I have a recently (4 weeks) set up 90 gallon tropical freshwater planted tank with 30 small fish, tetras, corys, rams and loaches. Heavily planted with laterite below sand and gravel mix, filtered by fluval 304 discharging into spray bar over large trickle filter over tank. DIY yeast powered CO2 generator to wooden airstone and plants are literally 'fizzing'. Its a hard water area here but I use rainwater, only 1 10% water change since set up, but no doubt assisted by 5% of filter medium (Vitakraft) from long established tank at LFS. parameters are:
NO3 undetectable
PH 6.6
PO4 5
KH 120 ppm
According to the charts available I have 50 ppm CO2 in my tank, about double what I would consider ideal, the high PO4 worries me a bit, I have purchased some Phos-Zorb to place in my Fluval but am reluctant to chemically alter the parameters, will my plants use the PO4, or should I take steps to remove it? The high PO4 reading will affect my KH reading so I am unable to accurately determine the CO2 level. Otherwise the tank looks great, fish are healthy, plants are growing etc.
NO3 undetectable
PH 6.6
PO4 5
KH 120 ppm
According to the charts available I have 50 ppm CO2 in my tank, about double what I would consider ideal, the high PO4 worries me a bit, I have purchased some Phos-Zorb to place in my Fluval but am reluctant to chemically alter the parameters, will my plants use the PO4, or should I take steps to remove it? The high PO4 reading will affect my KH reading so I am unable to accurately determine the CO2 level. Otherwise the tank looks great, fish are healthy, plants are growing etc.
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