When I switched from the CO2Art to a GLA regulator and check valve, I had to increase the pressure to 40 PSI to get the CO2 to flow.
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Journal A Nature Style Journey: 75P Aquascape Journal
- Thread starter DutchMuch
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Same. This is how I learned of the built in check valve from GLA. They get contacted about it a lot they said and knew exactly what my issue was when I contacted them so you would think, it might be highlighted in the instructions or site product info. I think the issue is also that the spring they use may be a little too stiff, so even if not using a 2nd inline check valve, people would have to turn up the tank pressure from what they are used to. This is why I recommend removing the spring and plug and just relying on your own inline check valve. I too, will rely on cheaper diffusers if I ever need to purchase more.
- Thread starter
- #63
The diffuser itself is crooked in its housing, and the material feels like hard plastic rather than aluminum. If it really is aluminum, it is the thinnest grade I have handled in a long time, and I say that as someone who's background is Steel manufacturing.
I appreciate the information about the check valve. I actually have a separate check valve that I removed during the installation of this diffuser.
The diffusion performance itself is fine; my gripe is with GLA’s recent material choices and quality control. A friend of mine, in addition to the other person who posted here with the same purchase, bought the “high-grade SS” filter tubes and received brushed, unfinished stainless steel. The outflow was also a completely different product from what was advertised. This is the third problem I have seen with GLA items in the past month or so, all surrounding a single product.
I am not trying to rant, just providing context. GLA used to carry excellent products that matched the quality you expect for the price, but lately that just has not been the case.
Here are the tubes in question:
Product:
Friend Received:
Even mine came mis-manufactured (as documented previously)...
This concludes my rant... sorry haha!
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- Thread starter
- #64
September 18th, Update
Not much has changed, I’m just waiting for growth… slowly but surely.
Not much has changed, I’m just waiting for growth… slowly but surely.
Your tank is fire dude!
Was GLA bought by someone? That could explain it.
I wouldn't worry too much about a single plant if the rest of the plants are doing great. May just not jive with what you have going on.
Was GLA bought by someone? That could explain it.
I wouldn't worry too much about a single plant if the rest of the plants are doing great. May just not jive with what you have going on.
- Thread starter
- #66
Thank you, Count. I really appreciate the positive feedback!
I’m unsure if GLA was bought out, unfortunately.
As far as plant health, everything is really thriving. I increased the APT ‘E’ dosage to 4ml from 3ml due to some micro issues the anubias seemed to be having, and in 1 week, I believe I notice improvements...
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What improvements are you seeing? Are you seeing a greening of the older leaves, or is it the new growth that appears improved? Your aquascape is looking great.
- Thread starter
- #68
Hi Rob,
Thank you for the kind words. I appreciate it greatly!
I noticed solely in my Anubias that the leaves were turning yellow but keeping their green veins. Utilizing Rotala Butterfly, it states this is indicative of a magnesium or micro deficiency.
Thus, I began dosing a little bit more, and it seems to be helping in returning some of the green coloration to its existing problematic leaves. I will be keeping a close eye on them in the coming days to see if there is further improvement and update accordingly.
Could also be iron! How are you dosing Fe?
- Thread starter
- #70
September 21st, Update.
Thank you everyone for the insight and assistance; it’s greatly appreciated.
The more the scape grows, the less I enjoy it. Simply, it’s not the layout I wanted to achieve. I do respect its garden-esque style and general beauty; otherwise, I wish I had added more wood… but wood prices are just so expensive in general.
That being said, below are today’s set of images!
The Anubias has now fully recovered from increasing the APT ‘E’ dosage, which I am very thankful for. Back on track!
Also, I posted these images from my mobile device, so if any are the wrong size or are disproportionate, I apologize.
Any feedback or criticism highly welcomed.
Thank you.
Thank you everyone for the insight and assistance; it’s greatly appreciated.
The more the scape grows, the less I enjoy it. Simply, it’s not the layout I wanted to achieve. I do respect its garden-esque style and general beauty; otherwise, I wish I had added more wood… but wood prices are just so expensive in general.
That being said, below are today’s set of images!
The Anubias has now fully recovered from increasing the APT ‘E’ dosage, which I am very thankful for. Back on track!
Also, I posted these images from my mobile device, so if any are the wrong size or are disproportionate, I apologize.
Any feedback or criticism highly welcomed.
Thank you.
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It's great. If you're really not happy with it tear it down and start anew.
It's not like you would lose a bunch of plant mass.
It's not like you would lose a bunch of plant mass.
- Thread starter
- #73
Thank you all for the kind responses… I’ll definitely be going back to my Dutch/hybrid roots after this scape gets to a place I feel comfortable with, lol.
- Thread starter
- #74
September 24th, Update
Fun update, spoiler I have no pictures for this one… sorry.
