tsunami

To get optimum CO2 levels, you will have to lower the pH in your aquarium. This is the FIRST problem you should fix. As Dennis said, you will want the pH to be around 6.9-7.0 to have your CO2 levels at 25-30ppm.

Gradually lower your pH by increasing the number of CO2 bubbles going into your reactor. Try adding 2 bubbles per second and measure the pH 24 hours later to see where you stand.

Carlos

Sgtreef

OKay starting now!
Thanks again
Okay increased it.
6:10 Am wed July 28.2004

Sgtreef

An update ph now at 7.0 at night so going down but algae coming on strong.

dennis

Good, now you need to start dosing (actually already should have been dosing from the beginning) for N/P/K and traces. As tsunami recommended dose KNO3 and P at levels of 15 and 1.75 mg/l respectivly. You should break this down into a couple doses a week and dose a trace supploiment on the alternating days. There are lots of topics and info on this site, as well as many other sites, about dosing nutrients. Read as much as you can and dose away. Don't beto affraid of it. Most bad algae/plant growth problems are a result of nutrients levels that are too low or have hit 0ppm

Good luck

Sgtreef

Okay only using Flourish as of now.
Got me 24 of those Armano shrimps from Frank{great Guy to do business with BTW}

So now that am at 6.9 at night and 7.0 durning the day what should I use to get the hair algae out and the one on my sword.

Sorry for all the questions but not much of a green thumb in Aquatic plants

dennis

Your Amanos will take care of the thread algae nicely, as long as they don't get to much real food to eat (ie fish food or invert bites, ect). Try to remove as much of the algae as you can. This is actually a good practice in general as it helps prevent extra algae from taking hold. A toothbrush and tweezers are good weapons for this. You can twirl the brush around the hair algae and run it gently through the plants to remove bunches of the algae. Do this for your other algae problems as well. Trim leaves, spot treatments of H2O2, and basic manual removal of any you can will help later and make your tank easier to maintain and more apealing to you. Many species of algae really don't like constant picking and disturbance and will often "go away" if you work a little each day. This ofcourse only works if you have your tank parameters under control.

Hope that was helpful.

Sgtreef

Thanks again Dennis,will get on to that.
Real problem seems to be the Fert,maybe not enough or too much in the water colum.

Sgtreef

Update.
After increase in co2 and increase in Ferts Hair algae gone now to work on the little clumps of bush algae but looks like the Shrimp are going after them.
Starting to use potassium nitrate and Potassium Sulfate to increase both.
Looks like good stuff from Greg Watson
link herehttp://www.gregwatson.com/

Thanks again.
Will need a little help on the how much to add deal.