Hey all, this will be my first post here.. so, hello, and if I'm doing this the wrong way, please, some gentle encouragement and/or helpful tips would be greatly appreciated.
Aaaaannnway.
So my problem is with a 10 gallon planted tank that is newly set up (a couple of weeks). Here is a list of the components I can think of (not sure if any of it is of use):
10 gal
plants: hornwort, wisteria, sword, mini-sword
substrate: flourite
filter: Top Fin 20 gal hang-on filter
no heater (as of yet)
no fish, just some snails (the hitchhiking kind)
Recently I wanted to play around with co2 and how it would affect my plants. Instead of testing it out in my real 20 gal set-up w/fish, I set it up in the 10 gal. The DIY Co2 involves 2 1.5 L bottles leading to an airstone below the filter output.
Once set-up, the DIY Co2 gave me immediate results. The hornwort is really taking off, however the sword plant seems to be dying of "black spots" (weird). I also noticed that my pH has plummeted. A crash, if you will? My water, before co2, was around 7.0-7.2 now it reads at 6.0, the lowest my test kit goes. I am planning to get some crushed coral and add it to my filter bags.
So anyway, in lieu of the co2 addition, the tank has developed a thin white translucent film on the surface. If I stick my finger in the tank and move it around, the film makes little white "shards" and pollutes the water.
Also, I recently added Aqua-Pure ammonia reducer to the filter bag in anticipation of adding fish. Now, I'm not so sure with the film on the water.
So, any thoughts? Is there any way to get rid of the film without some sort of skimmer? I also don't like the idea of wasting large amounts of papertowels trying to get rid of the film.
And unrelated, but also pertinent, any other way to get my pH back to a healthy level without dealing with additives to my filter bags? I've read that when you do a filter or water change then, the water has a "rebounding period" where the stuff has to re-absorb into the water.
I know this is a lot, but I would appreciate any info. Thanks in advance!!
Aaaaannnway.
So my problem is with a 10 gallon planted tank that is newly set up (a couple of weeks). Here is a list of the components I can think of (not sure if any of it is of use):
10 gal
plants: hornwort, wisteria, sword, mini-sword
substrate: flourite
filter: Top Fin 20 gal hang-on filter
no heater (as of yet)
no fish, just some snails (the hitchhiking kind)
Recently I wanted to play around with co2 and how it would affect my plants. Instead of testing it out in my real 20 gal set-up w/fish, I set it up in the 10 gal. The DIY Co2 involves 2 1.5 L bottles leading to an airstone below the filter output.
Once set-up, the DIY Co2 gave me immediate results. The hornwort is really taking off, however the sword plant seems to be dying of "black spots" (weird). I also noticed that my pH has plummeted. A crash, if you will? My water, before co2, was around 7.0-7.2 now it reads at 6.0, the lowest my test kit goes. I am planning to get some crushed coral and add it to my filter bags.
So anyway, in lieu of the co2 addition, the tank has developed a thin white translucent film on the surface. If I stick my finger in the tank and move it around, the film makes little white "shards" and pollutes the water.
Also, I recently added Aqua-Pure ammonia reducer to the filter bag in anticipation of adding fish. Now, I'm not so sure with the film on the water.
So, any thoughts? Is there any way to get rid of the film without some sort of skimmer? I also don't like the idea of wasting large amounts of papertowels trying to get rid of the film.
And unrelated, but also pertinent, any other way to get my pH back to a healthy level without dealing with additives to my filter bags? I've read that when you do a filter or water change then, the water has a "rebounding period" where the stuff has to re-absorb into the water.
I know this is a lot, but I would appreciate any info. Thanks in advance!!
