shadoh Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 WILDS! WILDS! WILDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry, where was I? Oh yeah.... WILDS!!!Wayne, get in here and talk some sense into Busman - He has an empty re-scaped tank and he's not sure about whether to get wilds.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 What sze is it? With softwater fish you will probably need to do regular waterchanges to keep the ph down. The elodea I think may bring the ph too, they take the CO2 out of a bicarbonate ion forming a carbonate ion. Measuring the ph as you've already said you will during the first few weeks of setup. I think Tony advises waterchanges every two weeks... He keeps CRS which need a similar ph, kh and gh to apisto's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Tank only about 50 litres. I thought the ph would drop not rise??? I have not put any IAL in the tanks so I can monitor how it runs. Will do my first lot of testing tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yanagi Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Pair of dwarf gouramis to breed up top, pair of apistos to breed on the bottom and some dither fish... galaxy rasboras? lol Will be watching this thread with interest! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbites Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Definitely can see some wild action in that tank!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiameseFightingFist Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 How did you know that about the elodea? I've got a bunch of them in my tank, maybe I should check the pH tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 It would rise, I'll have to check my book when I get home for the exact chemistry but the carbonate becomes calcium carbonate raising the ph. they don't use the entire molecule. I use mostly softwater plants that can't do this in my tanks. The large amount of alkaline substance in the substrate would slowly raise it too. That's another reason I like the soil There were some studies in Ecology of the Planted Aquarium. That's why it's a noxious weed, it can outcompete so many other plants.I had better check my book anyway, I know the process raises the ph anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Only using the Elodia because it is quick growing and hope it helps prevent algae blooms. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiameseFightingFist Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 (edited) I did read one bit about the elodea in the Walstad book, I remember it saying it is a big consumer of ammonia but there were no comparisons with other plants. Edited November 17, 2011 by SiameseFightingFist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 I just looked this up, egaria densa, another name for elodia is listed as a plant that doe sthis. It puts out an acid from its leaves with a ph of around 6, it reacts with calcium bicarbonate causing it to be calcium carbonate and CO2 whcih the plant takes up. The plant takes in the acid it secreted and the water surrounding the plants has a ph of around 10.I use hornwort to act as a nutrient sponge during start up if I think I may have a problem, I find it easier to grow in tubs outside without it browning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 So should I remove it Matt?? Once it grows roots it will be a nightmare to remove. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Just keep testing the ph, it would only be a problem if it is in a small area at a high density. It can cripple other plants though by raising the ph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 (edited) 24 hrs after set up. Ph. 7.6+ Ammonia. Just registered. 0.1mg/L Nitrite. 0 Nitrate. 0 Hhhmmmmm Just added three IAL leaves. I may have figured out a problem. I tied the java fern to some lose rocks I got at Bunnings. They are WHITE. I am sure I have read that almost all white rocks increase ph. Is this correct?????? Edited November 17, 2011 by Busman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 That is correct, take them out and drop some vinigar on them, try to dry it first if possible, if it bubbles it will raise the ph... I don't see the problem though since you already have marble in the substrate though, isn't it just teh same thing sort of? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Yea, your right Matt but anything, no matter how good it is, in excess it will cause a problem. I still have a few left over. Will test em now with vinegar. Is white vinegar ok? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 ahhh yes your right Any viniger is fine, do you have a pool? Hydrochloric acid would be better... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Vinegar does nothing. So guessing the rocks are ok? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Should be it's probably quartz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 Added 4 peppered cories and five female black orchid kids two days ago. Got home tonight and tank is cloudy. :-(. Started a 50ltr/hr internal filter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 (edited) Still very clouded. Filter has made no difference. Looks worse this morning. Starting to worry as the tank also smells. Any ideas why??? Edited November 19, 2011 by Busman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted November 19, 2011 Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 Probably a bacterial bloom, it often happens in newly set up tanks, bacteria is to small to be filtered out. I think you just need to wait it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 (edited) Thanks Matt. Hope your right. :-) Would that account for the smell? Edited November 20, 2011 by Busman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sha Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 What is the smell? If it is rotten eggs it is your substrate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yanagi Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 Ammonia smells. Get your hands on some Seachem Clarity, cleared up my tank like a charm! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted November 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 Tested again this morning. Tank still cloudy. Smell has gone. Ammonia.......off the chart. Nitrite...........0 Nitrate..........0 Ph.........7. Obviously doing a 50% wc immediately. Lost one Betta girl. All other fish look and behaving normally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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