I did want to get public opinion here though. Last night I had found out that Rotala Butterfly Nutrient Calculator has added APT ‘E’ to their calculator! I was not aware of this, so of course I plugged in my scape calculations to see what the result would be..
Right off the bat I was shocked!
These are the target results of dosing APT ‘E’ 6ml/day.
And the above image is the results from dosing 4ml/day of APT ‘E’
I was quite shocked, I was only dosing 0.43ppm No3 daily?… no wonder my Rotala orange juice was blood red! And with the traces, it made sense with my plant density how I’m seeing a deficiency in (presumedly) traces.
All this to say, experimentally, I have increased my dosage to 6ml this morning to see if:
A. Plant growth increases or stays the same.
B. My visible (suspected Mg) deficiency recedes.
C. And if algae growth begins/increases. (As of now there is none, other than typical glass growth.)
Feel free to share your thoughts below, it’s appreciated.
Thank you.
Fun update, spoiler I have no pictures for this one… sorry.
I did want to get public opinion here though. Last night I had found out that Rotala Butterfly Nutrient Calculator has added APT ‘E’ to their calculator! I was not aware of this, so of course I plugged in my scape calculations to see what the result would be..
Right off the bat I was shocked!
These are the target results of dosing APT ‘E’ 6ml/day.
And the above image is the results from dosing 4ml/day of APT ‘E’
I was quite shocked, I was only dosing 0.43ppm No3 daily?… no wonder my Rotala orange juice was blood red! And with the traces, it made sense with my plant density how I’m seeing a deficiency in (presumedly) traces.
All this to say, experimentally, I have increased my dosage to 6ml this morning to see if:
A. Plant growth increases or stays the same.
B. My visible (suspected Mg) deficiency recedes.
C. And if algae growth begins/increases. (As of now there is none, other than typical glass growth.)
Feel free to share your thoughts below, it’s appreciated.
Thank you.
Attachments
B - I am surprised you could be seeing Mg deficiencies with your GH around 7. The only thing I can assume is that you have alot more Ca then Mg. Even then this number would have to be zero or very close. Does your water report not show you actual ppm's tested in Ca and Mg?
C. You will get faster growing algae on the glass but I doubt you will get it anywhere else. To me that a pretty minuscule increase in numbers, I do not see it causing algae elsewhere.
I agree with Skaley. Remember, nutrients in the water column don't cause algae -- unhealthy plants, limited environments, poor CO2/circulation, way too high light, and serious imbalances in nutrient ratios can cause algae.
I am currently running both of my high-energy tanks at ~ 30-9-39. That's 30ppm NO3, 9ppm PO4, and 39ppm K manually dosed in the water column every week. The only algae I get is on the glass, and even that isn't so bad anymore. And this is on top of ADA Amazonia V2 aquasoil as well.
Don't be afraid of nutrients, be afraid of the other things I mentioned!
I am currently running both of my high-energy tanks at ~ 30-9-39. That's 30ppm NO3, 9ppm PO4, and 39ppm K manually dosed in the water column every week. The only algae I get is on the glass, and even that isn't so bad anymore. And this is on top of ADA Amazonia V2 aquasoil as well.
Don't be afraid of nutrients, be afraid of the other things I mentioned!
- Thread starter
- #77
Thank you Skaley for the response!
Regarding B), the only reason I believe it’s a Mg deficiency is due to the Rotala Butterfly deficiency description.
“Leaves become yellow similar to iron because it prevents plants from absorbing iron but with veins remaining green, they may also develop brown spots and distorted leaf growth.”
This is, the only deficiency description that describes to a ‘T’ what I am experiencing with some of my plants. Green veins but a golden yellow leaf otherwise.
I have not actually looked at my water quality report yet (shame me!
)… I have found some information as shown below:
Link:
- Thread starter
- #78
Thank you so much for the response!
This is very reassuring to hear. Especially with plant health and preventing algae in mind.
Sounds like I’ll be in the clear then, since I’ve added the inline CO2 I got that all dialed in and steady running and have no other fluctuations or oddities going on.
I am curious as to what plants. Your tank is looking great though. As Greggz would say" Some plants do not like our soup." (Fertilizer mix). It could be possible you are just having finicky plants. If it is in the slower growing plants (Anubias, Crypts) These are the first thing I see deficiencies in as well and I never worry about it as its almost exclusively in the older leaves.
Sadly that water report does not help too much. They vary so much between cities. My town has reported CA:Mg levels in the past in a separate report.
I agree with Rocco though in regards to the relation between Algae and the factors he listed. Nutrients are not the cause of algae but those other factors 100% will cause algae.
- Thread starter
- #80
The current plants that I’ve seen affected (2+ affected new leaves) are the Anubias sp., Penthorum sedoides, and the Rotala orange juice.
It began like you stated, in the Anubias, but now has shown visibly in the other plants as well.
