More pressurized CO2 questions...

FISHSHROD said:
How do you figure your right bubble count , how do you know if you are injecting enough or not enough ?
Click to expand...

very simple, if i dont have algae and the plants are healthy and growing, it's the right bubble count. If i see algae, i adjust accordingly (usually increasing co2 as i like to start on the conservative side).

It's really not difficult to find a balance in freshwater, just 3 components: light + co2 + nutrients. Light is usually a constant for me around 3wpg, so comes down to adjusting co2 and nutrient (3x macro + micro + iron). Rex has a very handy algae guide to help you pinpoint the imbalance: http://www.rexgrigg.com/Algae1.html

I dont need some color chemical (that looks green, but also blue, or was that yellow?) to tell me how to adjust my co2. Not to mention it's 1 extra piece of artificial item in your tank to look after...

To clarify not saying those who are using it are wrong, if it works for you great, whatever get the tank to work! But for myself, i think it's useless and dont need it.
 
Thanks for the tips to instll the Azoo.

Couldn't I tell if i'm in the ballpark by doing a simple pH test. I know my water KH=3 and pH=7.6, with no CO2 injected. I could even measure KH with a larger sample of water to get a more accurate measurement assuming the test solution was made correctly. Depending on the pH difference pre to post injection, I could then figure out the CO2 levels in the water.

Is there any reason this wouldn't work?

Jim
 
That's fine. People do use that method and there are charts out there to help. It's a lot more work then looking at a color, and open for error due to buffers that may be in your water.
 
angyles said:
That's fine. People do use that method and there are charts out there to help. It's a lot more work then looking at a color, and open for error due to buffers that may be in your water.
Click to expand...

Good point about the buffers. I tested phosphate several years ago and there was none but I will go get a test kit and verify. My pH/KH numbers indicate there is no phosphate but I'll be sure.

Here's a link to a great description:

http://csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_co2chart.htm
 
jimangie1973 said:
Thanks for the tips to instll the Azoo.

Couldn't I tell if i'm in the ballpark by doing a simple pH test. I know my water KH=3 and pH=7.6, with no CO2 injected. I could even measure KH with a larger sample of water to get a more accurate measurement assuming the test solution was made correctly. Depending on the pH difference pre to post injection, I could then figure out the CO2 levels in the water.

Is there any reason this wouldn't work?

Jim
Click to expand...

yes that's what i do.
 
gagaliya said:
very simple, if i dont have algae and the plants are healthy and growing, it's the right bubble count. If i see algae, i adjust accordingly (usually increasing co2 as i like to start on the conservative side).

It's really not difficult to find a balance in freshwater, just 3 components: light + co2 + nutrients. Light is usually a constant for me around 3wpg, so comes down to adjusting co2 and nutrient (3x macro + micro + iron). Rex has a very handy algae guide to help you pinpoint the imbalance: http://www.rexgrigg.com/Algae1.html

I dont need some color chemical (that looks green, but also blue, or was that yellow?) to tell me how to adjust my co2. Not to mention it's 1 extra piece of artificial item in your tank to look after...

To clarify not saying those who are using it are wrong, if it works for you great, whatever get the tank to work! But for myself, i think it's useless and dont need it.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the explanation .:thumbsup:
 
Hey, I've received all the CO2 items and have the cylinder filled. I hooked up the regulator and have check valve and diffuser attached.

I have the Spiro 900 diffuser shown at the bottom of this link:

http://www.greenleafaquariums.com/co2-diffusers.html

The diffuser says it has a built in bubble counter but I'm confused at how it works. How is the diffuser supposed to be positioned, CO2 input on top? If this way, the CO2 fills the diffuser and no bubble count can be seen. This is probably a very stupid question.

Also, I'm seeing 50 psi at my low pressure guage. Does this need adjustment?

Thanks,
Jim
 
left display 30-40 psi (this is the pressure going into your tank).
right display 900-1000 psi for filled tank (this is how much co2 you have left in the tank).

Dont rely on the gauges too much, just use it as an approx.

Use a needle syringe and fill the inside of the spiro with water, hook it up with the white plate facing up. Turn on the regulator, soon you will see tiny co2 bubbles going out. The twist inside where the bubbles go round n round is the built in bubble counter and you can use it to measure how many bubble/sec.

You can hook up the solenoid to a timer such as the coralife one, so when light is off, it turns off the co2 as well to save some co2. I just have it running 24/7 though.

also try to place the spiro at the bottom of the tank, under the filter's output bar, so it will blow the bubbles around for better absorption.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom