Why no pearling?

[Mark Newcomb]

I have a new tank (4 days old). The first 3 days I had lots and lots of
pearling on the leaves of my plants. As of this morning (about noon), this
has stopped.

Some facts:
size: 125 gallons - 72 long, 18 wide, 18 deep.
Plants: 100-125 gallon "easy habitat" package from arizona aquatic gardens
(nice package) - see it here: http://www.azgardens.com/habitats_easy.php

KH 6.5 (This has been checked several times by myself and others)
co2: automatic system - PH set to 6.9 (confirmed with several tests by
myself and others)
water additives: chloromine remover (kent first step - added per
instructions on bottle)
seachem flourish (per instructions)
seachem trace minerals (per instructions)
substrate: 2.5 - 4 inches seachem flourite
Lighting: 6 * 96 watt compact flourescents (4 * 5500K + 2 * 6700K)
Filter: Fluval 405 - 2 compartments w/ activated charcoal, 2 with bio
media - intake on the filter is set deep in the tank, the output is about 2
inches below the top, which does cause some slight turbulence on the top,
but not a lot.

Basically, my CO2 hasn't come on all morning, my PH has been rock solid
stable. Does anyone have an idea if this is normal? Have my plants stopped
growing? Did I use up all the fertilizer? What happened?

Thanks in advance.

Mark

[Mark Newcomb]

P.S. I do have some "lava rock" inside the aquariums, but have been told
several times that this will not cause PH changes.

Also, in the last hour my PH has dropped from 6.9 to 6.8. The CO2 is
disconnected.


"Mark Newcomb" > wrote in message
news:2cpzg.5984$jt.2880@trnddc04...
>I have a new tank (4 days old). The first 3 days I had lots and lots of
>pearling on the leaves of my plants. As of this morning (about noon), this
>has stopped.
>
> Some facts:
> size: 125 gallons - 72 long, 18 wide, 18 deep.
> Plants: 100-125 gallon "easy habitat" package from arizona aquatic gardens
> (nice package) - see it here: http://www.azgardens.com/habitats_easy.php
>
> KH 6.5 (This has been checked several times by myself and others)
> co2: automatic system - PH set to 6.9 (confirmed with several tests by
> myself and others)
> water additives: chloromine remover (kent first step - added per
> instructions on bottle)
> seachem flourish (per instructions)
> seachem trace minerals (per instructions)
> substrate: 2.5 - 4 inches seachem flourite
> Lighting: 6 * 96 watt compact flourescents (4 * 5500K + 2 * 6700K)
> Filter: Fluval 405 - 2 compartments w/ activated charcoal, 2 with bio
> media - intake on the filter is set deep in the tank, the output is about
> 2 inches below the top, which does cause some slight turbulence on the
> top, but not a lot.
>
> Basically, my CO2 hasn't come on all morning, my PH has been rock solid
> stable. Does anyone have an idea if this is normal? Have my plants
> stopped growing? Did I use up all the fertilizer? What happened?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Mark
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

[Mark Newcomb]

I think I have found it - My KH is now down to 4. I think it is tannins in
the driftwood - does this make sense?

"Mark Newcomb" > wrote in message
news:IApzg.6897$j9.4779@trnddc02...
> P.S. I do have some "lava rock" inside the aquariums, but have been told
> several times that this will not cause PH changes.
>
> Also, in the last hour my PH has dropped from 6.9 to 6.8. The CO2 is
> disconnected.
>
>
> "Mark Newcomb" > wrote in message
> news:2cpzg.5984$jt.2880@trnddc04...
>>I have a new tank (4 days old). The first 3 days I had lots and lots of
>>pearling on the leaves of my plants. As of this morning (about noon),
>>this has stopped.
>>
>> Some facts:
>> size: 125 gallons - 72 long, 18 wide, 18 deep.
>> Plants: 100-125 gallon "easy habitat" package from arizona aquatic
>> gardens (nice package) - see it here:
>> http://www.azgardens.com/habitats_easy.php
>>
>> KH 6.5 (This has been checked several times by myself and others)
>> co2: automatic system - PH set to 6.9 (confirmed with several tests by
>> myself and others)
>> water additives: chloromine remover (kent first step - added per
>> instructions on bottle)
>> seachem flourish (per instructions)
>> seachem trace minerals (per instructions)
>> substrate: 2.5 - 4 inches seachem flourite
>> Lighting: 6 * 96 watt compact flourescents (4 * 5500K + 2 * 6700K)
>> Filter: Fluval 405 - 2 compartments w/ activated charcoal, 2 with bio
>> media - intake on the filter is set deep in the tank, the output is
>> about 2 inches below the top, which does cause some slight turbulence on
>> the top, but not a lot.
>>
>> Basically, my CO2 hasn't come on all morning, my PH has been rock solid
>> stable. Does anyone have an idea if this is normal? Have my plants
>> stopped growing? Did I use up all the fertilizer? What happened?
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>> Mark
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>

[Nikki Casali]

I think so. I'd stabilise the tank water KH before using the pH
controller again. I'd control the bubble rate manually in the meantime.

