Jmo

Hi, I am fairly new at a planted aquarium with community tetra fish. I currently have a 55 gal tank with 2.3 wpg, no C02. Right now I have Anubias, corkscrew vals, Val, java ferns.

I have gained many wonderful insights and tips from this website but I still have some unanswered questions.

I am just about to start the Pps pro program and I am wondering if there are any other fertilizers you would use in conjunction with Pps?

My current readings are as follows:
Ph 6.4
Nitrate 10 ppm
Gh 75 ppm
Kh 25 ppm - I am trying to raise
Phosphate 0ppm - which I think Pps will help

Are there any other tests I should conduct on a regular basis?

Any recommendations or suggestions to get my levels to a more desired level?

Thanks

Seattle_Aquarist

Hi Jmo,

Welcome to APC! It looks like you are off to a good start. I typically do two tests; PH and dGH. When starting up a tank I also do Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate until the tank has finished the nitrogen cycle. I follow Tom Barr's recommendation and don't worry about dKH but try to maintain 5.0 dGH (90 ppm).

That is a lot of light without CO2. I would certainly suggest at least doing DIY CO2 (1 - 2 liter bottle) to help your plants out compete algae. Also I suggest a shorter photoperiod; maybe 6 hours to start and adjust from there.