My drop checker using a standard 4KH solution shows green, which unless I am wrong that means my CO2 should be at about 30ppm. Thanks again for the help guys.

 

[mistergreen]

Anybody has chemical breakdown of Plantex CSM + B?
I saw it once but forgot to bookmark it..

Calcium deficiency causes the leaves to warp and curl.
Potassium deficiency will cause holes in leaves & yellowing.
Nitrogen deficiency will cause yellowing as well.

Your phosphate & nitrogen is kinda low. I believe for the plants to use nitrogen properly, phosphate, in proportion, needs to be in the water column. it's like a 1(PO4) to 10(N) ratio... The more advanced planters here can give you a definite answer.

your CO2 sounds fine.

 

[GhoSt knifE!!]

you definetly need to add some potassium=yellowing also add some iron = dark spots on leaves also i recomend excel( every day & flourush every 3-4 days until they start new growth