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dan94

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Posts posted by dan94

  1. On 9/9/2021 at 12:12 AM, Grant said:

    I've used Seachem Alkaline Buffer. Pretty straightforward stuff. I use it without their acid buffer. I would take a guess that its a blend of potassium and magnesium carbonate. the majority of Alkaline buffer looks like pearl ash (potassium carbonate) and it has a very dusty residue to it as well that reminds me of magnesium carbonate. Perhaps there is some calcium carbonate, but  I would think that would leave an insoluble residue - especially as pH increases and temperature decreases.

    I may be wayyyy off in my analysis, and i really wish they published a chemical survey. it may just be an overpriced container of potassium carb lol.

    My plants respond to it as if it were a fertilizer. it does require redosing as i've caught my pH drops over time in my low tech setup. I've also noticed that it will lower my gH as well for some reason. either the plants are using it up, or there is something chemical going on. My ramshorn snails respond pretty well to it. their shells grow out much more glossy and smooth since i started dosing it. my tapwater is already fairly hard, but lacks a lot of kH. that's why i supply it. (Tulsa,OK)

    Baking Soda will slap your Kh up very quickly, but then you're adding a marginal amount of sodium. There can be contaminants in the soda unless it is aquarium/food specific. the soda in the baking aisle is probably the cleanest option for the price. The reef guys will use lab-grade baking soda in some instances.

    Thanks for the info! I bought some Alkaline Buffer at my LFS today to give a shot. Just trying to get it under control before I put any livestock in my new tank. Being my first C02 build, I want to be careful to not have any major PH swings. How often do you need to redose to keep your KH at your desired level?

  2. I found a solution! After not being able to find an adapter for my bathroom sink, I took the sprayer attachment off of my kitchen sink to take a look at its threads. I couldnt get an adapter, but it looked small enough for the python universal adapter and got a great seal with no leaks at all. I did have to take out a smaller black piece out to get it to fit, but it works! Posting for future reference if it helps anyone else!

    IMG_1969.jpg.4f09e625564741847379aa44eba09369.jpg

    • Like 2
  3. On 9/8/2021 at 8:20 AM, Fish Folk said:

    I use crushed coral. Sometimes I just dump it unceremoniously on top of the substrate. On other occasions I hide and camouflage a black mesh  bag of it in the Hardscape.

    One thing I’ve found is that CO2 tends to wear down buffer, and poise tanks for pH crash. I’m not sure if Crushed Coral would release at the rate that CO2 breaks down or not.

    I assume you know this… but for new explorers with CO2, never dose at lights out, since plants can only utilize it during photosynthesis. 

    Ahh thats a good idea. I havent wanted to put it on top of my substrate, but I could probably find somewhere in the tank to hide a bag, especially as my plants continue to grow in. Thanks!

    • Like 1
  4. Hello all! I am in a quest to bring my KH just a few degrees in my new tank as I am injecting C02 and want a little more buffering capacity. I purchased Aquavitro Carbonate product, which is a liquid additive that increases KH. While this works, the way the dosing works out I will go through quite a lot of it. Has anyone else tried this product? What are some other options you have had luck with? I know many use crushed coral, but I have wondered if I have the space in my filter to fit it along with my other media. Thanks in advance!

    • Like 1
  5. On 9/7/2021 at 6:05 AM, Atitagain said:

    @dan94 replacing faucets can get pricey, have you tried the other big box stores? May need to try a more plumbing specialized store. I had to replace a vanity faucet to get my python to fit, it was a chore just to find one that was right size and I needed to have a tall one that hooked down for space. IMO chasing this down or paying the price for a new faucet much better than bucket water changes even if tank is 15’ away from drain.

    Yeah I went to two different Lowes stores and a home depot. Unfortunately they couldn't help me find what I needed. I even looked online with one of the associates who is also a plumber to no luck. Im trying my kitchen faucet now, which is the extendable type. I took off the sprayer part and I found an adapter that will hopefully work with the hose. Hopefully it works, it'll be that or a new sink, I don't want to do the bucket brigade with my new tank.

