Any fishkeepers here? Saltwater or freshwater

[Silock]

Been a few more days. All ammonia is gone, but my nitrites are still out of this world high. Doing a 50% water change daily, and that gets the nitrites down to about 2 ppm, but they are back up to 5 ppm in just a few hours. PH is still around 7.8, so that should help the nitrites not be quite so toxic. But, relying on Prime at this point.

Fish seem to be acting fine. Cardinals are full of color, betta isn't looking like he is going to die any more.

Plants aren't doing so hot with my 20w 6500k fluorescent. So, I ordered a dual incandescent fixture, and put two 20w CFL 6500ks in there. Looks to be getting a lot more light than my single tube.

I also fixed up a DIY CO2 generator with a Glass bell diffuser on the way. I'm hoping that will help get rid of this crazy brown algae bloom I have right now. Seachem Excel just wasn't cutting it for carbon, I don't think.

If anyone is interested in pics, I'll put some up.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Silock

Been a few more days. All ammonia is gone, but my nitrites are still out of this world high. Doing a 50% water change daily, and that gets the nitrites down to about 2 ppm, but they are back up to 5 ppm in just a few hours. PH is still around 7.8, so that should help the nitrites not be quite so toxic. But, relying on Prime at this point.

Prime detoxifies nitrites so stay the course. You're almost there, IMO!

Originally Posted by Silock

Plants aren't doing so hot with my 20w 6500k fluorescent. So, I ordered a dual incandescent fixture, and put two 20w CFL 6500ks in there. Looks to be getting a lot more light than my single tube.

I have two 26W 6500K CFL in the 14G and those plants grow even better than my 55G. Even though the 20W should have been enough, you only helped yourself here.

Originally Posted by Silock

I also fixed up a DIY CO2 generator with a Glass bell diffuser on the way.

The glass bell diffusor should work pretty good in a small tank. Not so well in a bigger one. Make sure to put it near your filter outflow - you'll get better dissolution and dispersion. Also, the benefit of a bell diffusor is that you don't HAVE to use a continuous CO2 supply. Since the CO2 sits in the bell and can't escape, you CAN just fill it rapidly and walk away. I would suggest you take a look at the Jungle Fizz Factory - you add a tablet and it fills your diffusor in about 30 seconds. It's pretty handy.

EDIT: The other HUGE benefit of using a quick reactor for CO2 over DIY yeast is that you can dose at almost exact levels. You can fill the bell and then fill it again the next day. With DIY you CANNOT shut it off, meaning it will feed CO2 into your tank 24x7. Plants actually only absorb CO2 during the day. It is possible that without proper aeration you will kill your fish.

Originally Posted by Silock

I'm hoping that will help get rid of this crazy brown algae bloom I have right now.

With your current water chemistry, I'd be surprised if you have algae, especially with your plants. Is the brown stuff slimy and tinted towards pink? If so, it's not algae, it's a bacteria. It will go away over time.

Originally Posted by Silock

Seachem Excel just wasn't cutting it for carbon, I don't think.

Keep in mind, Excel is an organic carbon supplement, it is NOT CO2. I use Excel for algae control (high doses kill almost any algae, just be careful not to kill your fish).

Originally Posted by Silock

If anyone is interested in pics, I'll put some up.

Absolutely interested!

[Silock]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

EDIT: The other HUGE benefit of using a quick reactor for CO2 over DIY yeast is that you can dose at almost exact levels. You can fill the bell and then fill it again the next day. With DIY you CANNOT shut it off, meaning it will feed CO2 into your tank 24x7. Plants actually only absorb CO2 during the day. It is possible that without proper aeration you will kill your fish.

I was just planning on taking it out of the tank at night and turning on the air curtain.

With your current water chemistry, I'd be surprised if you have algae, especially with your plants. Is the brown stuff slimy and tinted towards pink? If so, it's not algae, it's a bacteria. It will go away over time.

No, it's definitely brown. Looks like little balls in some places, and it covers the substrate like dirt in others.

Keep in mind, Excel is an organic carbon supplement, it is NOT CO2. I use Excel for algae control (high doses kill almost any algae, just be careful not to kill your fish).

Yes, but Seachem says the plants will use it in the CO2 reactions. Will look into the Fizz Factory, though. It's been 13 hours and no CO2 yet. There aren't any leaks, so maybe I killed the yeast when I put it in there.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Silock

I was just planning on taking it out of the tank at night and turning on the air curtain.

While that will work, I'm pretty sure you'll find it to be a hassle after a while.

Originally Posted by Silock

No, it's definitely brown. Looks like little balls in some places, and it covers the substrate like dirt in others.

Hmmm...does it move around when you disturb it? It might just be organic waste/mulm. Otherwise, it could be brown diatoms I guess.

Originally Posted by Silock

Yes, but Seachem says the plants will use it in the CO2 reactions.

Yes, they will. It also helps with their absorption of iron, which is especially important for "red" plants.

Originally Posted by Silock

Will look into the Fizz Factory, though.

I would suggest just picking up the Fizz tabs themselves. All the kit is a diffusor (you already have one), air hose, and a "reaction chamber" which you could make with a medicine bottle.

Originally Posted by Silock

It's been 13 hours and no CO2 yet. There aren't any leaks, so maybe I killed the yeast when I put it in there.

That's probably what happened.