co2 levels and algae?

below is a link to a previous thread regarding your question. If you go to post #23 in that thread, it describes the way I determine co2 levels based on the ph drop. Not original to me, but something that I read elsewhere that made sense to me. Hope it helps. In addition, all of the info in that thread is pretty much on point re: your question.

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/equipment/49118-co2-questions-2.html

Keep Smilin'
John

THANKS, I appreciate your reply. I think the algae might be from the ferts I put in the other week I forgot I put in. I cleaned the glass tonight and did a water change. Hopefully that will help until I read up on it! THanks!

I read it. Now I have a question. My co2 shuts off with my lights. Should I just set the rate for when it comes on, then check it before the lights go off about 8 hours later? I understand that does fall into the 6-24hrs, but was just wondering how much of a difference waiting a few more hours would make. I have one more day before classes start, so I will begin these steps tomorrow!

OOPS! my bad, the fact that you are using a controller changes everything. It turns the co2 on and off as needed based on what the ph is (what you set it for) ... In reality, all I should have said is that a ph drop of 0.5 indicates approx 15 ppm co2, while a drop of 1.0 indicates approx 30 ppm co2. So, if you measure the ph before lights on and again before lights off, the difference should tell you ppm co2.

Sorry, I should read more closely.

Keep Smilin'
John

Hey, no problem! I thought a controller was suppose to make the whole co2 injection easier somehow! I had it set for about 2bpm and it only dropped my ph from 6.0 to 5.7. I just turned it up to about 3bpm, maybe more, so I will see what that gives me at the end of the day.