The Puffer Forum

I really like how it's coming along! You know it's a big tank when you need multiple photos to cover it!

I upped the CO2 injection a little yesterday and got new results
New Tank stats:
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0~.05
Nitrate 15~20
KH6
GH 9
PH 7.3 ~7.2
Phosphate 2.5 ~3

PH & KH dropped, GH, Nitrates and Phosphates went up.
CO2 saturation is aprox 11ppm (in the green zone)

Er, um, CO2 is way below saturation at 11ppm. I believe that is Canadian for "concentration" Meooow!

However, that is not bad CO2 at all for a tank with weirs.

Keep an eye on that KH.

Yes, concentration ... maybe it would have been more clear if I had saturation "level". I am at the bottom if the breen zone according to:

http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_co2chart.htm

But, I am measuring the end of the top tank and not the 210 long where the actual CO2 is being dispursed. I have a feeling the KH /PH levels are equal in the entire tanks VS. the CO2 levels that may be only in the bottom 210 section.

Saturation level CO2 is called tank wipe-out. Haven't you hard about end-of-tank "dumps"? It is also called acid. Talk about pH problems...

I have heard of that but am not too familiar with it. As the CO2 rises the water becomes more acidic.
According to : http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_co2chart.htm
optimum CO2 is 10~25.
I don't think should go higher than 15 as the plants are doing well in a lower range (except for 1 species)

Chuck Glad's info is overall A-1 (and I don't say that lightly), but is not really the current mode for quite a lot of the super planted tank nuts of the current mode. Those folks can run super-high light and supplements and actually may well need it all - including CO2 at 30ppm or a bit more from early in the light cycle to die down during the last lighted hour. They actually can run at photosynthetic saturation levels - which would scare the socks off me. Very few labs can or will do that unless they are studying photosynthesis - and never in 'scaped tanks. We are talking real knife-edge stuff here. I am confident that you do not want or need that - it would be effectively impossible in your system. those tanks are one-of, strictly and absolutely. They require tighter controls that the most advanced reef tanks, and pretty much computer control of slavish dedictaion to the tank's needs. I don't think that anybody could pay me enough to do that. That is no longer a hobby - that is work, and all too close to or worse than rocket science. Maybe more akin to fireworks R &D. Not my thing at all.

i keep checking back here to see the " ive changed my mind im going marine", alas its not today.

DarkStorm wrote:i keep checking back here to see the " ive changed my mind im going marine", alas its not today.

haha I don't discriminate, marine looks wonderful. BUT, here are some updated pics:

I haven't even thought about aquascaping yet and I am very happy with how the tanks are looking

I think you should go marine too. Why don't you pop those plants in the mail and I'll give them a home

LOL!! if you want to buy the tank, it comes with a free house!

looking great you've done a nice job. i threw out a ton of plants when i decided to make the change .should have givin em away i suppose.

Since the thaw is here and considering I can't do my "bamboo forest theme for one of my tanks, I decided that I should go with more rocks

Anyone visiting the Algonquin area is more than welcome to drop by and scoop some free granite for their tanks.

As an added incentive, with every 3 night stay you can get your choice of racoons from "the clan"

Now I just have to find a layout / design that will work and looks nice Any inspiring ideas out there?

Ooo, I'll come over then. I'd like 2 racoons ready for me when I get there. I expect them to be caged and tamed. Bonus if they're fixed.

Sound good?

sorry not fixed, but tame yes.

No cage included, but I can help you tie it down to the roof rack