75 gallon Planted Office Tank Journal

[geekpryde]

New Pics:

I recieved some glass from Cal Aqua Labs, including the Double Check, made in Thailand, and purchased from Green Leaf Aquariums. I can tell why people get into glass, it's very pretty to look at.

You may not know this, but CAL recently redesigned the Double Check. I am not sure if there was a design flaw with the old one, or if they just wanted to mix it up, but here is what the new and old look like.

OLD:

NEW: (this photo is upside down)

Here is me unpacking the glass, with some other items I purchased.

For size comparison:

The instructions for the Drop Checker still refer to the old design, and they are a very bad quality photo copy. I think this is such a nice product, with nice packaging, and fairly expensive, you would think they would spend the extra penny each (literally), and produce a nice quality laser-printed set of instructions.

Me adding the reference solution:

With both solutions in:

Note, when I added the indicator (blue) solution, a bubble of air made it so that the glass would not fill with the solution. I quickly devised a plan to pop the bubble of air, and I think this trick will come in handy, as I see this being a common problem with the new design. I used a plastic zip tie, which is small and flexible, yet rigid enough to insert, bend almost 90 degress, and allow the ait to come out and fluid to go in.

Installed: :headbang2:

Let's see how long it takes to come up to color.

 

[geekpryde]

Here are shots of my new (and only) bubble counter. I need your help installing this, I have no friggin idea!

:help2:

So, this came with NO directions. Smart people probably dont need directions for something so simple, but I do. :duh:

SO, do I put this on the inside of the aquarium, or do I have choice to put it on the outside (out of water)? Do I need to fill one of the co2 in/out pipes with water or another liquid? Does it matter which pipe is the in / out for the gas?

Please help!

 

[Ozymandias]

usually they go on the out side, what you do is fill it up with water or mineral oil then hook the input to the horizontal tube then the out put (the the reactor) goes on the vertical toob.

 

[geekpryde]

usually they go on the out side, what you do is fill it up with water or mineral oil then hook the input to the horizontal tube then the out put (the the reactor) goes on the vertical toob.

I did as you suggested and filled it with water, but I think I bought too fancy a bubble counter. There is no way I can force the co2 silicone tubing on the ends of this glass beetle bubble counter. I am heating it up with a heat gun (looks like a blow dryer, gets VERY hot), still no dice unless I melt the glass to the tubing.

Anyone have this bubble counter and know the trick?

 

[Ozymandias]

you might try lubing it up with some thing also often time hot water helps but sense you tried the heat gun im not sure if it would work.

 

[geekpryde]

UPDATE:

I managed to get the co2 silicone tubing onto the glass beetle counter by heating the tubing up so much I burned my fingers. I initially blasted too much co2 and lost about 1/2 the water I had in the counter, but I am not going to pull off the tubing at this point just to add some water back in, as I can still see and count bubbles.

The new drop checked has been installed for several hours, and the color is not really changing so I think the co2 level is low. I am not really going to crank it up yet since there is only one stinking plant in there now, but I also think the dispersion from the red sea reactor 500 may be to blame. I moved it to center back of the tank, which is also where I put the bubble counter. I timed the bubbles and got 60 bubbles in 40 seconds, or 1.5 pbs.

HERE IS A PIC OF BUBBLE COUNTER:

I like the look of the co2 beetle bubble counter, but plants will eventually block the view if I leave it in the center back.

This is a simple diagram of how I hooked everything up in regards to co2. Do you see anything glaring I need to change?

Don’t think this problem is solved even though I can count bubble. I still want ideas on how to install this bubble counter, there must be a better way!

 

[plantbrain]

Use a Rio 600 or 800, cut the impellers, it'll work 2x as good as this.
See needle wheel CO2.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[geekpryde]

Use a Rio 600 or 800, cut the impellers, it'll work 2x as good as this.
See needle wheel CO2.

Regards,
Tom Barr

Your comments and my practical experience with the Red Sea Reactor 500 have convinced me that this things stinks. I only made that outline above as a temp. solution until the new reactor I bought comes in. I think plants may be here a day or two before the new reactor, so I needed a setup all ready to go.

Even with the RS500 moved to back-center of the tank, it still takes like 4-6 hours for the indicator solution to change to green. Obviously, this thing is just not working well. I think the new reactor will work great, but if not, I will spend the time to do the DIY mod on a RIO as you have outlined here and in other threads.

 

[geekpryde]

Plant shipment might be delayed again, could be in on Friday, but it definately did not ship out today, and it might be next week.

How do I feel right now:

A) :wall:

B) :cry:

C) :angryfire:

D) :irked:

E) All of the above

 

[moi-eater]

Hmmm.... E?