Aquarium Gardening Notes

Seachem's Flourish Excel PH Test

I read a post in a forum today that made me curious about PH levels. The writer wanted ideas as to why the PH levels were fluctuating in her freshwater aquarium. One of the additives she mentioned using was Flourish. I am not sure if she meant the liquid fertilizer or the organic carbon source called Flourish Excel. But that made me curious to find out if Excel lowers PH or not. I was assuming it would, since the injected gaseous form of carbon dioxide does lower PH.

So I setup a small test using a 10 gallon holding tank that contains aged aquarium water, a soil bottom and three Nymphoides-type plants. These plants feed mostly from the roots, therefore, their effect on PH is probably minimal. The aquarium does not have any fish. A small air stone circulates the water along with a mini Whisper filter. No other ferts or CO2 source is added. The PH tends to rise in this setup. To lower it, it requires a water change or an acidic additive. It does not lower PH when left alone. As I said, it's just a 10 gallon holding tank that I haven't been using for anything special...

I added 2 ounces of Seachem's Flourish Excel liquid organic carbon source. The PH was initially 7.28 on the Pinpoint PH monitor. Within 15 minutes, the PH went down to 6.97. An hour later, the PH was 6.86. I conclude, with reasonable certainty, based on this observation, that the Flourish Excel does lower PH slightly. Further testing with a grip on KH would be interesting...

DIY for the 10 Gallon Tank

I've been mentioning the yeast fermentation process here and there. This process makes carbon dioxide gas which is a plant nutrient. From what I've read, it is an essential element in planted aquariums with bright light.

My yeast cannisters are nothing fancy. I used a couple of soda bottles, drilled a hole in the top and glued an air valve into them. The air valve allows gas to exit the bottles, but prevents aquarium water from spilling into the bottles or on the floor whenever I change the bottles' mix.

My 10 gallon tank has two yeast bottles. Both are connected into a T which brings CO2 gas to the aquarium via a single air tube. The output of the air tube is fed into a C02 reactor that very efficiently dissolves the gas so that it becomes readily available for plants.

The yeast mix in the bottles is a rather cheap and simple process. I use a few ounces of white sugar, usually an amount that levels to about 1.5 inches from the bottom of the bottle. Then, I add 1 tsp of yeast. I purchase the yeast at the grocery store. It comes dry in a small bottle or packets that can be refrigerated once opened. Add to this 3/4 of tap water and shake lightly. I never shake the bottles vigorously because that tends to turn the mixture into a huge mess of foam that can travel back into the aquarium.

This provides more than enough CO2 for my 10 gallon tank for two weeks or so. When I see the gas vortex in the reactor weaken, I change one bottle's mix. There's no need to change both at the same time because that makes too much CO2 initially: Something I've learned recently.

Plantabbs

I purchased a product called "Plantabbs" on impulse yesterday. The package reads "Thrilling Results Guaranteed".

Has anyone reading this blog tried this product? How did it affect the water quality of your aquarium? I'll wait before adding a tablet or two because I've been trying to reduce hardness in my tanks. Once I have a good idea how to keep my water parameters where I want them, I'll give this product a try.

The analysis guarantee says this:
11% Total Nitrogen (N)
4.9% Ammoniacal Nitrogen
6.1% Nitrate Nitrogen
15% Available Phosphoric Acid (P2O5)
20% Soluble Potash

"Nitrogen derived from Ammonium Phosphate and Potassium Nitrate. Phosphoric Acid from Ammonium Phosphate. Potash from Potassium Nitrate."