Gravel Problems!!! Why now?

On Wed, 24 Mar 2004 17:27:39 -0500, wrote:

Hello

I have been keeping FW planted tanks since 98 and have had them on
auto-pilot with good results for a long time. I used the Eheim liquid doser
and only do bi weekly pruning and water changes.

Since I last moved I have been scourged with BGA which is receeding with
sole KNO3/K2SO4 treatment along with increase water flow. It seems to
disintergrate into fine treads before leaving.

The problem after testing carefull is my water hardness rises continuously.
My tap water is 30kH and 30gH. My tank after a 50% water change is 80
kH/80gH (optimum) but several days later creeps to 120-140ppm levels. I
further investigated that the MgCO3 levels are barely rising and the CaCO3
are way up. This leads me to believe it is the gravel.

I bought the PetCO cheapo stuff with pink gravel accidentally mixed in. It
was new but may be wrong for FW tanks. I do see epoxy coated substrates that
look awefull to.

I used 50lb bags of quartz fine before with little problem. IT is not
available here. I am considering ordering Carib-Sea Amazon Basin gravel at
great expense. I live in Greensboro NC.

What is a good option here????


I am curious, why focus on gravel?

I have 5 tanks, one has fine sand, another coarse sand, two have a
gravel that is mixed blue and white coarser gravel and one no gravel.
They all have live plants, I keep the plants down with lead weights in
the no gravel tank. I see no difference except the no gravel tank has
less healthy plants.

Have you changed gravel since 98? If so why?

Epoxy coated substrates? This is your observed problem? Epoxy is not
a natural thing to have in tanks is it? Or, are you saying you have
something on your substrate that looks like epoxy?

Are you talking about one tank or several with same conditions?

How are your fish? How are your plants?

Are you only concerned about the chemistry? If so, could it be your
testing kit that is the problem?