DENNERLE CO2 long-term test kit needed or not?

[PeterGwee]

Just curious to know any of the guys here using the DENNERLE CO2 long-term test kit. Is it good? How long does it last? Is it necessary to still measure the pH and KH after using the kit?

IMO if it is still necessary to measure pH and KH, I think the kit is as good as redundant as it is suppose to simplify things? Don't you guys think so?

Final question, how much do you'll guys actually spend per month on planted tanks? (Eg. fertilizer, test kits and etc.) Cause me find it quite costly leh..[]

[Simon]

test kits last quite a while, I have personally, Nitrate, PH, KH test kits.. as for monthly expenses, very low... prefer to get bigger bottle of fertilizer lasting almost a year or more.. been a few month since i bought anything, except for plants

[PeterGwee]

Thanks simon for your reply...guess it is not too difficult after all..i thought fertilizers don't last that long [] Now can put my mind at ease or should i say my wallet at ease. []

[vinz]

I don't know how much the dennerle CO2 permanent test kit cost, but JBL has a similar kit as well. The JBL one recommends re-setting the kit every 2 weeks or after water change.

Frankly, no point as long as you know your CO2 bubble rate is constant, and you make sure you maintain your KH fairly consistently, your pH should be fluctuating within acceptable ranges.

[bclee]

I use Sera long term CO2 indicator. I find it quite helpful at least to tell me that the CO2 conc is under control. Testing pH and KH is not as fast and not quite suitable for lazy ppl like me.

It depends on individual. I ever wiped out my tank with too high CO2. Now I taking it more carfully. The indicator is good of instant checks. Of course, now that the tank has stabilised, I am checking it less frequently.

BC

[PeterGwee]

Bclee..is it reliable just to use the long term test kit???? Any chances of overdosing CO2 cause me now weighting the pros and cons to decide whether to use it or not. Does the sera long term test kit need to change the test solution? How often should it be done? Cost effective or not?

[hwchoy]

agree with Vinz, as long as your bubble rate is maintained, and lights are good so plants are photosynthesizing, and fishes are not gasping, should be no problem.

[bclee]

It gives a rough gauge. Initially I did 2 or 3 pH/KH tests to corelate to the CO2 indicator colour. It basically gives an indication whether anything has changed. It basically has 3 color ranges: dark bluish green, light green and yellow. As long as it stay light green it is ok.

The kit cost about $18 or 19. I only have to change the solution about once every 2-3 months.

Quite satisfied with it.

BC

[eggz]

I gots the JBL permanent CO2 test kit. I think it was $18 at Nature Aquarium. It's really a PH test, you'll also need the KH test kit to determine CO2 levels.



eggz