Whoops

I thought you had a bubble counter. Is it set up?
Your target pH is, if I remember correctly 6.6. You need to turn off your CO2 overnight and allow the excess CO2 to gas off. See what you have at lights on in the morning and go from there. The pH will rise overnight, which won't stress the fish as much as lowering it would. If they are not showing signs of stress and trouble breathing now, they will probably be ok. By not agitating the water the CO2 will gas off more gradually. Only you can determine whether your fish are in serious enough condition to rush the gas off process.
All this is assuming that your pH test is correct. Did you check it a couple of times?
Once you get closer to your target pH you need to start up your CO2 at a very low bubble rate. Maybe 1 bubble/second, and check your pH every hour or so. Adjust your bubble rate accordingly. Don't increase the rate by more than 1/2 bubble/sec. With your low kH it won't take much to change your pH.
I think you said your kH was around 2.5-3.0.....is that right? If so, you're looking for a pH of 6.6-6.7. When you get there, you still need to make sure it's a steady pH and doesn't fluctuate.
Down the road you may want to consider the use of crushed coral to increase your kH some.
Len
PS- Are you familiar with the CO2 calculator and pH chart? It's a great reference for just what you're going through now.
 
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how do you shut your co2 off at night with a DIY system? just take the tube out of the water?
 
I never shut my DIY off at night again after seeing the way it affected my pH. The fluctuation was more extreme by shutting it off than by just letting it run. The little extra CO2 didn't affect my fish at all, as far as I could tell.
But yes, if you want to shut it off you have to disconnect it. Another alternative is to put an airstone in the tank at night to gas off any excess CO2.
Len
 
LOL yes I have a bubble counter. But that doesn't mean I can count. I had started it off at 1 per second and then had to leave. I didn't have my needle valve tightened up securely, when I checked it after I got home, hours later, it was 3 per second.

Poor fish. They seem to be fine. I raised my spray bar, so it should gas off fairly quick.
I do have crushed coral in my canister filter, about a 1/4 of a cup. I have been adding it slowly by tablespoons, but my kh is still low. I am really trying to raise it slow so my pH didn't shoot up, but I guess I shouldv'e put more Baking Soda in to get it up before my CO2 brought it back down.

I checked the chart for my target pH. Right now I have 84 ppm of CO2. Can't believe the fish aren't dead.

Go look at my new pics. My water is clear, and no algae.
 
I set my system up when I was going to be home for hours to avoid just the same thing happening. You have to monitor it closely the first couple of days. I must have tested my ph 10 times that first day. Talk about nervous...........
IMO, if the fish look ok, it would be better to let the CO2 gas off fairly slowly so as not to shock the fish with another big pH change over night. In the morning, if you're close to 6.7 or 6.8 don't push it with your bubble rate. It's better to start it off at even 1 bubble every 3 seconds(to be safe) and see how your pH is affected over a few days. If you don't have "optimum" CO2 ppm immediately it's no big deal. Find it SLOWLY.........Kentucky people......wow!! (you know I'm only kidding skitty.....some of my best friends are from Kentucky).
Len
 
Unfortunately sick children rarely time things so that the fish/plants come first :rolleyes: .

I have one with strep/ear infection and one with upper respitory infection.

Anyway, pH was 7.0 this morning. Kh is now 3.9 d/kh or 70 ppm.
I am at one bubble per second maybe 1 1/2 seconds. Hopefully now I can moniter it more closely today. I had a problem keeping the pressure up in the bubble counter, but I think I have that fixed. Needle valve is tightened (problem last night). Bristlenose munching happily on what algae is left over and regrowing.

Now if only my K2SO4 gets here, then I will have everything.

Wish this poor hillbilly..er..Mountain William..luck.
 
Sounds good. I'm just curious....did you have to raise your spray bar to bring the pH up or did it rise overnight by itself?
A kH of 3.9 is excellent as it will help stabilize your pH now. With a pH of 7.0 you are holding 11.7ppm which is ok as a starting point. If you slowly work it(pH) down to 6.7 you will have a reading of 23.3. I think you're on your way. Congratulations!!!
Sorry to hear about the sickies. Not feeling too perky myself the last few days.
One more question....I think you got your needle valve at Clippard, correct? If yes, what is the model number and did it fit right into your system?
Len
 
Djlen-
I had to raise the spray bar some, because it had no surface agitation at all.

I got the Clippard needle valve MNV-4K, but be sure to get the connecting pieces. I had to have a 1/4" (size?)barb on the male end, and a 1/4" swivel on the female end. The MNV-4K2 has one adapter on it, but it wasn't in stock. It's better to call and talk to Heidi as she was VERY helpful (sent barbs free of charge to me).

I couldn't find any adapter's to fit at Lowe's or at our local Dal-R's (who pretty much has every part imaginable, just not little ones).
Then I had to put plumbers tape on the barb before inserting it into the airline to ensure a tight fit.

My bubble counter sprung a leak also, had to remove it, silicone it, and wait for it to dry for an hour, now it is working great.

So far I am up to a bubble per second, and the pH is still holding pretty steady at 7.0.
 
Thanks for the info. I didn't think any of the ones I saw on the website looked complete. I even asked for a catalog to get a better look and couldn't figure out how I could use any of them without some modification. I'll see if I can dig up Heidi tomorrow and work it out.
Don't forget to check all the fittings along the line for leaks. Even the smallest one will cut way down on the length of time you'll get out of your gas tube. I dipped each fitting in a container of water and only found one. You need a lot of that sudsy stuff to catch them if it's a slow leak.
Len
 
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