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My 125 Gallon Aquarium
I've had this 125g fish tank for 20 months. I have an algae problem that I am working on. I did some reading and found that when Phosphate levels are above 5ppm an algae bloom can occur. Also, at that level, plants go into nute lock and can't take up the nitrates and other nutrients like CO2.
The biological filter of bacteria, enjoys co2. What happens is some of the beneficial bacteria uses ammonia and fish waste to convert to nitrites. Another bacteria uses nitrites to create nitrate. And the plants use the nitrates as food. The more nitrates in the water column, the higher the CO2.
Water Parameters Saturday
Ammonia 0
Ph 7.5
GH 120
KH 120
Nitrites 1
Nitrates 200
Phosphates 10+ppm
I am lucky to have a great Fish Store in town and he had a Pura Filtration Pad. The pad goes into a filter and removes, phosphate, Ammonia, Oragnic solids, and Heavy Metals. I started using it Saturday and after 24 hours, my water parameters changed
Water Parameters Today:
Ammonia 0
Ph 7.5
GH 120
KH 80
Nitrites 1
Nitrates 200
Phosphates 2-5ppm
The idea is to remove the phosphate to .5ppm. This will unlock the plants and allow it to take up the Nitrates. With a low levels of phosphate and nitrates the algae now has to compete with the plants for the available nutrients. They also make a nitrate filter pad to remove excess nitrates. Should the plants only be able to use 100ppm, I would use the nitrate pad.
The plants list is extensive. And there's only 63 inches of fish. There's room for more if I can get the tank under control. The fish are in great shape. One fish is stressed, but it's a life problem. There a Red rainbow fish juvenile who's rutting and is always fending the Yellow Rainbow fish away from the female. He swims to and area and just sits there. He's not allowed to spawn. The females in the story are Bosemani Rainbows. There is a female Yellow, but she's new and young. In time he'll have one of it's own kind and should win the battle for effection.
I thought I had a php image copied, but HSX didn't let it go through, so you'll have to use your imagination. Note: The red hase a few silver scales that removes it from the other red species. The Yellow has a bark band that is broken up by a few yellow scales and removes it from the other yellow species.
I had a pretty good and expensive week.
My 125 Gallon Aquarium Aug 27, 05:03
How can you tell a fish is stressed and not just plain crazy? {nm} Aug 27, 06:14
"one fish is stressed, but it's a life problem" Yeah, that lines had me laughing all morning! Great line :) {nm} Aug 27, 06:17
The fish are pretty wild and in captivity, so technically they don't go crazy (more) Aug 27, 20:14
I think only 15 fish have died in the past 3 years. I am the plant killer. (more) Aug 27, 20:23
Thanks I try am starting to try to manage the tank. (more) Aug 27, 20:37
Here's the Aquarium water parameter fo 8-28-2012 Aug 28, 22:28
