View Full Version : going to put CO2 in HELP
LMOUTHBASS
08-14-2003, 3:44 PM
Hi guys i'm going to add co2 to my tank because i want healthier looking plants, however i was just looking at a posts on this site, where someone was mentioning that you have to measure your kh before putting in co2- whats kh??? how do i measure it and i f i dont look into this before putting the co2 in will this be a catastrophe??? i'm horrible with all these chemistry like things and you guys seem to know all these numbers codings n stuff its all so confusing??? help please! heres what i know right now amonia 0 nitrites 0 ph is high for some reason i'm gonna say its above 7.7 i havent tested it recently but last week it was off my charts actually so it's prob higher - where do i go from here pls point me in the right direction - thanks for all help !!!
get a KH/GH test kit. This tests the hardness of your water.
Also when you add co2, to test the levels you use a chart using you ph and kh levels. If you add co2 it would lower your ph. It's all interconected. And I know someone will ask, what tank size and what do you have in the way of lighting?
LMOUTHBASS
08-14-2003, 4:05 PM
i forgot i have a 20 g standard lighting that came with tank i will also buy a plant light ? any recomendations? i have rotalia, small amazon chain swords, i think horn or moneywort (sorry) not sure which, as well as green n white acorus, and some low grassy stuff (sorry not sure what it is)
Could you find out how many whatts and spectrum that light is?
Most lights that come w/tank are not suficient for plants. I would not mess w/co2 till you get some lights. You will want about 40 -50 watts for mid-light plants.
LMOUTHBASS
08-14-2003, 4:57 PM
so i'm going to get rid of that light when i buy the c02 injection for sure!!! i wont use it with this light - so i aghve 20 gals let's pretend i dont have a ight since im getting a new one anyhow, what type of light shoul i get? its sorta confusing, will the light say on the package will work for this may watts per gal etc? thankns for your help
bobalston
08-14-2003, 5:17 PM
Take a look at my web site for various articles and sources for co2.
http://members.cox.net/tulsaalstons/AquaticPlants.htm#High%20Pressure%20CO2
Bob
take a look at ahs for lights. Also to start off, you might want to try a yeast mix co2. Its a lot cheaper and easier with the size of your tank. A pressureized co2 system is a couple hundred dollars!