no pearling

[ianjoe]

Last week I finally got a pressurized Co2 set up. Its sweet.

Anyway, basically re-did my tank. I added more flourite. Got rid of some monster amazon swords and got some better looking plants too.

Its been three days and none of my plants are pearling, except my tiger lotus.

Even some of my dwarf saggitaria are dying.

I can't seem to get my ph below 7

Should i try cranking the co2 up? i know its getting in there, and isn't 1 bps a lot for a 29?

Any ideas?

thanks,
ian

29g tank
70w light
pressurized co2, 1.5 bps
ph 7
kh 3.6

[djlen]

Two possibilities......a leak between the CO2 tank and the aquarium or it's gassing off into the atmosphere. Actually three possibilities, but your kH is fine.
Check all your gas connections with soapy water for leaks.
Lacking that problem, what kind of filtration do you have?
HOB filters or any other device that causes water surface disruption will cause the rapid off gassing of CO2.

Len

[ianjoe]

leaking was the first thing i checked for. The bubbles flowing into the reactor match the bubble counter really well. so i know that delivery isn't the problem. I have a diy reactor, only extremely fine bubble rise from the end occasionally. so that appears to be ok. now to the filter...
its a whisper 30 HOB. the flow is turned down most of the way. the surface of the water in the tank is barely rippling in front of the output, mostly just moving across.
Is this too much agitation?

[punch]

Question, why whould you want your PH below 7? co2 dosn't nessasarly lead to pearling, check your co2 levels using the ph/kh chart. Go by that.

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by ianjoe
Its been three days and none of my plants are pearling, except my tiger lotus.

ph 7
kh 3.6 According to this CO2 Chart (http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_co2chart.htm) You have the maximum CO2 level you will want. It's only been 3 days. Give it more time. Have you used this chart before.

One more thing is your lighting. How long do you keep them on?
..At least 8 hours....?

Also, my opinion is that your plants need time to establish themselves in the substrate. I'm not sure that newly planted plants, pearl readily.

[ianjoe]

punch,

yes i know how to use the tables, i understand the relationship between Ph and kh. i guess im just shooting to get in the optimum co2 range so i can move on to other areas that might need to be addressed. With a kh of 3.6 i need to get my ph to be at least 6.8 to get around 17 ppm co2.


Question does surface agitation constitute ripples or does it need to splash to gas off co2?

[ianjoe]

thanks joe,
i had a feeling i was just being impatient.
i was going with the co2 chart on Chucks aquarium pages.
wouldn't i want co2 levels to around 20ppm though?. or should i just be happy with were they are at considering i have a HOB filter.
(but a rena xp1 is coming home with me , as soon as i get the dough :) )

thanks,
ian

[Starry]

Originally posted by ianjoe
wouldn't i want co2 levels to around 20ppm though?. or should i just be happy with were they are at considering i have a HOB filter.thanks,
ian

You can very safely increase CO2 even to 30ppm. In fact, I don't like mine any lower than 25. Make sure to check every morning until you're sure it's ok. There's always a possibility that the pH decreases too much at night since the plants aren't using the CO2.
As an extra precaution, you can also increase surface agitation at night, just be sure to turn it down in the morning.
But, you definitely need to give your plants time to adjust as well. cranking up the CO2 will only help.
Good luck

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by ianjoe
....
i had a feeling i was just being impatient.
.......
(but a rena xp1 is coming home with me , as soon as i get the dough :) )... It's better not to use a HOB filter with CO2 injection. The xP-1 canister is a better choice. You want to avoid the 'waterfall effect' of the HOB filter.

[ianjoe]

well i installed a filstar xp-1 last night :). and sure enough everything is a lot better today. guess i was getting gas off from the HOB filter. its amazing what little disturbance results in gas-off.

later,
ian