Im running an Eheim pro 3 and an aquaone cannister on my 1100L tank, am about to get an fx5 to replace the aquaone filter - so i should have filtration pretty well covered :roll:
Wouldn't a tower work better if it was full of water and had an air pump running through the media?
I would recommend a light coloured sand or fine gravel. Peat would need to be in a stocking positioned near a pump outlet or in a low powered cannister filter. Oak leaves would also be a nice touch.
That being said, ammonia is alot less toxic at an acidic pH, in hard alkaline water its very very toxic to fish. So either way, taking awhile to cycle shouldn't matter.
You should leave the light on if it happens again, as plants will not use the co2 already in the tank and thus the ph will still fall.
And like the others said, turn on an air pump at night and use limestone or oyster shells during the day while co2 is running.
You could put Africans in it instead, basically the closest thing to a marine tank. You could use the same substrate etc to as they require the same pH
animates are expensive, usually the fish are the only thing reasonably priced.
Just finished shaping my 2nd rock background, will have photos up tommorow :happy1:
collect rain water and add that to the tank for water changes. If you have limestone/shells in your tank that will raise the ph and could be the cause of your battle.
If room is 17° and you want your water at 29° then you need at least 575 watt heating.
This is assuming no insulation except 10mm on the bottom and on ply. This will cost you $105/month in power!!
he has 900 watts heating the tank, i think 575 watts aint going to cut the mustard.