72ppm co2 err (does kh change?)

zin

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Dec 16, 2003
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The fish(guppies) look fine but i measured my co2 as 72ppm, so i threw in a air pump for a bit.

The water is oxygen saturated, but i understand that co2 is still poisonous.

6.4ph, 6kh

quick question for when i try and fine tune, do i need to test kh each time aswell or just ph?
 
Um, I think you may need to shut off your co2 at night. Yes co2 buildup can be deadly. Little known fact. If you are in an airtight space the co2 buildup will probably kill you before you run out of oxygen. The airpump should help gas off some of the co2 though.
 
its diy so i really cant turn it on and off, im trying to adjust surface disturbance, by changing around my diy filter, but im wondering will the kh change or just the ph? do i need to test both several times a day till i get the co2 right or only ph?
 
I don't believe the KH will change, but I'm no expert by far. Are you using some sort of diffuser on your co2? 72ppm just seems way high for a DIY system.
 
Hehe, sounds interesting enough, but I think you overshot your saturation level by a power of 3 or so. I'm still considering a DIY jello type system for under my cabinet next to my filter. I may just stick in a nearby closet at first though just in case.
 
Just thinking back to the Jello shooters last night at the bar but back to the QU…

In 2 year of testing my KH it only changes if we have a lot of rain. I have a well so that will explain that.
NO your KH will not change unless you buffer your water with something, or you do a water change. I still test my KH on every tank every 3 days and don’t know why.
 
Habit. My wife used to have the habit of locking the door before she went out. One morning when I came home (used to work overnights) she was in the garage locked out of the house. Won't say what she was wearing, but going to a neighbor was out of the question so she waited an hour for me to get home. Broke her of the habit of locking the door before she closed it.
 
Adding CO2 should change your KH as well as pH.

When you dissolve CO2 in water:

CO2 + H2O = H2CO3 (carbonic acid) = (H+) + (HCO3-)(bicarbonate)
HCO3- = (H+) + (CO3--) (carbonate)

Both carbonate and bicarbonate are measured when you determine "KH" or alkalinity.

However, if you already have a decent buffer (such as the 2 or 3 dKH often suggested), you shouldn't observe any significant change. Depending on how alkaline your water is, you may not even be able to test for it.
 
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