Measuring CO2

NewObsession

NewObsession

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Aug 27, 2007
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This is probably secong nature you most plant people, but how does one measure CO2 concentration? I know I have read that ideally you want 30ppm, but how do you figure that out?
Also, what is a bubble counter? is is a device that counts? or simply a matter of being able to count how many bubbles you are getting mer min..and what size exactly constitutes a "bubble"?
sorry if they seem like silly questions.
 
look here for starters

then consider that hardness is not all attributable to carbonate and get a drop checker (search that term - many threads etc).
 
searched threads, and there are many references to drop checkers, and suggestions to get drop checkers, and people needing drop checkers, but have yet to come across anything that explains my most basic question of...what IS a drop checker. I now realize it apparently measures CO2, but what is it and how does it work?
 
This is a drop checker

A drop checker measures co2 concentration. CO2 forms an equilibrium between your tank and the liquid(containing indicator solution) inside your drop checker. You are able to leave the drop checker in your tank for weeks to months at a time, so that you have a constant indicator of what co2 level you are at. Generally, blue means too low, green means good, yellow means to high.

You can purchase one off ebay for about $16 shipped.

Bubble counters allow you to see the rate at which you are introducing co2 into your tank. It's just something you can work with. You can see the bubbles, so you can count how fast(or slow) they are coming. With a pressurized co2 system, you can use a bubble counter to help you better control your flow rate(meaning, it lets you know how much you are increaseing it or decreasing it based on what you are doing with your needle valve).

It can work for DIY co2 as well, letting you know if you need to add another bottle, more sugar, more yeast, whatever. Some bubble counters, in the case of the hagen ladder, help you diffuse the co2 as well. The bubble ladder/counter forces the co2 bubbles to move to the surface slower, allowing more diffusion time. Other bubble counters simply just let you see the bubbles.
 
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Drop checkers are easy to make. I found a diy plan on barrreport.com. It consists of a babay food jar, funnel, and sucktion cup. Reference solution you take distiiled or rodi water,you take 6 grams of baking soda mix into 1 liter di\distilled water then take 10ml of this water and add it to 490 ml of di\distilled water to get a 4 dk solution then add ph tst solution to get a blue color and submerge in tank. VaughnH from barrreport.com has a better tutorial this is just the shrinked form of it.
 
tinkerman said:
Drop checkers are easy to make. I found a diy plan on barrreport.com. It consists of a babay food jar, funnel, and sucktion cup. Reference solution you take distiiled or rodi water,you take 6 grams of baking soda mix into 1 liter di\distilled water then take 10ml of this water and add it to 490 ml of di\distilled water to get a 4 dk solution then add ph tst solution to get a blue color and submerge in tank. VaughnH from barrreport.com has a better tutorial this is just the shrinked form of it.
Click to expand...


Yeah, making one can be easy, but if you have to buy a jar of baby food, a funnel, suction cup, hot glue gun, distilled water, etc.... you might as well buy one off ebay. $16 shipped with no labor. Comes with the pH test solution.

This still requires a kH of 4(you just use tank water in the drop checker), but if you are dosing co2 with less than a kH of 4, you are just begging for a pH crash and bunch of dead fish.
 
KH being the hardness correct? I don't know where 4 is on the scale, but I do know I have very hard water so I shouldn't have a problem until I get a chance to start measuring parameters
 
4dKH water is something you make, for the inside of the drop checker - has no direct contact w/ tank. It's a very dilute NaBicarbonate solution. It's pH & buffering capacity are important - they allow the indicator dye to change colors at the right CO2 conc.
 
NewObsession said:
KH being the hardness correct? I don't know where 4 is on the scale, but I do know I have very hard water so I shouldn't have a problem until I get a chance to start measuring parameters
Click to expand...

Squawkbert said:
4dKH water is something you make, for the inside of the drop checker - has no direct contact w/ tank. It's a very dilute NaBicarbonate solution. It's pH & buffering capacity are important - they allow the indicator dye to change colors at the right CO2 conc.
Click to expand...


Yes, kH refers to hardnesss, specifically carbonate(or temporary)hardness. It is possible that your tap water has a kH of 4 or higher(referred to as, you guessed it, "hard water"), in which case you do not have to prepare a solution. As I mentioned, if you have a kH below 4, you probably shouldn't be dosing co2 anyway. Additionally, you can add sodium bicarbonate(baking soda) to your tank to raise the kH. Poor man's kH booster, I believe it is referred to. kH is a number that describes the buffering capacity of your water. Since co2 is acidic, in order to keep a stable tank(i.e., not experience a pH crash), your tank water needs to have a buffering capcity of 4 on the kH scale.
 
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