You are using 4dkh solution? Is it blue before you put it in the tank?
How big is the tank?
How big is the tank?
Drop checker green 24/7
My drop checker is always green, even in the morning when the co2 has been off for approx 16 hours. there is a VERY slight color change.
When exposed directly to air it turns back to blue fairly quickly.
I tried several different indicator solutions and they all do this. Currently using 4dk water from ebay + 3 drops bromo blue from the API test kit.
The drop checker is this: http://www.greenleafaquariums.com/co2-drop-checkers/waterplant-co2-indicator.html
Am I doing something wrong or do CO2 levels in the tank really persist that long?
When exposed directly to air it turns back to blue fairly quickly.
I tried several different indicator solutions and they all do this. Currently using 4dk water from ebay + 3 drops bromo blue from the API test kit.
The drop checker is this: http://www.greenleafaquariums.com/co2-drop-checkers/waterplant-co2-indicator.html
Am I doing something wrong or do CO2 levels in the tank really persist that long?
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
You probably don't have much water surface agitation.
I have had the same issue. Are your fish stressed out by this? If not, it might be a good thing where your tank has a consistent supply of CO2.
However, I feel that my fish are less stressed if I supply some surface agitation. There are 2 strategies that I played with.
1. Point or raise your filter output slightly toward the surface.
2. This is what I have currently. I have a controller that turns on the CO2 an hour before the lights, turns off the CO2 before the lights turn off, and turns on the powerhead at the surface when the lights turn off to degas the CO2 and provide O2.
The option #2 also greatly reduced surface scum as well.
I have had the same issue. Are your fish stressed out by this? If not, it might be a good thing where your tank has a consistent supply of CO2.
However, I feel that my fish are less stressed if I supply some surface agitation. There are 2 strategies that I played with.
1. Point or raise your filter output slightly toward the surface.
2. This is what I have currently. I have a controller that turns on the CO2 an hour before the lights, turns off the CO2 before the lights turn off, and turns on the powerhead at the surface when the lights turn off to degas the CO2 and provide O2.
The option #2 also greatly reduced surface scum as well.
Yes 4dkh. It is very blue before being put in the tank, and very blue if I expose it to air for a bit. Tank is 210 Gallons.You are using 4dkh solution? Is it blue before you put it in the tank?
How big is the tank?
Fish seem great.I have had the same issue. Are your fish stressed out by this? If not, it might be a good thing where your tank has a consistent supply of CO2.
The best thing to confirm your level of CO2 is to test your pH. If here is a big swing in pH and very little or no change in color in the drop tester then there is a problem somewhere.
I personally don't like the drop testers because I really don't think they are very accurate in determining CO2. The color range difference on the solutions are not wide enough to see small changes in your pH.
MHO.
I personally don't like the drop testers because I really don't think they are very accurate in determining CO2. The color range difference on the solutions are not wide enough to see small changes in your pH.
MHO.
So basically my question is: is it actually possible Im just rocking a good co2 level 24/7 with it only on 8 hrs a day. Or should I be looking for a problem? The tank is new so I can't really tell by plant growth, the elodea I put in for nutrient control is growing approx 2 inches/day which seems pretty damn fast, and the parrots feather about 3/4 inch/day
What about running a couple of airstones at night? It agitates the surface nicely, and brings some slight variation to the currents.
Mine was always green in the morning also. You should be able to see a difference in the color (shift toward yellow) at the end of the photoperiod though. It takes a long time to offgas all the CO2 you put in during the day, and the drop checker lags behind a bit it also.
I don't see the need to run an airstone unless you have no surface ripple as your tank water is chock full O' oxygen at the end of the day anyway. The drop checker is mostly there to give you a rough idea how much CO2 you're getting into the water. The best thing to do is get it green, then slowly increase until the fish show slight distress, then back it off a little (Do this over several days/weeks). You won't be able to get a real accurate reading of CO2 unless you have an expensive meter made for this purpose, that few of us have ever even seen.
Running an airstone may give you peace of mind though. It may waste some CO2, but it isn't like the gas costs much. All the expense was in the equipment cost. Many people run them at night when injecting CO2. There was a time that almost every aquarium had an air pump hooked up to it.
I don't see the need to run an airstone unless you have no surface ripple as your tank water is chock full O' oxygen at the end of the day anyway. The drop checker is mostly there to give you a rough idea how much CO2 you're getting into the water. The best thing to do is get it green, then slowly increase until the fish show slight distress, then back it off a little (Do this over several days/weeks). You won't be able to get a real accurate reading of CO2 unless you have an expensive meter made for this purpose, that few of us have ever even seen.
Running an airstone may give you peace of mind though. It may waste some CO2, but it isn't like the gas costs much. All the expense was in the equipment cost. Many people run them at night when injecting CO2. There was a time that almost every aquarium had an air pump hooked up to it.
I'm only concerned in making sure the drop checker is functioning properly. Seems like it is.
Fish stress is a non issue as they are totally OK.
Fish stress is a non issue as they are totally OK.
+1 if you are using 4dkhYou probably don't have much water surface agitation.
I have had the same issue. Are your fish stressed out by this? If not, it might be a good thing where your tank has a consistent supply of CO2.
However, I feel that my fish are less stressed if I supply some surface agitation. There are 2 strategies that I played with.
1. Point or raise your filter output slightly toward the surface.
2. This is what I have currently. I have a controller that turns on the CO2 an hour before the lights, turns off the CO2 before the lights turn off, and turns on the powerhead at the surface when the lights turn off to degas the CO2 and provide O2.
The option #2 also greatly reduced surface scum as well.
I had the same problem after running my tank for 9 months. I changed the DC fluid and now the DC is green in the morning like it used to be. I think it may have been mixed with aquarium water possible. I had a plant root in the DC as well which I cleaned out.
Seems to be working normally again.
Seems to be working normally again.
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
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