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Hey people,

I was adding just a smidget of baking soda to increase my kH up to about 4.5 degrees from 3.4 degrees (normal tap kH). With co2, this was giving me a pH of 7.2. Today I read the pH and I was at 7.0. I checked the kH and I've gotten back down to my regular tap level.

Upon inputing these into the co2 calculator on the page below, with a kH of 3.36 (60ppm) and 7.0 pH, I was pleasantly surprised to get a calculated co2 of 10.08. Should i just leave the kH where it is at? I've been striving for at least 10ppm with my DIY. It was only 8.48ppm when I had a kH of 4.48 (80ppm) and a pH of 7.2.

Hi,
If your tap water is 3.4, I don't think I'd fiddle with it.
A KH of 3 is the least I would want my KH to read with CO2
injection, but I see no sense in continuiously testing and
adding baking soda to try and maintain a 4.0. Instead, try
to nudge your injection rate another bubble or two and bring
the pH down to say, 6.8. That would give you a saturation
around 15mg/l which would be fine.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Nudge it down with DIY?

Oh my, what I haven't done to get it to 10ppm . I was so frustrated this past week, I was ready to go buy a co2 cylinder. I can't get consistency, even with the same @$&amp;# recipe. ]:|

It's flowing good right now, but we'll see how long that lasts

Thanks for the comment Frank. I think i'm pretty confident with where it is at so I may stick with it. I haven't tied anything to my filter outflow. I was being threatened with power failure and wasn't home. That's a real dilemna with co2 going in, having a dark basement and a still tank. I may add a third battery operated airstone for such potential events. That is one thing I like about regulated co2. Set the pH and when it gets there it stops. If power should go out, you don't have to sweat co2 continuing to poor into the tank while their is so little movement. With just two airstones running it would probably drop to 6.3 or something.


Last edited by Cory_Di at 30-Mar-2005 15:55

Di,

I agree with Frank. If your KH is 3.5 coming out of the tap, I wouldn't touch it. The less you have to add or think about in the tank the better. The time will come when you don't have time or forget to add the baking soda and the pH will swing. Doing nothing is more stable.

With a KH of 3.5, even with high levels of Co2 up to 30 ppm your pH shouldn't drop below 6.6. More then likely you will be hitting about 6.7 - 6.8. This a very good pH level. Will keep fish and plants happy.

If it ain't broke don't fix it !


Last edited by bensaf at 30-Mar-2005 21:25

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Hey Bensaf,
i just checked my water out of the tap and it tested KH 5, this should be fine once i get my co2 up and going i wont have to adjust it while i as long as my ph is around 6.8 right
cheers axl

Eureka,

My own KH is 5 and I keep pH to 6.8-6.7 which is about 25ppm of Co2. So I'd say yes sounds good

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

With DIY, kH at 3.36, pH is at 7.0. Using the calculator on Chuck's page, the co2 level is 10.08. I'm happy with that.

For the plants that I have, I would hope it would be sufficient.

Anubias Nana v. Petit
Java Fern
Java Moss
Red Spot Ozelot Sword
Sagittaria Subulata (Narrow-leaf Dwarf)
Crypt Willisii
Cabomba (small amount, but doing reasonably well over 4 weeks now)

The light is a 20w Flora-Glo over just 12 inches of water. Actually, with gravel in there, it is more like 9-10 inches. I know it looks very bright in there.