C02 and Plant Problem - Please Help

NMK

Hi all,

I’m just new with using CO2 and my local aquarium has told me to turn it on and slowly increase the CO2 and use my PH to tell when I have the right setting.

My problem is that some of my tetras will start gasping for air and breathing rapidly at the surface of the tank, before I have even seen a change in my PH. My tank if about 4ft and is not heavily planted yet as I want to get all my problems worked out first. I have some different types of swords and a few Crypts in there right now. Things where going ok until around the same time I tried using flourish excel, instead of just the plain flourish. My swords are getting little brown circles in them, and then the leaves would start browning from the edge and die. I took a few leaves to the aquarium and was told that my bristlenose where doing it, so I removed them and I am still having this problem and the people at the aquarium have told me that it can’t be the flourish doing it. I have taken a water sample to my aquarium a few times and it has tested fine. One thing that I have noticed is that my plants don’t seem to take root as well as the ones in my other tank which is running on a much lower light level without C02.

Has anyone got any idea with what is happening with my swords and how can I tell what setting to have my C02 at.


Thanks Nathan

St6_Devgru

maybe theres too much co2 and your plants arent converyting it fast enough maybe tune it down a lil or add some more plants haha

NMK

i have got it tuned right down, the people at the shop told me to turn it up slightly every 30min while testing my Ph each time and when that didn't work i left it down.

Lupin

Welcome.
At what point will the CO2 dosing stop when you slowly increase it? 30 ppm is the dosing recommended and safe for fish although some people have managed to turn the CO2 to almost 80 ppm without any ill effects to the fish but I would stick to 30 ppm if I were you.:)

How many watts per gallon lighting do you have? Although I realize lumens is more important than wpg.:)
You have added too much CO2 already. Turn it off and switch on several airpumps you have. Then do a 40-50% water change. This will dissipate some of the CO2. Pls stop listening to your lfs. Get a CO2 meter or test kit so you will know the exact dosing needed.
...to which your lfs gave you another useless conclusion. It could be nutrient deficiency. A BN can't possibly make the leaves go brown starting from the edges.
Get your own test kit or insist on the lfs to start jotting down the exact figures. Never listen to simple comments like 'fine'. There could be something wrong with your water parameters.
What substrate do you use? Also pls post the details of your lighting system. I hope the light tubes you use are fluorescents.:)

Lupin

Using pH as the indicator as suggested by your lfs is considered rubbish. What are your KH and GH? The only way to determine the exact dosing is the use of test kit or electronic meter.:)

Andrew

you gotta love LFS staff- thick as 2 short planks!

do you have a bubble counter? if not buy one- try 1 bubble ever 4 seconds, at that rate you will not hav eyour fish gasping for air, start off slow and build up- its the key to all elements in aquaria including lighting and fish stocks.
Your tank will demand more co2 as the plants mature and take over your tank- as you near 100% plant coverage you will probably run at 3 per second.