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Recent content by JohnC

  1. JohnC

    Persistent Diatoms in Mature Tanks & GDA

    Other then the extra tabs (which i do occasionally add) i have been doing the "oliverira" method for years without knowing it. :) That is exactly how i would prep the soil between scapes. Although it in this case had been dried and stored in the dark before cleaning and reuse. This weeks...
  2. JohnC

    Persistent Diatoms in Mature Tanks & GDA

    I've not seen the specific filipe method. these have been dried and stored. then before reuse the "fines" extensively rinsed. Then capped with newer soils.
  3. JohnC

    Persistent Diatoms in Mature Tanks & GDA

    It is trying.... with a single tank you would just restart and hope it goes away but the slog of having it in all the tanks, different ages, does just kick it out of you. Todays water changes on the remaining 5. The two at the end (oldest of the scapes) have run a course of GDA treatment and...
  4. JohnC

    Persistent Diatoms in Mature Tanks & GDA

    We do have the same "tank on the hill" it's just the run from our shared stop cocks to the hall and my house is different pipes, and their internal pipework is older than mine and not used often. Hence the elevated copper, lead and zinc readings. All due to the corrosion of pipework from the...
  5. JohnC

    Persistent Diatoms in Mature Tanks & GDA

    I've been in this property for 6 years now and did a good few scapes in the house while finishing the room outside. (note the mini landscaping rock in this may have buffered my kh for me) Happy growth... Even the first 6 months in the room were probably ok.... some interesting growth in...
  6. JohnC

    90 x 45 x 45 - All The Little Things - New Journal

    Thanks man, I've got a big thread on the algae sub forum chatting things over.
  7. JohnC

    Persistent Diatoms in Mature Tanks & GDA

    yeah i went through the stuff on metal toxicity while narrowing down that as an option but as i mentioned the testing of the water for the room actually didn't show the same silly readings from the hall. i've done 2 and 4 of your list :)
  8. JohnC

    Persistent Diatoms in Mature Tanks & GDA

    From the hall. Now i can actually get my supply tested for free as part of a scottish government scheme to improve private supplies to aim to get a grant to fit an acid neutraliser. But really i don't expect ours to be anywhere as high in copper/lead/zinc as the halls next door in the...
  9. JohnC

    Persistent Diatoms in Mature Tanks & GDA

    I've actually got some analysis done for the water due to the potential of lead and copper in the supply in the community hall near by. We are on the same bit of the supply. The lab tests there were pretty scary but at the same time really only represented the addition of metals from the...
  10. JohnC

    Persistent Diatoms in Mature Tanks & GDA

    The ph of 4 ish was recorded on a blackwater breeding project I did for Rocket Panchanx last year. I don't recall any test strip tests showing that low ph in the main room however. I do admit that i wasn't obsessively testing stuff until the last 6 months while trying to get to the bottom of...
  11. JohnC

    Persistent Diatoms in Mature Tanks & GDA

    Alas i do enjoy Happi's posts but this must have been early on in his scaping.... by page 4 he's recounted (been corrected on APF) the idea that NO3 is converted to NH4 by bacteria that are not present enough in low ph tanks. Thought that sounded a little bit too elegant. Certainly think my low...
  12. JohnC

    Persistent Diatoms in Mature Tanks & GDA

    Certainly the amount of GDA that occurs is almost directly proportional to the level of fert dosing (ie NO3) but obviously in my case this is also somewhat dictated by the energy and fert needs of each tank.
  13. JohnC

    Persistent Diatoms in Mature Tanks & GDA

    I think i've skim read this one and chatted to Tom B about it before. This does ring true - ". i also discovered low PH water is Prone to GDA when using EI dosing, why? because when using KNO3, Bacteria have to convert NO3 back to NH4 for the plants, plants are normally covered with Bacteria...
  14. JohnC

    Persistent Diatoms in Mature Tanks & GDA

    about 6.4 but no natural hardness. i reminerlize with TNC GH booster and seachem alkaline buffer for KH. Aiming for 5 dGH and about 3 dKH currently. Although that was all over the place a few months back.
  15. JohnC

    Persistent Diatoms in Mature Tanks & GDA

    Indeed. They are mounted deliberately higher and then dialled down. With the PAR meter used to check for dark spots. Thanks man, It is actually only that single tank that is hardscape heavy which also runs pretty low light and lean ferts. The rest of 90 - 100% planted. I've leaned away from...
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