PH levels and fertilizer

[asian guppy]

So here I go - I've just stocked my new tank with plants. I've decided to use fertilizer (although in previous tanks I never have) but just used it around the plant roots. Now my tank is still a bit cloudy, and the PH level is too high for my planned community tank (7.6). Is this high PH due to the fertilizer? or should I just buy something to put in the tank to reduce the PH? Or should I be waiting until it settles out? I know I can't leave my plants in the tank too long without CO2, and was planning to have my fish supply it. Recommendations?

Asian Guppy

 

[beviking]

What's the pH of your source water? 7.6 isn't a bad pH, it'll support many fish species. You're better off sticking with what your source water pH is than try and alter it with chemicals.
The cloudiness should clear up with some time.
There is CO2 in the water and your plants are o.k. w/o injecting CO2 for now. They may not grow well and true some more delecate species may perish, but hopefully you did your research and didn't pick those.
Let the tank clear, add a few fish. Enjoy!

 

[Karnaaj]

Playing around with your Ph, especially when trying to lower it, can open up a whole pandora's box. Like Viking said 7.6 isn't bad. In fact it's what I have in my 65g planted tank.

If you can find a store that sells flourish excel you can use that as a substitute for CO2 until you get can get a CO2 setup going. I buy mine from Big Al's online at less than half of what my lfs would charge me.

What kind and how much lighting do you have? Tank size? What kind of plants and how many? The answers will help others trying to help you.

 

[asian guppy]

tank info

Thanks for the messages!

Tank specs:

36g
sunta SA 380 airpump 50hz
power filter (outside box)
light: 1 neon light (long)

plants: 3 ferns, 7 eelgrass (vallinsneria natans), 20 egena densa, 9 plants that look like the green tops of carrots (don't know the name)

gravel: 0.125 inch

1 big piece decorative wood

fish: 12 neon tetras, 8 rasbona einthoveni, 6 brachydanio rerio (Zebra danio) but they're orange, and a 10 black phantom tetras. I did have five guppies, but they died (will go to another forum for help on that) :OT:

The ph for tap water here is quite high, around 7.6, so it wasn't the fertilizer that did it. (thanks for that sensible advice).

Plants don't seem to be doing so hot though. The eelgrass is going yellowish. I didn't put any fertilizer around it, because in the past i've grown it just in the rocks with nothing special to help it out. My water still seems slightly cloudy too.

 

[Karnaaj]

You don't have enough light for your tank. You need at least 70 to 75 watts (2 watts per gallon or wpg) of light to grow most plants. Low light plants can get by with 1.5 wpg. I know nothing about purchasing lighting where you live but I would look at compact fluorescent fixtures as a possible solution.

 

[asian guppy]

thanks for the advice

Thanks for the advice! I am off to my aquarium shop to buy another light. i can certainly fit another under the existing hood, and know they will have something to suit.

Many thanks,
Asian Guppy.