Raising pH Mechanically

[jasonG75]

fill a cup with water, Test that water to find its pH. How do I know how many drops to add?

Give us all the results. Will do

very light green as in almost yellow? If yes, you have too much co2 which could possibly be your problem. My Co2 drop checker is what I was refering to as far as light green quote from pg 1 " have a monitor but it has never changed colors really, however I noticed it has gone from dark green to a very light green"

Now as far as my API test goes, yes for sure yellow.

 

[dundadundun]

you don't test the whole cup... you take some water from the cup and test in your graduated cylinder according to the testing directions just like you'd do for your tank.

dark green... is closer to blue... lack of co2
light green... is closer to yellow... extra co2
that's just how a drop checker works.

 

[tharsis]

Another thing I just thought about, do you remove your CO2 input or oxygenate the water at night ?

Also at what time have you been testing your water? Morning when you turn your lights on or afternoon/evening after they have been on for awhile?

 

[jasonG75]

1.Another thing I just thought about, do you remove your CO2 input or oxygenate the water at night ?

2.Also at what time have you been testing your water? Morning when you turn your lights on or afternoon/evening after they have been on for awhile?

1. no.

2. In the morning when I turn on the lights.

 

[jasonG75]

this is my drop checker

 

[tharsis]

1. no.

2. In the morning when I turn on the lights.

This may be your problem then.

Keep in mind that plants don't consume CO2 at night, and fish consume oxygen constantly. So your ppm CO2 levels are spiking at night and driving your pH down.

Once you turn on the lights in the morning the photosynthesis begins after an hour or so and starts to consume the CO2. I would suspect that your pH values in the morning will be different from the pH values in the evening just before lights out.

If this is the case, I would suggest either stopping CO2 injection in the evening or adding surface agitation/air bubbler to increase the oxygenation. Are your fish near the surface of the tank in the mornings..if they are it means you are close to gassing them.

 

[jasonG75]

This may be your problem then.

1.Keep in mind that plants don't consume CO2 at night

2.Once you turn on the lights in the morning the photosynthesis begins after an hour or so and starts to consume the CO2. I would suspect that your pH values in the morning will be different from the pH values in the evening just before lights out.

3.Are your fish near the surface of the tank in the mornings..if they are it means you are close to gassing them.

1. Agreed they release oxygen.
2. That sounds logical, I will test when I get home, ALL the lights have been on all day. 130W
3. Not at all, I always check for that.

Now with this being DYI Co2, could I "pinch" the tubing or will that possible allow my mixture to explode lol. Or should I just yank it out at night?

 

[tharsis]

Plants don't release oxygen at night, they actually consume it. Plants generally consume O2 all the time but during photosynthesis they release more than they consume. Therefore at night, they don't produce any because there is no photosynthesis.

No don't pinch the tube, the pressure will build up very quickly. I would just pull it out.

 

[jasonG75]

No don't pinch the tube, the pressure will build up very quickly. I would just pull it out.

DANGIT... my hands stay more in my tank than in my pants. mg: LOL



ok so I guess I will just place the diffuser in a large cup (with water) beside the tank? Does that sound OK?

 

[tharsis]

lol. I just have a checkvalve out side of the tank that I unhook 30 minutes before light outs.
but placing it in a cup overnight will do the job as well.