red sea fermenter in place, dosing ferts

[Linda S]

my CO2 fermenters are in place on my 2 29's and my 36bf. I am dosing seachem flourish line, I will now omit the excel I usually dose according to the lables and have a medicine syringe that goes up to 5 ml. lights and fermenters are on timers. what should I expect? will I need to dose more often? I have gH and KH test kits, from API can someone tell me how to interpret the results? I don't have a drop checker, and I don't understand how to make them or the solution that is used with them, but I have ordered the indicator and refill solution from RedSea, the manufacturer of my fermenters. Will this indicator kit give me the results I need?

I've printed much of the algae info provided here and have it in a binder, so I should be able to watch for deficiencies. anything else I need to know? other test kits I may need?

thanks, sorry for the long post.

 

[coach_z]

you have the entire seachem line for 3 tanks? Over the long run it is going to be very expensive to use that, over time, when you run out o f things, i would suggest that you switch over to dry ferts.

Test kits? I dont think you really need anything outside of the master test kit. If you get GSA, you dont have enough PO4. You can use that type of theory for most of your levels.

drop checker is very important. "Dun"( i can never remember his full username) has a good ilnk to 4dkh solution, use that with the indicator and you will be good to go. a proper amount of co2 is very important.

good luck

 

[jetajockey]

Definitely go with the 4dkh solution.. Not sure about the red sea drop checker but if it says to add tank water then it is not accurate and you need some 4dkh solution + bromothymol blue aka pH indicator liquid.

And I agree with coach.

You are running multiple co2 yeast generators?

 

[dundadundun]

uhoh... i'm going to get myself in trouble here because :iagree: with all of the above. :rofl:

here's my 4dkh formulas...


i find it very useful for your average american because we don't need gram scales or a chemistry set to do it this way... and you can literally make gallons of the stuff for just the price of shipping a couple ounces to your door... and have it ready today. :dance:

PS... dun is fine... close friends sometimes call me done.

 

[Linda S]

ok that's the solution recipe. Now how do I use it? I'm not much into chemistry. =)

 

[jetajockey]

i attempted to make my own but I don't think it was accurate. I ended up just paying $6 to get some proper solution sent.

 

[rockhoe14er]

you make the solution dun mentioned then add a ph indicator and put inside the glass piece and then you're good to go.

here is a link with more info http://www.aquariumslife.com/aquascaping/fertilizers-and-co2/drop-checke/

 

[rockhoe14er]

uhoh... i'm going to get myself in trouble here because :iagree: with all of the above. :rofl:

here's my 4dkh formulas...
View attachment 139938

i find it very useful for your average american because we don't need gram scales or a chemistry set to do it this way... and you can literally make gallons of the stuff for just the price of shipping a couple ounces to your door... and have it ready today. :dance:

PS... dun is fine... close friends sometimes call me done.

dun what do you mean by 6 gallons and a Quart?

is that 6 gallons of water and a quart of water to half a teaspoon?

 

[dundadundun]

dun what do you mean by 6 gallons and a Quart?

is that 6 gallons of water and a quart of water to half a teaspoon?

yessum... the accurate measures are in the bottom half if you wanted to get as close as possible.

as well, each formula is exactly half of the one above it. so you can manipulate it easily.

for example:

say you only bought 2 gallons of water and don't have a measuring spoon smaller than 1/2 tsp...

you can add that to the water for 1/8tsp... then take a little bit and dilute it 3 to 1 to make the same thing.

to explain that... 1/8 tsp calls for 1.5 gallons and 1 cup... so we'll use that and 1/2tsp b/s. that should give us a dkh of 16 so we'll only need 1/4 of that. you can take a 1 cup measuring cup and fill it to 2 oz with your 16dkh solution. then fill it up the rest of the way with clean distilled water to the 1 cup line to make 8 total fluid oz's (1 cup) of 4dkh.

 

[dundadundun]

ok that's the solution recipe. Now how do I use it? I'm not much into chemistry. =)

unless you're trying to manipulate it to accommodate using less water with a bigger measuring spoon you just read straight across, add both items and mix... done. :thm:

you do have to use distilled water for this though. if there's any kh in the water already it won't work.

anyway... say your smallest measuring spoon is 1/4tsp (very common)... find 1/4 tsp on the grid/pic... look straight across from that and see it says "3 gallons and 1 pint". now you know your measures. simply measure out 3 gallons and one quart of distilled water, add a level 1/4tsp of baking soda, mix... and use as much as you need.