Re: co2, Easycarbo and fertiliser

Hi guys. My tank is 365l at 27.0c, ph around 6.7 and keep discus mainly with shoals of rummy noses, cardinals and a few others...anyway, tank is planted and I've been keen to grow it out. Have co2 system and colour indicator etc. normally around 25ppm. I've noticed in recent times that if I supplement the tank with easycarbo and tropica specialised plant fertiliser some of the fish struggle for oxygen at the surface - I turn off the co2, put back on the airstone and turn outflow toward the surface to increase oxygenation.....also add a strip of polyfilter... All is then fine again...I have lost a few cardinals due to this though....this has happened me three times in total....


Once polyfilter is in for a few hours all is fine again and I can put back on the co2....

I'm at a loss and need your input if possible....could the fertiliser have become concentrated over time (it's the off the shelf green Tropica premixed fertiliser) and be adversely affecting my fish? Is it the liquid carbon, easycarbo? Should I just use the co2 system and ditch the easycarbo? Has this happened anyone else? What do you think is causing this??? Thanks! Much appreciated...

hi Gonefishy,
what time of the day there is problem with oxygen, if it's in the morning mostly - keep in mind that plants are using oxygen at night time together with fish so in the morning there might be low level of it in the tank, plus i would stay with co2 system only - put easycarbo away for now, turn outflow toward the surface to increase oxygenation and leave it like this, if it doesn't help use airstone at night time.
BTW: i have read one day that the best oxygenation in the tank is to keep water surface moving, even if you use airstone for oxygenation only 20-25% of oxygen is provided by air bubbles dissolution, the other 75-80% of oxygen gets to the water thanks to surface movements that air bubbles cause.
I don't know if my explanation is clear?

I use CO2 and easycarbon without any problems.

My fish list is similar to yours.

Maybe adding two types of fertiliser is too much?

proca wrote:

hi Gonefishy,
what time of the day there is problem with oxygen, if it's in the morning mostly - keep in mind that plants are using oxygen at night time together with fish so in the morning there might be low level of it in the tank, plus i would stay with co2 system only - put easycarbo away for now, turn outflow toward the surface to increase oxygenation and leave it like this, if it doesn't help use airstone at night time.
BTW: i have read one day that the best oxygenation in the tank is to keep water surface moving, even if you use airstone for oxygenation only 20-25% of oxygen is provided by air bubbles dissolution, the other 75-80% of oxygen gets to the water thanks to surface movements that air bubbles cause.

+1.

Brine I have a gut feeling this could be Co2 related. even though every thing points at the fertilizer and easy carbo.
Drop in and ill give you some regent for your drop checker (Co2 color indicator). Just to eliminate that its not that misleading you.

platty252 wrote:

proca wrote:

hi Gonefishy,
what time of the day there is problem with oxygen, if it's in the morning mostly - keep in mind that plants are using oxygen at night time together with fish so in the morning there might be low level of it in the tank, plus i would stay with co2 system only - put easycarbo away for now, turn outflow toward the surface to increase oxygenation and leave it like this, if it doesn't help use airstone at night time.
BTW: i have read one day that the best oxygenation in the tank is to keep water surface moving, even if you use airstone for oxygenation only 20-25% of oxygen is provided by air bubbles dissolution, the other 75-80% of oxygen gets to the water thanks to surface movements that air bubbles cause.

+1.

Brine I have a gut feeling this could be Co2 related. even though every thing points at the fertilizer and easy carbo.
Drop in and ill give you some regent for your drop checker (Co2 color indicator). Just to eliminate that its not that misleading you.

Will do Darren, thanks for this. Thanks also Peter! Brian