33g planted finally up and running

[happychem]

Just thought I'd share!

After a long wait over winter staring at an empty tank, things are finally going. Mostly sunset hygro and wisteria right now. Some E. tellenus and parviflorus up front (they needed a little rescuing after shipping). Java fern and moss and, of course, the Riccia that Len was so kind to send me. All of it looking very good, if a little cluttered for now. Sorry, no dig. cam. so no pics.

3 Otos are the sole occupants for now. Enough brown algae for them, although I woulda thought 2x40W over the 33g woulda been plenty of light. The otos got it under control, so no probs.

Started water column ferts. today (week 2):
5mL KNO3 solution (according to Chuck Gadds's calculator that should bring the conc. to just over 5ppm)
10 drops PO4 from no-name enema (I'll have to check what that does to the concs.)
5mL trace + Mg (trace is 2 tbs in 250mL) I may need to increase the Mg dose, but we'll see.
DIY CO2 (may need to increase this, I was only at 9ppm yesterday afternoon)

I'd appreciate feedback on the above routine, if possible. I'll add in water params when I get home.

Next week the Cories go in. (or should I move the swordtails over first?)

 

[djlen]

Congrats Happy -

Give us the numbers on your parameters when you can.
You know what the required numbers are for your N and P.
And you want to get the CO2 up as close as you can to 25ppm.

Buy an extra filter sponge for that Whisper, cut it down in size a bit(1/2 size works for AquaClears), put a slit in it and fit it over the lower lip of the return on the filter and you will have zero surface disturbance....hence much less CO2 gas off.

Len

 

[happychem]

I've jammed some filter wool up around the filter. Seems to be doing the trick, really it was more of a stopgap until I remember (a herculean effort at times ) to measure and pick up the right sized foam.

 

[happychem]

Okay, so from yesterday's tests:
KH: 55ppm
pH: 7.0
CO2 is too low, I added a few scoops of baking soda to the bottle and gave it a good stir as deep as I could. The output is definitely increased, at least for the 30mins later. I'll test again tomorrow and see if the output is still strong. If not, I'll make up another batch. This one is 3 weeks old.
NH3 = NO2 = 0
NO3 < 5ppm (there was some colour, but the kit doesn't go lower)
PO4 = 0.25ppm

Testing NO3 and PO4 right now (about 7hrs after addition):
NO3 = about 5ppm
PO4 = about 1ppm (wow, that was lucky, well, an educated guess !)

 

[djlen]

I used DIY for a few years and, at least for me, more than 10 days to 2 weeks was the limit for the life of a 2-liter bottle.
At least for keeping an even flow of CO2.
I found that using 2 2-liter bottles and switching one off every 10 days gave me a flow that I could count on to stay in the 20 - 25ppm range. This, BTW was the case for a 40 gal. and also a 55, with just slight variance due to tank size. My kH is very similar to yours so I think the only difference in out put would be due to quality of yeast. I was using the cheapie Fleishmann's baking yeast from the supermarket. Brewer's yeast or Champagne yeast are more potent.
A 2-liter bottle requires only a pinch to 1/4tsp. of baking soda.

Len

 

[happychem]

Hmmm, yeah, it's probably time to replace it.

I'm using a 1g juice container, I was hoping that it would buy me some extra time. Also using the cheap yeast. Were you using the jello method or just straight sugar water and yeast? The jello suposedly makes it last longer or more evenly, but in the end, the yeast can only use the sugar that's provided.