I test for PH, GH, KH, NO2 & NH3/NH4 on a daily basis. It helps me judge when my can fauna arrive, my filter's status and if I need to do more water change. I personally feel that for 20 litres, it is imperative that testing must be done regularly as the worse can happen within a few hours. I usually test 15 mins before the end of my photo period, this gives an accurate result on the outcome of the plants' work for the day just before they go to bed.
Day 1 Readings
PH – 6.0
GH – 10
KH – 2
NO2 – 0.25
NH3/NH4 – 8
Day 2 Readings
PH – 6.2
GH – 10
KH – 3
NO2 – 0.25
NH3/NH4 – 8
As you can see, GH readings are super high because of the extra CO2 that I am pumping in, Ammonia readings are incredibly scary but its common just after two days. PH has risen by 0.2. 6 litres of water is changed everyday after the photo period to remove the day's extra nutrients.
As I am writing this, its day 3 and a few more hours to the next testing. But what I am happy is that so far, there is no algae and hopefully it stays this way. The amount of algae will be a real test as to how effective the 500ml of activated carbon that I have in my filter is. 2ml of Seachem Stability is also added at each water change to help establish my biological filter.
Glosso has shown growth after 3 days but all the growth have been leggy. I know that everyone has said that 3 x 9 watts will be enough but I keep thinking about bro blue33's insight that a 27 watts light set is different when compared to 3 x 9 watts lightsets although wattage is the same. So, I went back to petmart today and got another 9 watts, so its now 36 watts. Hopefully this will keep the glosso down and if its too much light, I can always remove the extra 9 watts.
I will be purning all the extra leaves that have grown on top of the original ones that I planted and will replant them, making my lawn denser by artificial methods as some bros have wisely adviced me. Thanks to all for that!
All in all, I am quite pleased with the growth after 3 days.
