Phosphate - Phosphorus??

First, be careful when using Excel and CO2 injection together.
You have an established tank so it's not 'new tank syndrome'(I just made that up).
The tank is not seriously overstocked, IMO, but as previously stated a lot of fish can cause nitrates to be high.
I wish I had asked what kind of filtration you have, because I'm going to suggest that you get more fish......Otocinclas, but I hesitate to add more fish to your tank. If you have really good filtration and feel the tank can handle it, get some Oto's. They are great algae eaters.
You have a good selection of plants and it sounds like it's a heavily stocked tank, which is necessary because your lighting is a bit over 3watts/gal., which is not in the 'high' category, but approaching it.
If it was my tank, I would do the water changes to lower N and P levels and cut out the use of the Fe. Over dosing of Fe can cause algae issues and from the sounds of it, you don't need extra Fe at this time. Flourish should supply what your plants need.
You only need to add N when the level drops below 5ppm, and P when the level drops below .50ppm.
The only thing I can come up with for the high P level, based on what you've told us, is that you are over feeding the fish, unless it's in your tap water.
When you do your water changes do a light(not deep) siphoning of as much of the substrate as you can get to without uprooting plants.

Len
 
I just did a huge water change (about 75%), and my phosphates dropped to about 2 ppm. Much better, but I'd still like to get it down to 1 ppm. I'll do another 50% change on Tuesday and see what happens.
After I did the change today, my kH also dropped to 2.2 degrees (or 40 ppm). pH about 6.8. Do you think I should raise the kH a little?
Anyway, Right now I have the Emperer Power Filter, but last week I ordered an Eheim Ecco canister filter. I'm planning on using them both. Right now I'm getting a lot of surface movement from the Emperor and I figure I'll turn that down some once I get the Eheim. (Should get it by wed or thurs)
Once that is set I'll go looking for the Otocinclas you mentioned. (never heard of it before. Is it something like the Flying Fox?)
The P isn't coming from my tapwater (it reads 0), so I must be overfeeding. I've already started reducing the amount I'm feeding these guys. I'm giving them about two minutes worth twice a day. (is there any way to tell if you're underfeeding?)
So there you go, Please let me know what you think about my kH.
See Ya
Thanks
 
Ottos and flying foxes are often mistaken for each other in LFS as I understand. When you do get some ottos make sure to aclimate slowly and even then you may lose some due to stress unfortunatly.
 
Just ask for Otos or Otocinclas Algae Eaters. When you say it the O's are pronounced with a long O. I find that many LFS's like to call them Ottos though, so if they don't know what you're talking about, say Ottos.
I believe the fish that are sometimes confused with the Flying Fox are SAEs and unless you start to experience BBA, I would not invest in them at this time.
Strange that your kH would drop with the water change unless it's really low coming from the tap. Take a bowl of tap water and let it sit out for 2 or 3 hours and test it for kH. In fact, if you've never done that before(let it sit) it might be a good idea to test for N and P and pH at that time as well. It gives the water time to 'gas off' and you might see a difference.
2.2 kH is low when using CO2. Ideally, you'd like to see 3.0-3.5.
If it shows that out of the tap and remains there in the tank you can pick up some crushed coral at the LFS, put it in a filter bag(little nylon bags that fit into a HOB) and stick it into your Emperor to raise the kH and buffering ability.
The cannister will help a bunch with CO2 absorption and you can put a piece of filter sponge on the lip of the Emperor and it will cut way down on surface disturbance. It'll be good to have both working as sometimes cannisters leave dead spots in the tank due to lack of complete circulation.
Just feed 2 - 4 Min's. worth and watch to see that a little is hitting the bottom for the Corys. Twice a day at that rate and they will be fine.
Once I went to work at a fish store which had been closed all
summer. My initial job was to clean all the tanks which were like 1/2 full due to evaporation and no filtration. I found fish in about 50% of the tanks that hadn't been fed, or cared for, for months. They were all slim, but otherwise fine. I was pissed at the managers of the place for their lack of thought, but amazed at the way the fish hung in there all summer.
Keep up the water changes until the P nears 1.0 and see if you can hold it there.

Len
 
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Since we're on the topic of feeding, here's something that's been bugging me lately: I have a bunch of platies (about 6 adults) in a 10-gal, and they are all the direct descendants of my boyfriend's fish from residence, so that would be 2 years ago. Right now I have 2 or 3 of those original fry (not fry anymore...), and the others were born at varying times since then. The weird thing was that they never really grew to full size, none of them. I figured this was because for the first 6 months or so they lived in a 1-gal tank, 7-8 fry. I assumed this stunted their growth, and subsequent fry didn't do well because they were born to very young mothers. But they were always happy and healthy and friendly, so I left it at that.

When I moved back to school in January I left my tank at home. My parents have been feeding them, and I do water changes about once a month when I go home. Well, they have all grown like crazy since then, even ones that are already well over 1 year old. Also, the fry that were born since then are also growing faster than usual. There are one or two that haven't really grown still. The only reason I can think of is because my parents feed them a lot. But I used to feed 2x a day, and they always had full bellies. As far as I know, it's pretty impossible to starve fish. So was I really feeding too little? Funny thing.

Anyway, sorry about going off-topic. Just wanted to share my weird experience of apparently underfeeding.
 
Ok - Thanks a lot people. I think I'm on the way to where I want to be. (?!?)
I'll keep up the water changes, and I'm going to check my tap water after it sits a couple hours. I'm also going to try the crushed coral to raise the kH and see what happens. I know I can get some from my LFS guy. were almost blood brothers, I've been in there so many times.
Kinda weird about you platies growing like that. I've never heard of any growth after the first few months. I've got Platies and Guppies in another tank that I call my "Family Tank". I just let them go at it, and They're into the fourth or fifth generation by now. I sort out the best ones and use them for my planted tank.
I'm starting to wonder if this is a hobby or a sickness:huh:
I'll check in later and let you know how its going,
Thanks again,
 
Tony, if the coral(you only need a little) comes out of a tank(used)
be sure and bake it at 350° on a flat baking pan for 10 mins. to kill off any hitch-hikers.

Starry, parents always seem to over do everything, don't they!?!

I have found that rather than feeding a lot of food, if I want good growth I feed very small feedings but many times a day.
People who grow fish in 'grow out tanks' feed tons all day long, but many use bare bottom tanks for this purpose and bottom siphon daily for cleanliness.

Len
 
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