:? Hello, I'm looking for any ideas on a few problems with a new 55g planted tank. Set up for about 4 weeks now, with 2 reoccuring problems: THICK green water and low pH.
Here are the specs: 55g tank, 2" flourite followed by 1 to 2" of playsand (followed Buck's concept ). 110w pc (6400k)
and 40 w NO GE plant/aquarium bulb, 8 and 10hrs on respectivly.
Aquaclear 300 filter, sponge only (recently added some filter floss in hope to clear water, to no avail.
Heavily planted with 48 plants from Aquarium Gardens (plants are thriving
despite the water)
Temp 78F, pH 6.2 to 6.8 KH 0, GH ,1 deg. trace ammonia, and 0 nitrate/trite.
snails, 3 occocinclus, 1 surviving (out of 5) sherpe tetra. Fish introduced after 3 weeks of plants only to help cycle.
2 50% water changes in last 10 days have not helped. Blacking out tank for 48 hours helped a little, but green again after 2 days with lights.
I have a DIY CO2 reactor, but have not dared use it as pH is already struggling to hold 6.8 on it's best day.
Should I just be more patient and wait it out? What kills me is I really put a lot of thought and time into setting this up, as opposed to my 1st planted tank, many years ago, where I through it together.......and it did just fine! I then devoted the last 5 years to my reef tank andthought that setting this planted tank up would be a breeze....not!.
I'd apprecate any ideas on this....thanks.
PS your site has been great, keep it up!
Here are the specs: 55g tank, 2" flourite followed by 1 to 2" of playsand (followed Buck's concept ). 110w pc (6400k)
and 40 w NO GE plant/aquarium bulb, 8 and 10hrs on respectivly.
Aquaclear 300 filter, sponge only (recently added some filter floss in hope to clear water, to no avail.
Heavily planted with 48 plants from Aquarium Gardens (plants are thriving
despite the water)
Temp 78F, pH 6.2 to 6.8 KH 0, GH ,1 deg. trace ammonia, and 0 nitrate/trite.
snails, 3 occocinclus, 1 surviving (out of 5) sherpe tetra. Fish introduced after 3 weeks of plants only to help cycle.
2 50% water changes in last 10 days have not helped. Blacking out tank for 48 hours helped a little, but green again after 2 days with lights.
I have a DIY CO2 reactor, but have not dared use it as pH is already struggling to hold 6.8 on it's best day.
Should I just be more patient and wait it out? What kills me is I really put a lot of thought and time into setting this up, as opposed to my 1st planted tank, many years ago, where I through it together.......and it did just fine! I then devoted the last 5 years to my reef tank andthought that setting this planted tank up would be a breeze....not!.
I'd apprecate any ideas on this....thanks. PS your site has been great, keep it up!
