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Originally Posted by Pierre
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Outstanding ... just what I was looking for! It may be obvious to those here, but I would add "EI".
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Originally Posted by Frolicsome_Flora
Firstly, Id read up on Estimative Index, its a little to take in, but itll make your life far simpler in the long run.
Secondly, Id invest in a drop checker and read up on Vaughn's threads about using them properly.
Most of your algae problems are probably due to unstable/inadequate CO2, but if your not dosing nutrients across the range, thats going to contribute as well. Learning EI will give you far less things to think about when things go pear shaped.
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Drop checker ordered and I'll be looking into buying reference liquid as well. It looks pretty idiot-proof (once set up correctly) assuming 'GREEN' indicates the tank really is where it needs to be. BTW - going eBay price is currently $23-$30 + a very reasonable $5 shipping.
Good memory Tom - "fairly soft" water in Raleigh-Durham is an understatement. Though some water chemistry varies from town to town, water hardness pretty much everywhere here is measured in single digits consistently (meaning below 10; often not measurable).
Based on feedback my CO2 reactor must not be doing the job I'd hoped. Next step will be to replace it with one of the DIY models here.
A follow-up question - Tom indicated that most of my tank setup was good and I just need to focus on CO2. Given that I have Eco-Complete as the substrate, will this eliminate or minimize the need for additional fertilization? According to their packaging it has everything plants need, can cure cancer, and is the first step towards world peace. But you know those marketing guys. I have to presume at some point some of the trace minerals get depleted (?). Is Eco-Complete REALLY complete?
Many thanks!
Derek