Confused about my params & CO2

[Mumford]

So these are my current measurements:

pH: 7.4
KH: 7.8

And according to "the chart" it looks like my CO2 is around 9ppm right now. Am I right about that?

2nd so now that I've got CO2 coming in and need to get that set up is it looking like I'll need a smaller dose to bring that 9ppm up to around 30ppm?

Also do I need a GH booster at those levels?

Any and all help is most appreciated

[Darkblade48]

You cannot estimate CO2 accurately using the pH/kH/CO2 relationship as there are other factors in aquarium water that will affect kH.

The best way to estimate CO2 concentration in your aquarium is to use a drop checker with 4 dkH reference solution.

Also, it is hard to say whether or not you need gH booster without knowing your gH.

[Mumford]

I've been reading up on how inaccurate those drop checkers can be from people like plantbrain?

GH is around 200ppm


- Mumford

[danielt]

Originally Posted by Mumford

Also do I need a GH booster at those levels?

gH has nothing to do with pH or kH. They're not linked in any way unless Calcium Carbonate is in use. Although using CaCO3 as a hardness reference is wrong IMO.

At 11 dgH (dgH = german degrees) you don't need gH boosting unless you want to keep hardwater fish like most african cichlids.

The chart is not accurate. The CO2 drop-checker test is as accurate as you can get but you must take into account a delay of about 30 minutes of what the test indicates. When you read it, it will show the CO2 concentration you had in your tank approximately half an hour ago.

[Mumford]

Originally Posted by danielt

gH has nothing to do with pH or kH. They're not linked in any way unless Calcium Carbonate is in use. Although using CaCO3 as a hardness reference is wrong IMO.

At 11 dgH (dgH = german degrees) you don't need gH boosting unless you want to keep hardwater fish like most african cichlids.

The chart is not accurate. The CO2 drop-checker test is as accurate as you can get but you must take into account a delay of about 30 minutes of what the test indicates. When you read it, it will show the CO2 concentration you had in your tank approximately half an hour ago.

Thanks for the info.

It's crazy the amount of knowledge you guys have


- Mumford

[mrkookm]

Originally Posted by Mumford

I've been reading up on how inaccurate those drop checkers can be from people like plantbrain?

GH is around 200ppm


- Mumford

It's not inaccurate per say, it's just not normally not used correctly or properly maintained. At your experience level it would be best to use one than not.

If you decide on using one then mount it low and in a section of the tank that is not it direct path of the flow from the co2 input source and return flow. Also as important is changing the drop checker solution every 2weeks regardless if you think the solution is good. Do the above and you will have a pretty accurate idea of co2 concentration in the water.

To give you am idea my Co2 rate in my 30gal with a canister filter: Co2 turns on at 5am with lights 4 x 39watt on at 7am. The inner diameter of my Co2 diameter is 3/32 and my rate is 60bps.

Hope this helps..




from my iP 5 via Tapa.

[Mumford]

Originally Posted by mrkookm

It's not inaccurate per say, it's just not normally not used correctly or properly maintained. At your experience level it would be best to use one than not.

If you decide on using one then mount it low and in a section of the tank that is not it direct path of the flow from the co2 input source and return flow. Also as important is changing the drop checker solution every 2weeks regardless if you think the solution is good. Do the above and you will have a pretty accurate idea of co2 concentration in the water.

To give you am idea my Co2 rate in my 30gal with a canister filter: Co2 turns on at 5am with lights 4 x 39watt on at 7am. The inner diameter of my Co2 diameter is 3/32 and my rate is 60bps.

Hope this helps..




from my iP 5 via Tapa.

Thanks man, most helpful!

Regulator arrived today and tank/diffuser in the next couple so trying to set this up with the info from this thread makes thing such easier


- Mumford