Angelo V

NotDaleG...so a couple of things , first can I assume you have that one way check valve attached in the right direction? Looking at your picture of it in your hand the bottom is connected to your bubble counter I hope. If it is then that's good. If Co2 is still not coming out of your diffuser you can try a couple of things. I would first shut the bubble counter needle valve and remove the hose connected at the top. I would get a short piece of hose and connect it there placing the other end into a jar of water. Reopening the needle valve on the bubble counter, you should now see bubbling in the jar....this will at least prove that Co2 is leaving the bubble counter. Next I would reattach your original hose at the bubble counter but disconnect the diffuser, place the end of the hose in that jar of water again and see if it bubbles....if it does, I would suspect something is wrong with that diffuser, if it doesn't I would place my suspicions on that check valve, either its blocked/defective, or leaking....to check if it's leaking submerge the entire check valve in water....if it bubbles, you found your problem....I know it's alot but I hope it will help.

Agreed flyingcow, Miranda you should definitely be able to get those results and....just a reminder tastes good does not equate to is good....ask any scientist how good diet coke is for you....but dam it sure tastes good! Kidding aside check your water source and my moto is and always will be small steps ... never do anything in a big way when it comes to making changes in your tank....stability, is key. Even if things aren't perfect in your tank and as long as your not killing lots of fish or all your plants are fading, a slow steady road to correction is always the route.

Quick question....you say that your home is getting its water from a well....do you use the water straight out of tap? If yes...then, when was the last time you checked its parameters..and I'm talking about the magnesium and calcium. I ask because many houses with well water supply use whole house filters that incorporate water softeners in them...these softeners remove harmful calcium and magnesium (harmful to your plumbing that is).......if your softener medium is at its end of life, you could be correct in thinking the magnesium is your culprit, as your softener unit is no longer removing them.

Hi Paul...I guess I might as well add my 2cents. In your last reply you mentioned that you did a good gravel vacuum. Have you been vacuuming your gravel with every water change? If you are, it is possible that you are disturbing the crypts root system too much....in my experience the less we disturb the gravel in our plant tanks, the better. If I do a vacuum it is just a light skim over the surface of the gravel to remove some of the accumulated mulm and such....I never push the vacuum tube into the gravel to agitate it as is always suggested by the manufacturers. Also can I ask why you are doing so many, and such large water changes on a tank that you say is not overly stocked....is there another issue that I may have missed your mentioning. If it is just because you are chasing "ideal parameters" your fighting yourself...and keep in mind that as you add stock to your tank you will have to back off on those ferts you are dumping in there right now.....it's a balance, like Cory always says.