ladybones718
New Member
I have been trying to learn a lot and try new things in the past 5 months. I’ve been in the hobby for 3 years. Nothing was working especially well before this, but I do have an established 10 gallon tank. In January I decided to take the plunge and set up CO2, using the pH drop method. I also started dosing NilocG EI ferts about 3 weeks ago. So far so good. I then learned that my soft water would be detrimental to my assassin snails shells, so in an attempt to raise my KH (which normally sits at 3) I used baking soda. I opted for baking soda over crushed coral because it didn’t mess with my pH. But between the baking soda and the daily EI ferts and even with weekly 50% water changes, I salted and killed my assassins that I had for 2+ years.
I’m about to start a new 12 gallon long tank and I would like to have assassins again. But I’ll be honest, I’m starting to think it’s piling my plate too high to try to balance all this chemistry for snails. I have not fertilized my 10 gallon tank for a week since I lost the snails, hoping to get one more 50% water change before I start again. Anyone care to propose a strategy for what I’m trying to accomplish? In the meantime, I guess I will dose my 10 gallon with 2mL doses of EI ferts rather than the 8mL I was doing before. I’m leaving the baking soda out because I have no more snails.
And yes, I am aware about salt and how it never leaves the tank unless you remove it. This just escaped my common sense for the moment.
Thanks. I hope this makes sense, but I’m sure people might have questions. I really appreciate the help.
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I’m about to start a new 12 gallon long tank and I would like to have assassins again. But I’ll be honest, I’m starting to think it’s piling my plate too high to try to balance all this chemistry for snails. I have not fertilized my 10 gallon tank for a week since I lost the snails, hoping to get one more 50% water change before I start again. Anyone care to propose a strategy for what I’m trying to accomplish? In the meantime, I guess I will dose my 10 gallon with 2mL doses of EI ferts rather than the 8mL I was doing before. I’m leaving the baking soda out because I have no more snails.
And yes, I am aware about salt and how it never leaves the tank unless you remove it. This just escaped my common sense for the moment.
Thanks. I hope this makes sense, but I’m sure people might have questions. I really appreciate the help.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk