C02 bbs

[Vento95]

Just a question for all - is 1 bubble a sec (in bubble counter) equivalent to 30ppm in a 3ft tank?

I don't have a C02 test kit yet so just asking bros who can tell me the answer

Thanks

[lorba]

its not measured that way.

Either get a ADA Drop checker, pH meter or use the test kits to determine it.

[|squee|]

Never measure CO2 that way. Why? 1 bubble per second in a 2ft tank and a 3ft tank is completely different, since both tanks are different in volume. The efficiency of the CO2 dissolution equipment also comes in, as well as surface agitation.

To measure CO2 content, make sure that there's nothing in your tank that will affect kH and pH ( like ADA Aquasoil, coral chips in the filter, blah blah ), measure the pH and kH using test kits, and go to here to calculate your CO2 content in the water.

Also read up here, it gives good explanantions and a easier to read CO2 chart.

[Vento95]

Bro,

Thanks for the guides. Read through it but really felt like .

The articles are clear and well written. However, I only have a ph test kit. I do not have a Kh or co2 test kit.

What I am doing now is using the count 1 bbs per second and measuring the ph. My plants are bubbling so I guess I got something right .

I know it is not really accurate. I have read somewhere (can't recall the forum or web article or experience aquarist comment) almost a year ago which stated that x bbs in a bubble counter = x ppm of c02. I want to increase the 1 bbs to 2 bbs or 3 bbs but dare not cos I don't know if I will overshoot the co2 level. I have a 3ft tank.

Some LFS said that up to 5 bbs is ok as long as it is all dissolved.

[taz_boy]

Bro,

Thanks for the guides. Read through it but really felt like .

The articles are clear and well written. However, I only have a ph test kit. I do not have a Kh or co2 test kit.

What I am doing now is using the count 1 bbs per second and measuring the ph. My plants are bubbling so I guess I got something right .

I know it is not really accurate. I have read somewhere (can't recall the forum or web article or experience aquarist comment) almost a year ago which stated that x bbs in a bubble counter = x ppm of c02. I want to increase the 1 bbs to 2 bbs or 3 bbs but dare not cos I don't know if I will overshoot the co2 level. I have a 3ft tank.

Some LFS said that up to 5 bbs is ok as long as it is all dissolved.

i think the LFS tok cock only la....lol
plants bubbling is good......that shows u got sufficient co2,
the best is still to get a KH test kit, and using kh-ph chart, check ur co2 level....
kh test kit quite cheap, $10 can get a decent 1.....

[barmby]

Taz_boy is correct. pH vs kH chart. That is all you need.

CO2 is everything

[lorba]

something like this could be useful.

[PeterGwee]

30ppm is the optimal CO2 level based off aquatic research done by Bowes. Use the pH/KH chart as a guide but you are not bound to it if plant growth (pearling) is sub-standard provided the nutrients and light are well addressed beforehand.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[|squee|]

Hi Peter,

Sorry it's off-topic but if 30ppm of CO2 is the optimum, then what is 40/50/60 ppm of CO2? Can 30ppm of CO2 be said as the "minimum optimum" level for tanks using CO2 injection?

[PeterGwee]

That is if your measurements are accurate...not always the case. Most normal KH test kits are not accurate enough nor is a pH kit/probe either. Other influences do add in more errors..example like humics, peat and stray currents (pH probes). Adding more CO2 incremently solves the issue but must be done very slowly and carefully (critters set the high limit for CO2..not the plants).

Terence, work on the stability issue first before embarking on the incremental method. You would need to try to hit 25-35ppm of CO2 through the entire photoperiod and not a very wide range like 20-50ppm which will be an issue if you use the incremental method. You might not be able to hit higher levels which will solve your algae issues due to the fact the higher side of the CO2 during the day might get too high.

Eg.
CO2 readings with errors during the day
20ppm at the start of the day
50ppm towards the end of the day

Actual readings without errors
10ppm at the start of the day
40ppm towards the end of the day

If you do the incremental method, guess where the high levels would hit? The critters will gasp and you will not be able to go further while you still have the algae issue due to CO2.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[Vento95]

Thanks for the chart. Just a question on the chart - do the values of kh and ph always correspond i.e. a kh of 3.0 and a kh of 7.0 will always get 8.7 on the chart?

sorry if the question is confusing cos when I looked at the chart, I thought that the intersection of values = ppm but upon studying the chart in detail, I realize that the chart refers to C02 per miligram/litre.

[Vento95]

Hi Taz,

ya, I thought so too when I heard the LFS telling me about it. What I will do is get a test kit this weekend

[|squee|]

vento, ppm = mg/l

[Vento95]

Thanks squee for the clarification. I did not know that ppm=mg/l.

So to get 30 ppm, I need kh=10 and PH=7.0. Any other values will not get me to 30ppm based upon the table.

[bclee]

Thanks squee for the clarification. I did not know that ppm=mg/l.

So to get 30 ppm, I need kh=10 and PH=7.0. Any other values will not get me to 30ppm based upon the table.

No... for each KH you have a corresponding pH level for the CO2 level...

e.g. KH2/pH 6.3; KH3/pH6.5; KH4/6.6; ...

BC

[Vento95]

But if I read off the chart and assuming that the colors indicate "optimum" then to obtain a 30ppm, I have to have kh=10 and PH=7.0. I know other Kh / PH intersections may get me to 30 ppm but this is not "optimum"

My Ph is about 7.4 - I am using the sera kit. I have 1 bubble per second. I do not know my kh as I do not have test kit yet.

So using the table, it is either by changing my ph or c02 or kh to obtain the "optimum"

I will check this weekend again and see how.

[bclee]

But if I read off the chart and assuming that the colors indicate "optimum" then to obtain a 30ppm, I have to have kh=10 and PH=7.0. I know other Kh / PH intersections may get me to 30 ppm but this is not "optimum"

My Ph is about 7.4 - I am using the sera kit. I have 1 bubble per second. I do not know my kh as I do not have test kit yet.

So using the table, it is either by changing my ph or c02 or kh to obtain the "optimum"

I will check this weekend again and see how.

I don't quite understand the colour coding on that chart too. 20-30ppm of CO2 is optimum irregardless of any KH. Just ignore the colour coding on that chart.

This is how you do it...
Raise the KH to the desired level. Inject CO2 to reduce pH to correspond to the optimal level.

BC