PH too low

I have raised the question before about the accuracy of drop checkers.
The most common answer is that all I need to know about CO2 concentrations
is “about” 30 ppm in a DC is good. This “about” 30 ppm is indicated by a green color in the DC indicator solution.

I’ve been told that the DC is more accurate than using a pH test kit along with a KH test kit and then figuring the results using a KH/pH chart to figure CO2 concentration.
The reason given is that there is contamination by other acids or buffers that affect the pH & KH.

I’m sure this is true but wouldn’t those other acids/buffers also affect the indicator fluid in the drop checker??

I still have DC’s in my tanks, but I rely more on the test kits and pH controllerfor more accurate CO2 readings.
Just my 2 cent opinion.

Charles
 
They don't affect the liquid in the drop checker because they can't get in - only the CO2 can. That's the reason for the air gap between the tank water and the drop checker solution. CO2 equilibrates between tank and air gap, and then between air gap and drop checker solution.

If you mean that these buffers are in the water you use to make up the drop checker solution, then they shouldn't be, because you should use deionised water for that.
 
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KarlTh said:
Is it 4KH made up from DISTILLED water?.
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Yes it is.I I usually do not use them,but put one in this tank when I changed the reactor,to the glass diffusor.I don't think that are all the reliable either,and have never had a problem with using CO2 before now.

I never considered raising the PH.I thought having low PH just was an affect of haveing CO2.How much baking soda,and how often should it be added?
 
There's no need to raise the pH; the fish problems will come from too much CO2, not from the low pH.
 
67chevelle said:
Yes it is.I I usually do not use them,but put one in this tank when I changed the reactor,to the glass diffusor.I don't think that are all the reliable either,and have never had a problem with using CO2 before now.

I never considered raising the PH.I thought having low PH just was an affect of haveing CO2.How much baking soda,and how often should it be added?
Click to expand...

There actually is a calculator for this. I add baking soda whenever I do a water change. I have a 120 gallon system and after doing a 50% water change I usually add 6 teaspoons of baking soda and then check the kh value. Since my ph is at 7.2 and I have a lot of water, I don't have to be exact with the kh. With a 10 gallon tank, either you have to raise the ph and the kh, or you have to be really, really exact with your kh addition.

Best bet is to buy a kh testing kit. They run about $5 and they last quite a while. The first one I had lasted almost 2 years.
 
KarlTh said:
Why would that be?
Click to expand...

With a ph of 6.0 and a kh of 2.0, the CO2 level would be 60ppm. That usually results in problems for most fish.

Here is the chart I am using:

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

FYI - the numbers in yellow are great for plants but bad for fish. The numbers in green are good for fish and plants. The numbers in white are bad for plants, good for fish.
 
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