  6. On 9/7/2021 at 5:12 AM, Guppysnail said:

    Have you checked online for a specialized adapter? Or an adapter that fits your outlet? I recently replaced an old faucet myself (breaking arm patting my back 🤣) it actually was not to difficult. So maybe change your current faucet. 

    Ive scoured the internet, found a few options that may help. At Lowes I was told I would need something specialized that they dont sell. I am currently getting an adapter for a different sink with hopes itll work!

  7. As with any betta advice I'll give the disclaimer that it depends on the temperament of your fish. That said, I have had my betta in a tank with amanos for over a year and he has done very well. My betta is pretty chill, doesn't flare a lot and tends to keep to himself. I think it also helps that these shrimp are pretty large now, and there are plenty of hiding places in plants. Give it a shot and see what happens, but have a plan if it doesn't work out! Let us know how it goes!

    • Like 1
  8. Hello all! I recently purchased a Hygger water change system similar to the Pythons I've been hearing so much about. Unfortunately my sinks faucet with the aerator removed is still too small to be used with the system. I took my aerator and water change system to Lowes and Home Depot to look for an adapter to no avail. My sink uses a "tiny junior" aerator, which is apparently a 3/4" fine thread. I need to adapt this to match my water change system of 13/16" 15/16" or standard garden hose size. Has anyone here had any luck with these systems and sinks that are using these small aerators thank can give me some tips? 

  9. 1 minute ago, Mengo said:

    I had the same experience with mine. My main plant sent a chain of 4 runners before i moved them but after that all the plants started to melt. The runners melted to the point that there was no chance of recovery. The main plant has just been barely hanging on. Just last week I uprooted it and all its root were brown and mushy. It baffles me as I fertilize with seachem comprehensive, put root tabs and run co2. 😕

    Aww I’m sorry to hear that! Mine haven’t melted just stopped sending runners. Have any of the parameters of your tank changed drastically? Light, bio load, trimmings, etc?

    • Like 1
  10. 1 hour ago, 1moretank said:

    If I am reading this right, you had new plantlets at first, so your plant nutrient "needs" are higher now than in December, but you haven't changed how much fertilizer you dose?  So I would think your plants are no longer getting enough nutrients.  Try more fertilizer, maybe one squirt 3 times a week, and see if you get some new growth.  If you get a little, but not as much as you expect after a month of 3 squirts, you can always bump it again.  Good luck.

    Thank you for your advice! I dose based off of my Nitrate levels which I test a few times per week trying to stay in the 10-20 ppm range. Is that what you would suggest? 

  11. Hello! I planted some Dwarf Chainsword in my 10 gallon in December of last year. They started off pretty great and I had a few runners in the first month of them being in my tank. In late January I separated one of the runners and planted it in the other side of my tank to hopefully get my carpet started over there. Ever since however, none of the chainsword has sent out any runners that I can see. The dwarf chainsword that is currently in the tank appears healthy, and the biggest of the plants is still growing new leaves. My lighting/fertilizing rituals have not changed at all since December. My light is on 7 hours a day and I dose easy green one pump twice weekly to keep around 10-20ppm of Nitrate. Has anyone else experienced this, or am I not being patient enough? I am pretty new to carpeting plants and I am open to any and all advice/suggestions. Thanks!

    Here is my tank info:

    10Gallon, Light is a Nicrew SkyLed Plus at 40% intensity for 7 hours a day (2 hours in the morning and 5 in the evening), Easy green one pump around twice weekly, inert petco gravel with easy root tabs and 9 month of fish/invert waste. Water parameters PH 7.5, KH 2, GH 5, Ammonia/Nitrite 0ppm, Nitrate 10-20ppm.

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    IMG_0499.JPG

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