How did you treat the driftwood before placing it into the tank?

Nikki

Mark Newcomb wrote:
> I think I have found it - My KH is now down to 4. I think it is tannins in
> the driftwood - does this make sense?
>
> "Mark Newcomb" > wrote in message
> news:IApzg.6897$j9.4779@trnddc02...
>
>>P.S. I do have some "lava rock" inside the aquariums, but have been told
>>several times that this will not cause PH changes.
>>
>>Also, in the last hour my PH has dropped from 6.9 to 6.8. The CO2 is
>>disconnected.
>>
>>
>>"Mark Newcomb" > wrote in message
>>news:2cpzg.5984$jt.2880@trnddc04...
>>
>>>I have a new tank (4 days old). The first 3 days I had lots and lots of
>>>pearling on the leaves of my plants. As of this morning (about noon),
>>>this has stopped.
>>>
>>>Some facts:
>>>size: 125 gallons - 72 long, 18 wide, 18 deep.
>>>Plants: 100-125 gallon "easy habitat" package from arizona aquatic
>>>gardens (nice package) - see it here:
>>>http://www.azgardens.com/habitats_easy.php
>>>
>>>KH 6.5 (This has been checked several times by myself and others)
>>>co2: automatic system - PH set to 6.9 (confirmed with several tests by
>>>myself and others)
>>>water additives: chloromine remover (kent first step - added per
>>>instructions on bottle)
>>> seachem flourish (per instructions)
>>> seachem trace minerals (per instructions)
>>>substrate: 2.5 - 4 inches seachem flourite
>>>Lighting: 6 * 96 watt compact flourescents (4 * 5500K + 2 * 6700K)
>>>Filter: Fluval 405 - 2 compartments w/ activated charcoal, 2 with bio
>>>media - intake on the filter is set deep in the tank, the output is
>>>about 2 inches below the top, which does cause some slight turbulence on
>>>the top, but not a lot.
>>>
>>>Basically, my CO2 hasn't come on all morning, my PH has been rock solid
>>>stable. Does anyone have an idea if this is normal? Have my plants
>>>stopped growing? Did I use up all the fertilizer? What happened?
>>>
>>>Thanks in advance.
>>>
>>>Mark
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

[Mark Newcomb]

I let them soak under water (kids swimming pool) for 2 weeks.

My PH was dropping so rapidly that I had to fight with baking soda. 3.5
tablespoons stopped the drop. I appear to be stable at 4.2 KH, 6.8 PH

Thanks.

"Nikki Casali" > wrote in message
...
>I think so. I'd stabilise the tank water KH before using the pH controller
>again. I'd control the bubble rate manually in the meantime.
>
> How did you treat the driftwood before placing it into the tank?
>
> Nikki
>
> Mark Newcomb wrote:
>> I think I have found it - My KH is now down to 4. I think it is tannins
>> in the driftwood - does this make sense?
>>
>> "Mark Newcomb" > wrote in message
>> news:IApzg.6897$j9.4779@trnddc02...
>>
>>>P.S. I do have some "lava rock" inside the aquariums, but have been told
>>>several times that this will not cause PH changes.
>>>
>>>Also, in the last hour my PH has dropped from 6.9 to 6.8. The CO2 is
>>>disconnected.
>>>
>>>
>>>"Mark Newcomb" > wrote in message
>>>news:2cpzg.5984$jt.2880@trnddc04...
>>>
>>>>I have a new tank (4 days old). The first 3 days I had lots and lots of
>>>>pearling on the leaves of my plants. As of this morning (about noon),
>>>>this has stopped.
>>>>
>>>>Some facts:
>>>>size: 125 gallons - 72 long, 18 wide, 18 deep.
>>>>Plants: 100-125 gallon "easy habitat" package from arizona aquatic
>>>>gardens (nice package) - see it here:
>>>>http://www.azgardens.com/habitats_easy.php
>>>>
>>>>KH 6.5 (This has been checked several times by myself and others)
>>>>co2: automatic system - PH set to 6.9 (confirmed with several tests by
>>>>myself and others)
>>>>water additives: chloromine remover (kent first step - added per
>>>>instructions on bottle)
>>>> seachem flourish (per instructions)
>>>> seachem trace minerals (per instructions)
>>>>substrate: 2.5 - 4 inches seachem flourite
>>>>Lighting: 6 * 96 watt compact flourescents (4 * 5500K + 2 * 6700K)
>>>>Filter: Fluval 405 - 2 compartments w/ activated charcoal, 2 with bio
>>>>media - intake on the filter is set deep in the tank, the output is
>>>>about 2 inches below the top, which does cause some slight turbulence on
>>>>the top, but not a lot.
>>>>
>>>>Basically, my CO2 hasn't come on all morning, my PH has been rock solid
>>>>stable. Does anyone have an idea if this is normal? Have my plants
>>>>stopped growing? Did I use up all the fertilizer? What happened?
>>>>
>>>>Thanks in advance.
>>>>
>>>>Mark
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>

