Crypto Wendtii

[bkiggy]

Just bought 2 crypt W. on Friday. Already starting to "melt" I know it's normal. It will grow back. Just wondering about nutrient it should have. What do they typically like? I dose with Flourish and Flourish Excel already.

 

[jcolon]

Crypts are root feeders so root tabs are important.

 

[Reygan2]

+1 Root tabs are a must. There's a lot of info here on how to make your own or you can buy them. Seachem tabs are good.

 

[phin]

I grew crypts well with just excel and flourish for a while. Once I added root tabs I saw a major difference.

 

[aqua_chem]

I grew crypts well with just excel and flourish for a while. Once I added root tabs I saw a major difference.

I had the same experience.

 

[bkiggy]

They are melting very slow. I pull off the stems that have died 1by1. I added iron root tabs and seachem root tabs. Seems like over 2 days new leaves have formed. !!! Here's a question- does the carbon pull out fertilizer nutrients in the tank.? And the liquid CO2 (excel) Should I take it out

 

[Rivercats]

I've used carbon in filters before in planted tanks and they didn't affect the ferts being dosed. Liquid carbon, Excel will only help plant growth and shouldn't be discontinued.

 

[bkiggy]

I like the carbon being in filter and it lasts for 6 months. But if it does not remove fertilizer or co2 then ill leave it! Thanks

 

[Rivercats]

Generally carbon will only be effective for 2-4 weeks and after that it just becomes media for BB to grow on. That is the major difference between carbon and purgen. Purgen really does last 3-6 months and can also be regenerated.

 

[bkiggy]

There is a new carbon now. Comes in a jar, in a bag, wet. Claims to last 4-6 weeks - Just saying - I don't have the jar and I can't remember what it was called

 

[Rivercats]

You originally typed 6 months not 6 weeks... lol.

 

[Cichlid Kid]

Yep, +1 to rivercats.
Bkiggy, purgen really is the way to go. It has 3× the capacity of activated carbon and can be regenerated simply with bleach.
I'm glad to hear your crypts are doing better. Mine melted a little at first so don't get discouraged, it's normal and they'll bounce back. Mine grew into GIANTS in less than a year.

 

[bkiggy]

I used Purigen in the past but it turned Dark Brown after 3 weeks. It says to recharge with bleach when it turns colors. Turns too fast. Can only be recharged once or twice.

 

[Rivercats]

When purgen turns that dark that fast it usually means you have tons of tannins in the water along with alot of organics. When it's that dark you have to leave it in the bleach solution much long.

 

[bkiggy]

There wouldn't be tannins, I only have 2 small pieces of driftwood. It's 40g tank. So what would be organics? Poop? Over feeding? Leaf matter?

 

[phin]

Yes, "poop" but ammonia released through gills as well, uneaten food, decaying plant matter, as well as waste released by plants.

 

[bkiggy]

So the "little bags" of Purigen probably are not enough. I should get the big container of it and bag it myself. Last longer? More effective?
Would it be better to get rid of Carbon and just use Purigen or use both together?
Is Purigen a better product by itself than Matrix Carbon ?

 

[phin]

how big is your tank? The pores in carbon are larger than purigen, allowing it to absorb more substances. If you are growing plants, using carbon continually is counter-productive. You don't want to remove the compounds your plants need.

I run matrix carbon and purigen in my mbuna tank. I only run purigen in my planted tank.

 

[bkiggy]

True. 40 gallon. Over 15 plants. Can't even remember what some of them are - filter is Fluval 406

 

[phin]

On a 40 gallon tank, 1 bag of purigen (100ml) should last you 6 months. Tannins in the water will discolor the beads faster, but it should still work for that long. If you put the second bag in that is currently recharging I would think it would prolong the life of all the purigen used, as it would take longer for it to reach capacity.

Matrix carbon works real well - as far as activated carbons go. It lasts for 3+ months in my mbuna tank.