CO2 problem.

**Tian85** · 16th Nov 2009, 16:16

I am using aqua soil and the water in my area has ph of around 7.6. I have hard time getting the ph down to around 30ppm. My drop checker is always showing dark green colour. Now my CO2 is around 4bps, will like to know any bro using 8-10 bps to push the ph down to get 30ppm.

**Shadow** · 16th Nov 2009, 16:57

how big is your tank? how so you inject your CO2? did you use kH = 4 for your drop checker? what brand of your drop checker (because some included kH = 4)?

**Tian85** · 16th Nov 2009, 19:07

Originally Posted by Shadow

how big is your tank? how so you inject your CO2? did you use kH = 4 for your drop checker? what brand of your drop checker (because some included kH = 4)?

Tank is 3ft and inject using CO2 reactor. Drop checker is dennerle brand with the solution provided.

**Shadow** · 16th Nov 2009, 19:56

for 3ft tank more than 6bps is normal. Even ADA 3ft tank at Niigata also more than 6bps.

i'm not familiar with Dennerle drop checker, I assume you do not need to mix with tank water.

**Tian85** · 16th Nov 2009, 21:25

thanks

. Will up my CO2 to around 7bps and see how it goes.

**jiajuen900** · 18th Nov 2009, 00:26

I am not sure if Dennerle provides Kh 4 in solution, but if it does not go to NA buy the refil bottle for Cal Aqua Labs drop checker it contains kh4 solution.

Also make sure co2 is well diffused.

Sometimes decreasing co2 can mean increase. When you increase co2 by too much reactor less effective in dissovling than with lesser bubbles.
Im not sure about this i read about it on another thread.

**shrimppaste** · 18th Nov 2009, 00:31

Wah 7bps? Won't the fishes be affected? I had 5bps and they start gasping at the surface.

**Shadow** · 18th Nov 2009, 07:43

don't worry his bps and your bps might be different. bps actually does not tell you anything except an avenue to gauge whether you increase or decrease the flow. how you inject it play important role.

**Blue Whale** · 18th Nov 2009, 08:03

I agreed with Shadow, bubble rate is just a guide, each tank differs. The hobbist should know best. I expect myself to at least "see" the tank once a day (Feeding). Observation skill is a must.

Latest observation, muai's red plant becomes botak...sigh...every time I plant the red ones, the fish keeps makan (eat) them. Time to go source for new ones again.

**jiajuen900** · 18th Nov 2009, 10:14

Do you have SAEs in that tank? Mine used to munch one those even diffrent kind also makan

**Tian85** · 18th Nov 2009, 14:18

up the bps to around 5 or 6 and the drop checker have turn a bit lighter green. will observer and adjust accordingly.

**Blue Whale** · 19th Nov 2009, 07:52

Originally Posted by jiajuen900

Do you have SAEs in that tank? Mine used to munch one those even diffrent kind also makan

SAEs...I'd say you must go through that learning phase before you realised, full grown SAEs are much harder to manage. SAEs may eat off most of fish food. E.g. imagine you have 4 cleaners, damn efficient in working. Each time someone throws the tissue, the sweeper comes along and clean it. So here is the thing, if there ain't enough food to go around, what happen to the rest of the fish types? I'd say they will much off your plants. SAEs do munch off algae but if you have say micro pellets and brime shrimps flakes or algae flakes, they prefer these towards live algae. They can be quite lazy on live algae at times, and you cannot dock their salary...ha ha