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Re: Water Colored
>I have a 29 gallon with a power filter, double strip light (2 x 20 watt
>bulbs). I keep the water soft (proper pH 6.5).
[gasp] Proper pH is actually BAD, since it uses phosphates to lower the
pH(plus if you're water is too hard it won't do much anyway) - Phosphates
promote algae growth which is the reason most people stay away from this
product. But, I can relate because I use it in my 20G planted tank to keep
the pH around 6.5 for the plants and kribs. If you use CO2 injection(which
I do now) you probably don't need it.
> I changed my substrate a
>week ago, from gravel to new gravel and laterite. The water was very dark
>yellow. I thought it was coming from the new dark brown driftwood, purchased
>over a month ago. I soaked the driftwood for days and it bled. Anyway, when
>I changed the water last week, it was clear and the tank was so much
>brighter. Now, I noticed the water is darkening again. I do use Florapride
>by Tetra. Is it the driftwood or the liquid fertilizer changing my water?
>If it is the wood, what can I do about it?
I have a piece of driftwood that I bought about 6 months back and after
soaking it in a 5 gallon bucket(changing the water every couple days) for a
couple months and continuing to get a pretty bold amber color in the water,
I just about gave up on it. I finally said "screw it!" and put it in my
tank. With regular water changes it stopped fairly fast. Driftwood can be a
pain and I think there are better ways of preparing it but I didn't know of
them at the time.
>
>Also, my crypts are not doing well since the change? There has been a lot of
>dead leaves and they are looking pretty thin. Is there a reason for this?
>They, as well as all my other plants (except swords) were doing fairly well.
>I bought root tabs, for my sword problem (as advised here). What should I do?
Well, if you're crypts aren't doing well, you're problem may lie elsewhere.
I have(and have had for a while) 2 different crypts(can't remember species)
in my tank with the slab of driftwood and they're doing fine. Good idea
about the root tabs for the swords. I have 3 amazon swords in my 20 gal and
noticed sluggish growth, plus the leaves that they did have had dark lines
on them and looked a little unhealthy. I added root tabs that were actually
meant for pond plants and they're doing MUCH better. I have also seen a
little better results with CO2 injection as well. Good luck.
Ryan Ingram