[Nikki Casali]

Mark Newcomb wrote:

> I let them soak under water (kids swimming pool) for 2 weeks.

I soaked mine in a large bucket, initially with boiling water from
kettles, and then using aquarium heaters for 4-5 days. Once a day the
water was changed with clean, boiling water. That procedure got much of
the tea colour out of the wood.

> My PH was dropping so rapidly that I had to fight with baking soda. 3.5
> tablespoons stopped the drop. I appear to be stable at 4.2 KH, 6.8 PH

You'll need to be careful with water changes. I'd try to treat the wood
more vigorously to remove more of the tannins. For a pH controller to
work accurately, it needs to work with a rock steady KH. I wouldn't want
the fish to be overdosed with CO2.

Nikki

> Thanks.
>
> "Nikki Casali" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>I think so. I'd stabilise the tank water KH before using the pH controller
>>again. I'd control the bubble rate manually in the meantime.
>>
>>How did you treat the driftwood before placing it into the tank?
>>
>>Nikki
>>
>>Mark Newcomb wrote:
>>
>>>I think I have found it - My KH is now down to 4. I think it is tannins
>>>in the driftwood - does this make sense?
>>>
>>>"Mark Newcomb" > wrote in message
>>>news:IApzg.6897$j9.4779@trnddc02...
>>>
>>>
>>>>P.S. I do have some "lava rock" inside the aquariums, but have been told
>>>>several times that this will not cause PH changes.
>>>>
>>>>Also, in the last hour my PH has dropped from 6.9 to 6.8. The CO2 is
>>>>disconnected.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>"Mark Newcomb" > wrote in message
>>>>news:2cpzg.5984$jt.2880@trnddc04...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>I have a new tank (4 days old). The first 3 days I had lots and lots of
>>>>>pearling on the leaves of my plants. As of this morning (about noon),
>>>>>this has stopped.
>>>>>
>>>>>Some facts:
>>>>>size: 125 gallons - 72 long, 18 wide, 18 deep.
>>>>>Plants: 100-125 gallon "easy habitat" package from arizona aquatic
>>>>>gardens (nice package) - see it here:
>>>>>http://www.azgardens.com/habitats_easy.php
>>>>>
>>>>>KH 6.5 (This has been checked several times by myself and others)
>>>>>co2: automatic system - PH set to 6.9 (confirmed with several tests by
>>>>>myself and others)
>>>>>water additives: chloromine remover (kent first step - added per
>>>>>instructions on bottle)
>>>>> seachem flourish (per instructions)
>>>>> seachem trace minerals (per instructions)
>>>>>substrate: 2.5 - 4 inches seachem flourite
>>>>>Lighting: 6 * 96 watt compact flourescents (4 * 5500K + 2 * 6700K)
>>>>>Filter: Fluval 405 - 2 compartments w/ activated charcoal, 2 with bio
>>>>>media - intake on the filter is set deep in the tank, the output is
>>>>>about 2 inches below the top, which does cause some slight turbulence on
>>>>>the top, but not a lot.
>>>>>
>>>>>Basically, my CO2 hasn't come on all morning, my PH has been rock solid
>>>>>stable. Does anyone have an idea if this is normal? Have my plants
>>>>>stopped growing? Did I use up all the fertilizer? What happened?
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks in advance.
>>>>>
>>>>>Mark
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>
>