Okay, so the DIY CO2 program was driving me nuts- very little production, high hassle factor, so I sprung for a regulator from AquariumPlants.com, and picked up a 5lb tank. I also got a rena filstar xp1 because the emperor was doing me no good with the co2 program. I may need to spend additional money on divorce procedings, however I think that I finally have a close to optimal system.
29G tank
Orbit 130 watt compact flourscent light arrangement (one 10000/6700k light, one 6700k light on a ten hour timer)
Rena XP1 with inline heater and mature media (according to my tests 0 NH3+, 0 NO2,) I do 50% water changes weekly and use the water on my garden)
Eco-complete substrat supplimented with some flourite black (The black looks hot- too bad every timer I dig around I get a mix of gravel up top- looks better in Johnny Cash Black)
Maxi jet 600 with a venturi bubbler set on a 6 hour timer set to go right after the lights go out.
(I figure I want moderate water movement in the tank during the day to keep the CO2 in, but I want to aerate the tank at night, increase O2 content once the lights go out and move more water around at night.)
A mix of plants including HC, rotala indica (apologize if I screw up on sp. or terminology...) Java ferns wisteria, vallis, C. wenditi, eleocharis acicularis, anubis nana and fair amount of algae
5 amano shrimp
4 otocinculus cats
I had two to start, got four more about five days ago to help with my budding algae problem Two mysteriously kicked last night- did water tests still showing 0 nh3+, 0 no2 and ph was pretty stable. Any guesses?
Aquarium plants regulator set at one bubble every ten seconds.
I am planning on adding either a bunch of neons (or cardinals) or some angelfish at some point- but first things first- the jungle. (Amano "happy plants, happy fish")
I could use some advice on where to set the bubble counter. I started with 1 bubble every ten seconds to be on the safe side and not shock the residents to death, but I am not getting much movement on the PH side. On a 29G with a moderately heavy planting scheme, is this appropriate? I am aiming for a jungle. I am trying to test the water parameters and get dialed in, but so far I haven't managed to move the parameters to that sub 7 PH that seems to be the sweet spot. My tap conditions are Ph 7.8, Kh 5, and so far I have only moved the PH to 7.6. Looking through the first Amano book specs, it seems to be once every five seconds seems to his numbers for tanks around that size. I would appreciate any advice you may have. As far as the current arrangement goes I am running the CO2 on a timer thirty minutes before the lights go on, and shutting down an hour before the lights go off. I then have a Maxi Jet 600 with the venturi bubbler that switches on for six hours after the lights go off. The canister is a much sweeter option and I wish I would have bit the bullet right off the bat on that purchase. Any advice would be appreciated.
29G tank
Orbit 130 watt compact flourscent light arrangement (one 10000/6700k light, one 6700k light on a ten hour timer)
Rena XP1 with inline heater and mature media (according to my tests 0 NH3+, 0 NO2,) I do 50% water changes weekly and use the water on my garden)
Eco-complete substrat supplimented with some flourite black (The black looks hot- too bad every timer I dig around I get a mix of gravel up top- looks better in Johnny Cash Black)
Maxi jet 600 with a venturi bubbler set on a 6 hour timer set to go right after the lights go out.
(I figure I want moderate water movement in the tank during the day to keep the CO2 in, but I want to aerate the tank at night, increase O2 content once the lights go out and move more water around at night.)
A mix of plants including HC, rotala indica (apologize if I screw up on sp. or terminology...) Java ferns wisteria, vallis, C. wenditi, eleocharis acicularis, anubis nana and fair amount of algae
5 amano shrimp
4 otocinculus cats
I had two to start, got four more about five days ago to help with my budding algae problem
Two mysteriously kicked last night- did water tests still showing 0 nh3+, 0 no2 and ph was pretty stable. Any guesses?Aquarium plants regulator set at one bubble every ten seconds.
I am planning on adding either a bunch of neons (or cardinals) or some angelfish at some point- but first things first- the jungle. (Amano "happy plants, happy fish")
I could use some advice on where to set the bubble counter. I started with 1 bubble every ten seconds to be on the safe side and not shock the residents to death, but I am not getting much movement on the PH side. On a 29G with a moderately heavy planting scheme, is this appropriate? I am aiming for a jungle. I am trying to test the water parameters and get dialed in, but so far I haven't managed to move the parameters to that sub 7 PH that seems to be the sweet spot. My tap conditions are Ph 7.8, Kh 5, and so far I have only moved the PH to 7.6. Looking through the first Amano book specs, it seems to be once every five seconds seems to his numbers for tanks around that size. I would appreciate any advice you may have. As far as the current arrangement goes I am running the CO2 on a timer thirty minutes before the lights go on, and shutting down an hour before the lights go off. I then have a Maxi Jet 600 with the venturi bubbler that switches on for six hours after the lights go off. The canister is a much sweeter option and I wish I would have bit the bullet right off the bat on that purchase. Any advice would be appreciated.
