Have Full 10# Cylinder, Will Grow Plants!

[Nolapete]

Just got back from picking up my full 10# cylinder. It's sitting on my desk as I type.

I'm a bit apprehensive about injecting CO2 since all my fishy learning has always taught me oxygen good/carbon dioxide bad. I know the worst that can happen is killing all my fish and surely I don't want to do that. I don't have a drop checker yet and even if I did, from what I've read they are slow to register.

If I understand correctly, I can get a good indication of ppm by pH drop of 1.0, so I'm going to hook everything up. Test the pH. Set it to half of what I think it should be and wait 15 minutes then test pH again. Increase it as needed and retest in 15 minutes. How's this sound?

I R SKEERED!

[UCF-Planted]

I think that I saw a recommendation of waiting an hour between adjustments, and the 1 point of pH really depends on your kH. If your kH is too high, 1 point of pH could potentially be too much, so I would calculate the pH to shoot for based on kH rather than just going for 1 point of pH.

[Nolapete]

So what should I gauge it by with kH? You said to use kH, but never indicated what a good range is or what I should expect.

[Nolapete]

Well, it's all set up and feeding into one of the AC 500s at about 1 bubble per second. pH is currently 8.0. I'm seeing no bubbles make it to the surface of the sponge in the AC 500, so absorption must be good. I'm making sure there's no surface turbulence in the tank from the AC 500. My master test kit doesn't have gH and kH tests, so I'll have to get those tomorrow on the way home.

[John N.]

The pH/KH is a general guideline as much of the parameters can be altered in our aquariums pretty randomly and not solely from CO2 injection i.e. KH off the charts due to some substrate leeching, driftwood effective pH, etc. Here's the chart for your reference.
http://ca.geocities.com/pps@rogers.com/CO2.Table.6.to.8.gif

A one pH drop usually gets you in decent range. Follow your fish, and if they start looking ill or gasping then ease off the injection. Another more accurate method to evaulate CO2 levels is the use of a drop checker...

-John N.

[Nolapete]

Thanks John. That's why I'm keeping it on the low end until I can get gH/kH tests tomorrow and see if buying a drop checker is the better way to go over making one.

[Mgamer20o0]

great chart but for the lazy people like me.....

http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_co2chart.htm

CO2/pH/KH calculator and chart

[Nolapete]

Down to about 7.6-7.7 now after a couple hours.

[jm1212]

be careful when messing with pH. to large of swing can harm the fish

[Mgamer20o0]

co2 doesnt effect the fish.

[Nolapete]

Read the thread jm1212. It is co2 related and won't harm fish.

[vic46]

This is a very good article and it has a Co2 calculator based on pH and KH. Much easier than some of the colour charts.

http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_co2chart.htm

There is nothing wrong with the drop checkers if,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, you use a base fluid in the drop checker, that you add the reagent to, that has a KH of 4 rather than whatever your tank water may be at.

Vic

[Mgamer20o0]

great chart but for the lazy people like me.....

http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_co2chart.htm

CO2/pH/KH calculator and chart

This is a very good article and it has a Co2 calculator based on pH and KH. Much easier than some of the colour charts.

http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_co2chart.htm

There is nothing wrong with the drop checkers if,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, you use a base fluid in the drop checker, that you add the reagent to, that has a KH of 4 rather than whatever your tank water may be at.

Vic

lol a little late

[Nolapete]

Yah, I just posted an interesting article link on another thread that pretty much explains the ineffectiveness of pH/kH for determining ppm co2. Shrug, I'm too new to all this to make a call either way.

[Rex Grigg]

be careful when messing with pH. to large of swing can harm the fish

Can you document this?

I can prove the opposite.

See www.theplantedtankFAQ.com

Nolapete: Simple method is the 1 point drop. Test the resting pH of the aquarium water. Drop it one full point of pH.