dialing in pressurized Co2 in a 29gl

T

thebigshh

Jerk
Mar 22, 2008
45
0
0
Portland, Or
I got my pressurized Co2 started this morning, as I had all day to watch it. My drop checker, filled with DIY 4dk solution ( distilled water and baking soda ) and 6 drops of Ph reagent, was a nice blue color. I put that baby in the tank and fired up the Co2 at about 1 bubble a second. Then the waiting began. I know the drop checker isn't instantaneous, so i waited a good 3 hrs. With no change in the drop checker color i bumped up the bubble rate to 2 bubbles per second. That change made, the drop checker turned a nice green color.I kept it there for awhile (2 hrs) and thought i had it dialed in.

Now for the problem / questions. My Honey Dwarf Gourami started breathing pretty hard and going to the surface frequently for air. The rummy nose were panting like mad, as were the marble hatchets. The dwarf loaches and rasboras seemed fine though. I put an airstone in there and turned down the co2 to 1 bubble per second again. And here I am typing worried I just stressed my tank.

I checked the tank ph, it was at most a 6 (as low as my color chart shows). When I started this morning it was a 7-7.2.

Are my fish reacting to the ph swing?


My water perameters at the start of the day.

Ph = 7.2

Gh = 4

Kh = 2-3
 
its possible your solution is off, If it was me, I'd just see how long it takes for the plants to start pearling in the morning. 3-4 hours in a lightly planted, 2-3 hours in a medium, 1-2 in a heavily planted. Then again, I'm a cheapskate. Or use the PH/KH method, Seems you only have 3.8-5.7 PPM of CO2.

Check ammonia.
 
According to my calculations you are at 90ppm C02
I run about 60 bubbles in 25 seconds for my 29gal. which gets me approx 25ppm C02.
I have stove pipe bubble counter, brass check valve, and use a HOB for diffusion.
Check your 4DKH solution for accuracy.
Also know that when using the PH/KH relationship for checking C02 that Phospahtes will skew KH readings.
It has been reported you can also check C02 levels by measuring PH value,
let the tank sample water sit 24 hours or aerate the heck out of it for 15-20 minutes and check for change. 1 point is 15ppm C02, 2 points is 30ppm C02.
 
Thanks for the advice everyone.

MG, the ph before I started adding co2 was 7 - 7.2 or there abouts sorry if i wasn't clear about that before. I definitely was trying to keep an eye on that the whole time.

As for pearling and what not, my plants have never pearled. I'd enjoy seeing that one day though.

So round two began this morning about ten just before my first light and co2 come on. I noticed the drop checker was still a dark green !!!! What's up with that?

I stopped aerating around midnight last night, it looked like the thing was blue but at lights out i guess i couldn't tell for sure.

So right off I double checked my tank Ph and my DC solution Kh. Tank was at about 6.8 ( My tap is 7.2 ).I think there was still some co2 in there from yesterday. DC solution still had a really slight blue hue at 4 drops at five it was bright yellow I think it is slightly more than 4. I'm still willing to use it I just don't want it to get lime green like it was yesterday. I then did my 50% wc like I do every sunday.And upon closer inspection the DC was definetly green. I'm guessing plant respiration along with no aeration kept the co2 levels high.

The way the DC lags behind bothers me a bit. You never know how much it may be fluctuating or how fast. I'm thinking about a ph controller already I don't want to stress the little guys, I just want pearling, broad leafed, robust plant life, as well as happy fish.

Any tips, Pointers, or suggestions appreciated.
 
well your getting there. i would keep checking it every 30 mins a hour as you turn it up more.

you tap water is:
Ph = 7.2
Kh = 2-3

right? whats your standard tank water? its good to know everything going on before hand. good to know if there is anything effecting the water in the tank.

testing the water night morning mid day and afternoon will give you a better idea. unless you have a ph monitor it will change.
 
I have a rena xp3. I'm using it to diffuse the Co2. I just ran the tubing from the Co2 needle valve right down the intake tube and aranged it so the bubbles are sucked right in there. I really see no bubbles being ejected from the spray bar so I'm guessing I get really good diffusion. Ive seen one bubble every 2-3 seconds go up the tube for about 5 hours now. The DC is blue green / green.

My gourami has started a bit of heavy breathing / surface breathing. Are these guys sensitve to Co2 or the ph swings that come with using it?
 
So now the DC is green. The same bubble rate has been maintained for 6 hrs. The Gourami is really the only fish acting funny and even she is interested when i tap the tank, so I think she's O.K. The Co2 should shut off in about two hours, so I hope the drop checker stops changing color. My tank Ph is between 6.4 and 6.0, right now. I know my tank is usually right about in-line with my tap water parameters. As was the case before i started this whole thing on saturday.

gh = 4 kh = 2-3 ph = 7 - 7.2


Im still a little concerned to leave the Co2 up and running. I'll be working tomorrow until 4 pm or so and won't be around to monitor it.

Should i just wait till next weekend to give it another go? or chance it?
 
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