mumrah
Aquarium Advice Freak
I've got a 10g tank that until recently only had java ferns. I've turned it into a semi-biotope for my Rams. I took the carbon out of my filter and replaced it with peat. I've also put in a few pieces of driftwood, some small smooth stones, 1 small sword, 1 melon sword, and a crypt, a few more java ferns, and some duckweed.
I just increased the light to 2 50/50 coralife 20w mini-cf (from what i understand the acitinic blue does not contrubute to plant growth). So i'm running about 2wpg.
As a result of all of this, the two rams in there got really happy and started spawning. However, the ph is still two high for my liking (as well as the ram eggs). My ph is 7.5. I have used RO water in an effort to lower this, but it only causes swings. There is a buffer in my tank, and i've decided it's the sand substrate.
I've been vacuuming out as much as i can each water change, but i really hate the purple gravel underneath.
My question is, should i go ahead and change out the substrate to eco-complete, or something similar? I'd like to help out my plants some more, so i can perhaps add some carpeting or another small sword. I will probably inject CO2 eventually, but not anytime soon.
So, would it be worth the trouble to change out my substrate?
Thanks,
David
I just increased the light to 2 50/50 coralife 20w mini-cf (from what i understand the acitinic blue does not contrubute to plant growth). So i'm running about 2wpg.
As a result of all of this, the two rams in there got really happy and started spawning. However, the ph is still two high for my liking (as well as the ram eggs). My ph is 7.5. I have used RO water in an effort to lower this, but it only causes swings. There is a buffer in my tank, and i've decided it's the sand substrate.
I've been vacuuming out as much as i can each water change, but i really hate the purple gravel underneath.
My question is, should i go ahead and change out the substrate to eco-complete, or something similar? I'd like to help out my plants some more, so i can perhaps add some carpeting or another small sword. I will probably inject CO2 eventually, but not anytime soon.
So, would it be worth the trouble to change out my substrate?
Thanks,
David