Best CO2 systems

IceH2O

IceH2O

Bazinga
Nov 26, 2005
1,682
60
51
Rock Hill,South Carolina
Real Name
Ice
What systems do you guys recommend?

Keep in mind that the tank will be either a 75 or a 125 gallon with somewhere between 2 and 3 wpgs.

My PH and KH levels will allow CO2,unless the KH will drop because of CO2,in which case I'll also need a recommendation on how to raise KH.Crushed coral right?
 
Compressed CO2 definitely on the tank sizes you are thinking about. A JBJ, Wilwaukee or similar regulator with a minimum 10 pound CO2 tank.

What is your current KH? If it's three or above you will be good to go.
 
My KH is between 3 and 3.5 but I was under the impression that CO2 will drop it some.I'd feel better about the CO2 if I could raise it just a tad more to be on the safe side.
 
Ice,

The addition of CO2 will not effect your KH levels. It is the KH and pH values that will determine the amount of disolved CO2 in the water. If anything, you will want your KH to be around 5, so that you have enough dissolved CO2 for the plants to take advantage of.

Check out my CO2 Charts to give you an idea of the KH level and pH levels you want to get to for necessary levels - http://users.bigpond.com/rohan.t/co2_chart.htm

Cheers,

Rohan
 
If I raise my KH won't my PH also rise?

Lets say I do get to 5 KH and my PH rises to 7.2.I'd end up with the same amount of dissolved CO2.If it rises higher than 7.2 and my KH stays at 5 I end up with less dissolved CO2.

I need to add KH,and be able to keep my PH around 7 or even lower it to the high 6's.Since a lower PH and a higher KH will = a higher dissolved CO2.

If I could bypass a CO2 unit all together that would be great but I don't see that happening unless I can keep my PH at 7 and raise my KH to between 8-10.

I plan on using fluorite and pool filter sand as a substrate.Don't know if that helps you guys.

I just know my CO2 level of 9/10 isn't going to work.
 
IceH2O said:
If I raise my KH won't my PH also rise?
Click to expand...
Depends on how you raise it. If you use coral or aragonite, your pH will also rise but it will be a more permanent and reliable method of doing it. Once you start injecting your pH will drop and the KH will remain stable.

If you use baking soda only your KH will rise but it will be a temporary measure.

Lemme give you an example:
My tap KH is 1.5-2 dKH
My tap pH is 7.6-7.8

Now, the KH there is too low to inject CO2 safely. I need to permanently raise the KH to 4 or 5 make it safe. The best way to do this, imho, is with crushed coral/aragonite BUT my high pH of 7.6 - 7.8 prevents coral and aragonite from dissolving very fast.

So, what I did was set everything up. Add baking soda to bring the tank water to 4dKH, which does NOT affect my pH at all, and start injecting.

As my pH drops with the CO2 injection, the coral and aragonite will dissolve at a faster rate, taking over the job of the baking soda and keeping my KH stable at around 4 dKH.

I monitor the KH and pH every day and when it appears that the coral/aragonite is doing its job, I cease using the baking soda.

Roan
 
Okay,so since my KH is already in the safe area for CO2 infussion I could start it and just add the crushed coral and monitor it till I hit a KH level I'm comfortable with since the CO2 will help keep my PH lower.

Then I just need to keep enough coral in there to keep the KH level.

Now for the 2nd part of my question.

Lets say my PH is 7 and my KH is 5.That would make my CO2 level 15 ppm.When I add the infusion how do you figure the ppm for the CO2?

I assume it'll be with a test kit,if so what kit do you recommend?
 
IceH2O said:
Lets say my PH is 7 and my KH is 5.That would make my CO2 level 15 ppm.When I add the infusion how do you figure the ppm for the CO2?

I assume it'll be with a test kit,if so what kit do you recommend?
Click to expand...

After you start injecting CO2, your pH will drop. You use your pH kit and KH kit to measure pH and KH again, then go to the CO2 chart to figure the amount of CO2.

AQUA_OBSESSION, I like that article though the prices have likely increased since it was written...good article though.
 
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