Monte Carlo issues once again

[Nathanh2150]

Planted my tank with a fresh batch of Monte Carlo looked amazing for the first couple of days but today it’s starting to light green instead of vivid green and now going mushy and limp any help would be much appreciated photos of when put in tank and a photo of it now
Running co2 in the aquarium my drop checker is green and the co2 comes on an hour before the light comes on and comes of an hour before the lighting
I’m daily dosing tropica plant food
And doing weekly water changes of 50%
Also added beneficial bacteria on every water change.

 

[Nathanh2150]

It’s Fluval cycle biological enhancer every water change.
Also daily doing tropica specialised nutrition is it wise to stop dosing atm or carry on daily dosing tropica specialised nutrition ?

 

[Siege]

Too much light in comparison to co2 as per the lighting thread.

co2 should be on probably 4 hours before lights. On a new tank with no livestock leave it on 24/7 go bright yellow. 👍😃

Daily water changes for 1st week if you can 50% is a minimum.

 

[kschyff]

I agree with Siege. During my initial setup, which also contained loads of MC, I left the CO2 on 24/7 and all was good. It was even a DIY CO2 and I was able to dial it in so that it went only slightly yellow if that bothers you. In the meantime I have installed a CO2 Art system and start the CO2 2 hours before lights on, but that only applies if you decide not to leave it on 24/7. According to what I have read here and elsewhere it seems that the plants photosynthesise quite a bit at the start of the photoperiod - hence the suggestion to have the CO2 levels as optimal as possible when the lights switch on. Are you using Amazonia with PowerSand or something else?

 

[Nathanh2150]

There’s no fish in the aquarium only a snail so would it be wise to move the co2 to be on 4 hours before lighting comes on and off an hour before the light switches off. And I am using tropica substrate

 

[Nathanh2150]

I also have a dimmer on the aquarium light

 

[Nathanh2150]

My light is a twinstar 900s

 

[Siege]

Even with fish in I have AS900 tanks co2 in 4 hours before lights. No probs, just watch the drop checker, you don’t need to push it, just a light green colour.

when 1st planted you need to get the plants used to the less co2 underwater. For that reason bang it up and go bright yellow 24/7 for a few days.

The snail will go to the surface if he doesn’t like it. You could remove him for a few days if you wanted. He is in a little early on a brand new set up.

 

[Nathanh2150]

Ok I shall change the automatic timer to 4 hour before light comes on and I’m currently doing 10 bubbles a second my water in my area is hard so was told to increase co2 to make sure it gets to the plants I have noticed the back plants are photosynthesise as seen bubbles come from leaves also the drop checker is this colour

 

[Nathanh2150]

Drop checker

 

[Siege]

This is kind of what I was getting at when I said build up a relationship with your local store scaped nature (I know hard to do at the moment!). In an hour conversation you would have had the whole co2 lesson, water change, new tank process conversation. They’ve probably got preprinted FAQ leaflets.

Yes you would have paid a few quid more than buying from the cheapest but the advice would save you money and your Monte Carlo would now be doing well and in the long run would save you money, time and headache.

Not having a go, it’s just that all my posts on your threads seem to be similar and I’m at risk of sounding like a parrot! 😂😃👍

 

[Siege]

Drop checker looks perfect. You want that colour at lights on. 👍😃

Still want it higher for a couple of weeks on a new tank.

 

[Nathanh2150]

I spoke to scape nature and they advised me to come to this form room to talk to the community to see there advice.. and I shall change the timing of the co2 turn on to 4 hours before lights come on and see what happens fingers crossed

 

[Siege]

I spoke to scape nature and they advised me to come to this form room to talk to the community to see there advice.. and I shall change the timing of the co2 turn on to 4 hours before lights come on and see what happens fingers crossed

😂😂😂

Before or after you bought the plants elsewhere?

 

[Nathanh2150]

Before I brought the plants elc where as they had no stock and was unsure when there next delivery would be otherwise would of got from them. Have now changed the time on the automatic timer for the co2 for 4 hours before lighting. If I was to leave the co2 on 24/7 how would it work with the light off would there be any harm leaving it on 24/7 also as my drop checker is spot on then I wouldn’t need to change the bubble count

 

[Siege]

Yes co2 24/7 on a new tank for a week or so. Then turn it down and put on timer but Defo on 4 hours before lights. You can then add shrimp.

Big water changes for the 1st few weeks, only gradually moving down to weekly.

low light

low temp - 22-23

👍

 

[Nathanh2150]

My aquarium tempture is around 23-24 and I shall leave the co2 running for a week and after do the 4 hours before light comes on water changes I can do daily without any issue 🙂
Thankyou for all the help do appreciate it

 

[Ady34]

Great advice already, but also how much fertiliser are you dosing? I found with mc that it is very greedy and along with increasing co2 availability I increased my Tropica specialised dosing significantly and the mc stopped melting.

 

[Nathanh2150]

I am dosing 4 plumps of fertiliser. I’m tottaly gutted as when we planted the Monte Carlo it look amazing full of health and good root structure so guess it’s just a waiting game to see the outcome

 

[Libba]

Too much light in comparison to co2 as per the lighting thread.

co2 should be on probably 4 hours before lights. On a new tank with no livestock leave it on 24/7 go bright yellow. 👍😃

Daily water changes for 1st week if you can 50% is a minimum.

Aren't you then going to run into issues when you bring down the CO2 when it's time to add livestock? I'd rather get the adjustment period over early then keep the CO2 consistent.