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Thread: is my co2 level too high? how to read ph kh chart?

  1. #1
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    is my co2 level too high? how to read ph kh chart?

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    was wondering if my tank's co2 level is too off or something...according to the readings i got from my test kits, ph is 5.5-6.0 can't really differentiate between the 2 shades...and kh is about 4.0....i'm running on diy co2 and my tank is a 2 ft tank...lights are 60 watts at 9-10 hours a day....i have noticed bba growing on my xmas moss,been sometime already,shrimp sae and ottos can't seem to keep it under control...i have stop adding liquid fert for sometime cos of the algae...any tips on what i should do? am i doing things all wrong?
    would really appreciate any help at all....

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    is my co2 level too high? how to read ph kh chart?

    was wondering if my tank's co2 level is too off or something...according to the readings i got from my test kits, ph is 5.5-6.0 can't really differentiate between the 2 shades...and kh is about 4.0....i'm running on diy co2 and my tank is a 2 ft tank...lights are 60 watts at 9-10 hours a day....i have noticed bba growing on my xmas moss,been sometime already,shrimp sae and ottos can't seem to keep it under control...i have stop adding liquid fert for sometime cos of the algae...any tips on what i should do? am i doing things all wrong?
    would really appreciate any help at all....

  3. #3
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    is my co2 level too high? how to read ph kh chart?

    was wondering if my tank's co2 level is too off or something...according to the readings i got from my test kits, ph is 5.5-6.0 can't really differentiate between the 2 shades...and kh is about 4.0....i'm running on diy co2 and my tank is a 2 ft tank...lights are 60 watts at 9-10 hours a day....i have noticed bba growing on my xmas moss,been sometime already,shrimp sae and ottos can't seem to keep it under control...i have stop adding liquid fert for sometime cos of the algae...any tips on what i should do? am i doing things all wrong?
    would really appreciate any help at all....

  4. #4
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    is my co2 level too high? how to read ph kh chart?

    was wondering if my tank's co2 level is too off or something...according to the readings i got from my test kits, ph is 5.5-6.0 can't really differentiate between the 2 shades...and kh is about 4.0....i'm running on diy co2 and my tank is a 2 ft tank...lights are 60 watts at 9-10 hours a day....i have noticed bba growing on my xmas moss,been sometime already,shrimp sae and ottos can't seem to keep it under control...i have stop adding liquid fert for sometime cos of the algae...any tips on what i should do? am i doing things all wrong?
    would really appreciate any help at all....

  5. #5
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    you can use Chuck Gadd's Calculator

    from your figures,
    ph=5.5, c02=379ppm
    ph=6.0, c02=120ppm

    don't think you can get these figures with diy co2.
    maybe you can test the water again to confirm.
    thomas liew

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    Hi,

    Quote from the article:

    "You can not alter the KH levels other than by adding or removing carbonate. You can not alter the CO2 levels other than by adding or removing CO2."

    Are we saying that in Kubruch's case, the pH-kH-CO2 relationship does not hold? Anyone can enlighten?


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    True pH-KH-CO2 always hold. It is usually the testing deviation that gives you weird values. For example, presence of buffers other than carbonates will cause your KH reading to be higher than what it should be.

    BC

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    Hi bclee,

    I know I can count on you to enlighten me on this one:

    If there are no other buffers except carbonates, if the pH-kH-CO2 relationship holds, does it mean that by adding sodium bicarbonate,I can do away with CO2 injection? Of course, pH will increase in this case but if I manage to control pH at between 6.5-7.5 using other methods, CO2 injection becomes redundant?

    A bit confused here. Anyone comments?

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    By adding carbonates, you are raising the pH(increasing OH-) and KH(increasing HCO3-).

    CO3-- + H20 <---> HCO3- + OH-

    If you add CO2, KH remain almost constant while reducing pH(increasing H+).

    CO2 + H20 <---> H+ + HCO3-

    The other way to reduce pH is by adding acid. This will reduce both pH(increasing H+) and KH (losing HCO3-).

    H+ + HCO3- <---> H20 + CO2

    Hope this help.

    BC

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    To put it simply, the only way to reduce pH without reducing KH is by adding CO2. CO2 concentration will rise.

    Any other way of reducing pH, you will reduce both pH and KH. And the resultant CO2 concentration will be still the same.

    BC

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    Are we saying that CO2 injection is redundant as long as we introduce the right amount of sodium bicarbonate (for the desired kH)and the right dosage of acid to control the pH?

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    No. If you add acid, you will reduce KH also. Therefore, still same CO2.

    BC

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    OIC, now I understand. Thanks for chemistry session bclee!

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    thanx for the help guys,did a re-test...ph is 7 and kh is 4...guess i'm in the green zone... []

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    ----------------
    On 10/21/2002 6:02:33 PM

    you can use Chuck Gadd's Calculator

    from your figures,
    ph=5.5, c02=379ppm
    ph=6.0, c02=120ppm

    don't think you can get these figures with diy co2.
    maybe you can test the water again to confirm.
    ----------------
    Sorry... just one basic question... what's "ppm"?

  16. #16
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    Parts per million. Equivalent to mg/l (milligrams per litre).
    Vincent - AQ is for everyone, but not for 'u' and 'mi'.
    Why use punctuation? See what a difference it makes:
    A woman, without her man, is nothing.
    A woman: without her, man is nothing.

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    ahhh.. thank. For a moment, I thought it was "pop per minutes" Got me confused as I thought CO2 bubbles were measure by "bubbles per second"

    So, if my kh is 4 and my ph is 7, I can safely take it that my CO2 level is 12ppm., which is ok then?

  18. #18
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    A bit on the low side...try to get it to the 15-20 ppm range. []
    Plant Physiology by Taiz and Zeiger

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    Maniac like me go for 30~35ppm.

    BC

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    ----------------
    On 10/28/2002 4:27:09 PM

    A bit on the low side...try to get it to the 15-20 ppm range. []
    ----------------
    okee, see what I can do

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