Journal Joel Armstrong - My journey

[Anonymous_One]

Well, pH is around 6 during the day, and does rise to about 7.2 overnight ...

Of course, I don't know if this is the cause of the problems, but I wouldn't rule it out. If you want to check this possibility, then deactivating the nightly CO2 shutdown (i.e. trying to add CO2 to the tank 24/7) for a few weeks should be enough. If that solves the problem, then the higher pH could indeed play a role.

 

[Art]

Hi @Joel Armstrong, why do you think you are getting more degassing than usual? I assume you mean your pH swing is higher than normal?

When this happens to me (as it is now) my thought process is:

1. Confirm pH probe is correct;
2. Check water hardness - both in tank and my tap; and
3. Check CO2 delivery time to see if anything has changed.

In my current case, I began using sand and Seiryo stone that is causing my hardness to increase more than normal.

As for the tips of the plants you posted, would you say they are stunting or curled?

 

[Unexpected]

Using RO Joel? I doubt those 2 plants would do what they are doing over a pH issue.

 

[Anonymous_One]

I doubt those 2 plants would do what they are doing over a pH issue.

See how different the result can be with different pH:



As I wrote, I'm not saying that Joel's problem is 100% due to day-night pH fluctuations, but I wouldn't rule it out.

PS: 80 µM HCO3 = 5 ppm, 80 µM Cl = 3 ppm. So the only differences in the two aquariums in the picture are 0 vs 5 ppm HCO3 and 3 vs 6 ppm Cl (which are negligible), and then 5.5 vs 6.5 pH (with pH being the largest difference of the three). So pH can definitely play a pretty significant role, because it can affect a whole host of other things.

 

[Joel Armstrong]

why do you think you are getting more degassing than usual? I assume you mean your pH swing is higher than normal?

I had only tested a couple of degassed samples in the past, I had a reading of 7.43 previously when I did test, but that was about 18 months ago, and the reading was taken inside.

In the past, and recently, I've just aimed for a pH of 6.00 in the tank during injection. The tank reads 7.15-7.20 the next day just before CO2 turns on again.

When this happens to me (as it is now) my thought process is:

1. Confirm pH probe is correct;
2. Check water hardness - both in tank and my tap; and
3. Check CO2 delivery time to see if anything has changed.

I've recently bought 2 new replacement probes for my Milwaukee pen, conditioned and calibrated both probes to check the numbers and I consistently get a degassed reading of 7.9 when I've left the samples outside.

I've tested the tank water with a Salifert KH test, and it indicates around 3dKH, which matches previous testing.

Is there a possibility something is being added to my tap water to make pH rise?

And do I go off my baseline pH reading to gauge CO2 levels?
"Assuming" My numbers are correct, I'm dropping pH way too far, correct?

I do have a feeling that I've been pushing CO2 too hard for a while now.

Using RO Joel? I doubt those 2 plants would do what they are doing over a pH issue.

Not yet, I've got all the gear for RO, I've had it for a while now, I just haven't set it all up.

 

[Unexpected]

Not yet, I've got all the gear for RO, I've had it for a while now, I just haven't set it all up.

Maybe they did something funky with your water. Neither of those plants are picky. I'm just guessing, but...

 

[Joel Armstrong]

Maybe they did something funky with your water. Neither of those plants are picky. I'm just guessing, but...

I've never had issues with either of them in the past using soil.

I did have growth issues in general when I switched to inert sub, but Joe, and you suggested to increase dosing and things had improved a lot.

Currently it's just those two species giving issues.

I should just finish setting up my RO system, and rule out the potential of having funky tap water.

 

[Joel Armstrong]

As for the tips of the plants you posted, would you say they are stunting or curled?

I would say both

 

[Unexpected]

I've never had issues with either of them in the past using soil.

I did have growth issues in general when I switched to inert sub, but Joe, and you suggested to increase dosing and things had improved a lot.

Currently it's just those two species giving issues.

I should just finish setting up my RO system, and rule out the potential of having funky tap water.

In winter here, they pump extra chlorine and who knows what else

 

[Art]

In my experience, certain plants tend to be indicator plants for me with R. Wallichii being one of them. The challenge is to find the thing or things that changed resulting in the stunted growth.

Rule out that your fertilization hasn’t changed. Maybe do a couple of 75% water changes. Then look to other things like temperature and tap water changes at the source.

I don’t suspect CO2 to be your problem but try to throttle back a bit and see what happens.

 

[Joel Armstrong]

I don't know if I'm getting any better at this planted tank hobby or not. I find myself questioning everything I do, all the time.

I'm using a fair bit of light at the moment, well, it's a lot for me I think, the light ramps up and down either side of 6 hours at around 128 PAR. (80% power) 8 hours total.

I have had an easier time with a little less light, but I thought to give it a shot at this current light level. I've been using this amount of light for about a month.

Before CO2 turns on the tanks pH is 7. C02 turns on 2 hours prior to lights and drops to 6.00 when lights start to ramp up, an hour later it's 5.9 and stays there for the 6 hours of the higher light, then C02 turns off and lights ramp down again

I'm not 100% certain what the degassed reading is, about 7.4, I often get slightly different readings, some user error I guess. I understand the KH to be around 3.

Anywho, a couple of current tank shots..These pics have been taken when the light is ramping down, a few days after a fairly big uproot and trimming session.

Advice and tips are welcomed.

 

[Unexpected]

Looking good man!

 

[gjcarew]

What advice are you looking for? Look good to me

 

[Joel Armstrong]

Looking good man!

What advice are you looking for? Look good to me

Thanks, means a lot to me, especially from you both.

I guess I'm always looking to improve somehow, more so with general plant health at the moment, but plant placement also.

Perhaps if I took close ups of the individual plants you guys may have advice to give then.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

I agree I think your tank looks good, but it’s all relative. What’s the end goal? Are you aiming to create a “scape” or just grow plants healthily so they look their best and keep them trimmed. If you can tell us exactly what your intentions are we can get more specific for you

 

[BenB]

That Lotus is amazing.

 

[Joel Armstrong]

just grow plants healthily so they look their best and keep them trimmed

Plant health is my main focus for now

 

[millerschool]

Wow, what a journey Joel. Its pretty neat that its been so well documented too.
I'm curious now, its like 6 months since you've removed and rinsed the gravel, hopefully got most of the clay buster out, and added some master soil,
did this help with diatoms after you first replanted ?
Did the clay breaker make substrate cleaning a bit more difficult do you think. and how is it doing the cleaning with mixture of master soil and gravel.
On a side note, I know Plumber in Newcastle, and also does work further up the valley at times, and has many times said the water is pretty dirty, and he's often surprised the amount of rubbish/dirt etc that he sees in home water filters.