Too hot: have I boiled my plants??!

nursie

nursie

AC Members
Jan 15, 2005
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Peoria, IL
Real Name
michelle
WHen I set up my tank...I used a heater that I had already. Plugged it in Sun...no problems. Came home tonight and stareted messing around with plants...and it was almost like a sauna in my tank!! :eek:
I forgot to pick up a thermometer at the LFS, so set the temp on the heater to 75. I stuck an instant read meat thermometer in and it read 95 :(
I've unplugged it and an letting things cool down. Is it possible that the therm was working right and that the lights kicked the water temp up?

As I looked at things, I noticed that some of my plants are looking rather yellowish. Is this due to the heat or some nutrient deficiency? I checked with the dipsticks I got and parameters still read the same...ph around 8, KH and GH high, and nitrates maybe a little lower than 20.
I dosed with the reccomended start up dose of Flourish Excel last night, and also the reccomended dose of Flourish, and put in the seachem fert tabs.

ALso...on one of the pieces of driftwood I noticed some areas that looked white and fuzzy. One of the new ones of course.

Here are pics...and I'll try to get a close up of the fuzz

lt side2.JPG rtside2.JPG
 
I don't know. It wasn't like that when I left for work at 8 AM, but when I started to work on it last night, probably 8:30 or so it was.
 
95 is not so baad for a few hours, the plants you have now are pretty resilient. You don't really need fertilization at this point. Your flourite should be satisfactory for 4 to 6 weeks for the root plants. You should plant your tank heavily and await the algae bloom that will happen after one to 2 weeks usually, then you'll need to start up the ferts and add excel. Right now I don't think its really necessary and water changes should be your main concern at startup. You don't want to add excel just to later dilute it with waterchanges. Have you any fish?

The mold is just part of keeping bogwood, I think. The raised temp, probably caused it (fungus) to bloom. Just clean it off as you see it, it will likely go away when you add fish. (they eat it) :)
 
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I feel better now, Swinfins! Thanks. I have no fish yet, thank goodness! I figured whatever was on the wood was becasue of the high temp, but didn't know quite what it was. It kinda looked white, but where it is thicker it has a greenish cast. Or that may be the java moss mixed in :rolleyes:

I'm going to pick up a new heater and a thermometer today!!

I really suck at maintaining house plants, and I really want to do this right!
 
It sounds like the start of green algae which is a normal thing, a greenish cast on the wood and glass, and means the tank is maturing. You'll need nitrate suckers like hygrophilia and anacharis(which you have) to help soak up the excess nutrients and help control the algae.

I keep my tank at about 78 or room temp and all is good.
 
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