Sanity check: Does this bubble rate to CO2 ppm sound right ?

[karl]

Hi

Just want to get a sanity check on what my readings are telling me.

I've got a 52 gallon tank and I'm running 2 * 2 litre bottles. The mix is 2 cups sugar, 1/2 tsp sparkling wine yeast, 1/4 tsp yeast nutrient, water to 3" from top. I waited for the first bottle to back off (after 5 days went from around 55bpm to 25bpm) before adding the second bottle.

I seem to be getting around 65bpm now on a double length JBL vario reactor. The KH is reading 15 degrees and PH looks like it comes down from 7.6 to 7.1 during the day (I hate these kits where you have to match the colour), which would mean a CO2 level of 35ppm.

Does that sound about the right level to expect from the 2 * 2 litre DIY setup ?

I'm getting a lot of air bubbles coming off the plants. Lighting is 4 * 30W bulbs + reflectors.

I'm wondering whether to put less yeast in next time to slightly reduce the CO2 ppm and get it to last longer ?

Thanks

Karl.

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[valiko]

Just curious,
what is "yeast nutrient"?

The sugar in the mixture is the yeast nutrient.

[karl]

It's a supplement from a home-brew outlet that contains various compounds and salts that apparently gives better conditions for the yeast to do it's thing. I don't know if it makes much difference, but at the rate I'm using it, it'll last ages and was cheap.

Shirlett Yeast Nutrient bought from here:

http://www.art-of-brewing.co.uk/acatalog/intro.html

[jimmydrsv]

Sounds about right. From the people I have heard from, 1 bps using a pressurized system is good enough to bring co2 to 30ppm in a 50-55 gallon tank.

[karl]

Thanks!

Karl.