[Stefano]

Hi everybody, I'm new in this forum and writing from Italy.
Fantastic forum !!! Great expert people !
I need some advise on how to convert my aquarium from CO2 injected to a low tech tank.
First step I sold my CO2 injection system to a friend, big step !
Then I changed the lighting time including a siesta of 4 hours, so 5 hours in the morning + siesta + 6 hours in the afternoon. This allowed me to recover some CO2 , confirmed by the pH meter going down about 0.4 during the siesta.
Anyway plants are not growing so well and my doubt is the substrate.
I have a commercial JBL Manado on top, JBL aquabasis in the bottom. Nothing that can provide CO2 by bacteria decomposition I think.
Question, can I add organic matter in this substrate without change it ?
Ex. putting frozen soil-water mix underground the substrate ? Or commercial peat -water mix frozen ?
Or do you think is better to dismount everything and do a soil + inert gravel substrate ?
Thanks if you can give me some suggestion
Acquarium values are now:
GH 11
KH 8
pH 7.8- 8.2
NO3 5 ppm
NH4 0
PO4 0
37,5 gallons aquarium

Ciao
Stefano

 

[Stefano]

Thanks mistergreen & Michael, I will try with frozen mud and look what happens. Light is now at 2 W per gallon, t5 tubes, maybe I will reduce a little, but no big algae problems. Just some plants are not growing. Hygrophila polisperma and anubias nana are growing slowly, ninphea lotus is blocked.

 

[Stefano]

Your plants and lights are fine. I wonder why the H. polysperma didn't grow. That plant is a weed.

I've removed the CO2 injection three weeks ago, maybe the plants need more time to adapt to the new condition

 

[Stefano]

Today (1/7/2023) I started a new thread 'Plants for Low-Tech' in response to your question. You brought up an important issue.

Thanks Mrs Walstad, I'm rally happy that you answered to my post and that my question may be useful to other hobbysts. I'll look at your new thread right now !

 

[Stefano]

Overall now my tank has inproved, and most probably some plants have adapted to the new environment. Higrophyla P. Is growing at regular rate, Echinodorus Sp. have started to grow. I added two weeks ago Limnobium Laevigatum, and I think this has contributed to some stabilization too. Now I have some BBA on Anubias to get rid of, so I have reduced light intensity and I think I'll add some active carbon in the filter. Anyway everithing is very low compared to my previous setup with CO2, I need also to adapt my thinking to this new speed and be patient...sometimes I'm not and would lite to see improvements in few days...

 

[Stefano]

Here a picture of my tank now. Some algae to get rid of , and maybe I need to add more plants, right side is quite empty. Il you have any suggestion ...

 

[Stefano]

Hi all, a quick update about my tank. About one month ago I was still unsatisfied because of slow plant grow, my suspect was competition by the filter for Nitrogen and excessive surface water movement. So I took the courage to remove the filter, just left pump circulating water far from surface, and one sponge. Few days after, the response of plants were very good ! Starting to grow at faster rate and consistenly. I'm checking NH3 and it is at zero. Now I'm reducing water changes and I donato clean the grave. Satisfied now !! Here a picture. Ciao

 

[Stefano]

Diana, yes removal of filter media has been key factor for me, all plants are growing well, pH is more stable 7.7 - 7.9, and algae were first blocked, then reducing. I also added further plants overall. Now my concern is if I need to do some small water change periodically, or not at all. Values I measure weekly are NH3 0, NO3 10 mg/l, PO4 0.1 mg/l, pretty stabile in last three weeks, so those are not accumulating, but DOC I can't measure it. May I assume bacteria will decompose it so that their level wiill stay stable ?
My idea is not to do water changes unless I see algae increase. Just a practical idea.

 

[Stefano]

The post I was looking for. I just removed a massive filtration system from my own tank, which is in my sister's house... Totally on gut feeling and interpretation of Mrs. Walstad's book, and was worried I'd lost my marbles. I have not! Congrats on the stabilization.

Hi Jorge, thanks, I was also not sure to do it, but then I was surprised about plants response. Let me know how it will go for you in next weeks. I kept anyway a good water circulation to be sure oxigen going to the substrate. And I'm still measuring ammonia once a week, to be sure all is ok.