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I am reposting these because I dont think anyone noticed them, I am sorry if this annoys anyone I just need the help because I am new to this co2 stuff and am a little ... green under the gills? bad pun sorry... any help would be apreciated.

Ok I added a yeast reactor, it is bubbling and has created a pool of air that is about half way down the bell of the one liter reactor I poked little holes in the neck just below the cap with a hot needle and when the pressure gets to great it bubbles out of them and into the output of my aquaclear 50. I hope this will give the poor plants some air to breathe. I am probably going to get at least two 20w bulbs and some plexi glass and rig them up so I will have almost 60w on the plants. I will still need to add two more wich I may be able to do. Crosing my fingers. Are normal flourecent(sp bad) worthless to the plants? I had found some lamps that came with bulbs but I think they are usless... am I right about that?

Ok, my 29 gallon dropped in ph 1.2 points, so I took the C02 reactor out. and it came up to 7.2 so it did a major yo yo and I lost two fish one new and one old. All other levels are fine so it leads me to belive that it was the PH yoyo that caused it. I was hoping that it would be a bit more stable. How many bubbles per minute should I have, I dont want to loose anymore fish due to the yoyo, or another drastic drop.

Are normal flourecent(sp bad) worthless to the plants?

Nope.

I had found some lamps that came with bulbs but I think they are usless... am I right about that?

A good daylight bulb will help plants to grow by providing the correct spectrum of light.

Ok, my 29 gallon dropped in ph 1.2 points, so I took the C02 reactor out. and it came up to 7.2 so it did a major yo yo and I lost two fish one new and one old. All other levels are fine so it leads me to belive that it was the PH yoyo that caused it. I was hoping that it would be a bit more stable. How many bubbles per minute should I have, I dont want to loose anymore fish due to the yoyo, or another drastic drop.

The pH will drop when you use CO2, this is a good thing. It shows you that you are actually getting good amounts of CO2 into the water. However, pH swings are bad for fish. So don't plug in the CO2 and take it out, plug it in, take it out. It's also bad for the plants. Just plug it in and let it go. The fish can handle the initial drop in CO2, trust me.

With DIY CO2 you have no choice about your bubble count. What you get is what you get. If you set up a pressurized system then you can play with your bubble count.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

whew thanks for the help i will go out and buy the lights with reg flouresent lights and upgrade later reactor is back in, and i slowed it as much as possible.

The plants do seem to have grown alot in the last couple days.

How often should i put the iron/trace element fert. into the tank... i am going to get an iron tester soon but i didnt know if there was a general rule.

Thanks BUNCHES you have puit my mind at ease.

i hope when u say regular lamp...ur not talking about those soft-tone flourescent ones..coz those dont meet the right spectrum that ur plant needs... it should give u a 6700k or so. most household lamps doesnt tell u...or if they do...they r just at 4000k..thats not enuf for the plant.

Wow Mrwizerd,

To sum it up, I think you want too much too fast

Let me dissect your statements:

- “it is bubbling and has created a pool of air that is about half way down the bell” --- with air, I am certain you mean CO2. How many bubbles are added to the bell per second (that is the proper measurement, not minutes)?
- “I am probably going to get at least two 20w … so I will have almost 60w” --- does that mean that right now you have less (or equal) than 20w? That is not even 0.7 wpg (watts per gallon). There is no need/use for CO2 injection at this low light level as the plants need 3 things (besides water) to thrive – nutrients, light, CO2. If one is missing, the plants will not process the other 2.
- “my 29 gallon dropped in ph 1.2 points … out. and it came up to 7.2” --- so it dropped to 6.0. Over what time period did it drop and how long did it take to rise to 7.2 again? Depending on bubble count and time, I would assume that your carbonate hardness (KH) is low. What is your KH?

Awaiting your answers,

Ingo

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