Something wrong with my CO2

[eric_thian]

Just check with my sera CO2 test kit, it happen to show blue liquid (insuffient CO2) instead of dark green liquid (good CO2 level). I inject 3bps, seen cannot reach to the right level. Is there something wrong with my CO2 tank or my test kit got problem.

[NaRcOsIs]

----------------
On 7/3/2003 10:59:35 PM

Just check with my sera CO2 test kit, it happen to show blue liquid (insuffient CO2) instead of dark green liquid (good CO2 level). I inject 3bps, seen cannot reach to the right level. Is there something wrong with my CO2 tank or my test kit got problem.
----------------

why not describe your method of injecting CO2 into the water column?

[PeterGwee]

Did you follow the instruction stated on the test kit? Basically, this type of kit takes time....its slow reacting that is. If you have money to buy this type of kit, why not save up a bit more and get a pH test pen? Its definitely worth the money than this kit which doesn't tell you exactly how much CO2 you have.

[eric_thian]

I just bought PH Pen this afternoon. Tested and it show PH level 6.5. KH level is 5[]

[David]

Hi Eric

3bps does not mean anything as it is relative to tank size, diffusing method, and KH level.

What is your current KH and PH level at the moment? and how are you diffusing your CO2...internal reactor or diffuser? Have you tried increasing your bps count?

Take for instance I have a 4ft tank that is having 5 bps

[theodore]

You should have sufficient CO2 in your tank (40+ppm), assuming that you have calibrated your pH pen and the readings are accurate.

[PeterGwee]

Eric, have you calibrated your pH test pen? What type of substrate are you using? Add any pH lowering stuff before?

[eric_thian]

I have tested with tap water PH is 8. I just bought the PH pen this afternoon, forgot to buy the solution for calibration. Any brand will do?

Beginners Info Sheet
--------------------

Tank Dimensions (LxWxH): 895mm x 460mm 460mm
Tank Volume (litres or gallons): 189.4L
Lighting Intensity(No of Watts) : 182W
Type of Lighting (FL/PL/MH) : PL Light
No. of Hours your light is on : 8 hours
CO2 Injection Rate (bps) : 3 bps for 8 hours same timing as PL light
Type of CO2 (DIY/Liquid/Tank) : Tank
Method of Injection (e.g. Diffusor/Reactor): Wann Hae Multi Derection CO2 Diffue Reactor
Substrate Used : Hexa Root Grow
How Thick is your base fert : about 10-15mm think
How thick is your gravel : 60mm Think
Liquid Fertilizers Used : JBL Ferropol
Frequency of fertilization : Last used on 7 June 2003
Tank Temperature : 27-28D
Type of Filter (overhead/internal/canister) : Eheim canister
Filter media used :
How long has your tank been set up : 6 June 2003
Other equipment : Cooler Fan, UV Sterilizer

Chemical Properties (Fill what you can)
---------------------------------------
Carbonate Hardness (KH): 5
Total Hardness (gH):
pH : 6.5
NH4 (ppm):
NO2 (ppm): <0.3 mg/l
NO3 (ppm):
PO4 (ppm):
Fe (ppm):

Bioload (Your Fish and Plants)
Fish:
1) 8-12 oto
2) 3 Ram
3) 1 golden Tetra
4) 8 unknown fish
5) 10 glass shrimp
6) 20 yamato
7) 10 pencilfish
1 mini puffer

Plants:
1) About 2 feet ricca,
2) 15 to 20 stalk of different species of Bacopa
3) 6 to 10 stalk of lysimachia nummularia ‘aurea’
4) 1 aponogeton
5) 2 cryptocoryne
6) 1 echinodorus amazonicus or echinodorus horemanii (both look alike)
7) about 8 stalk of hygrophila difformis
1 nymphaea species ‘red’, mayaca fluviatilis
9) lilaeopsis novaezelandiae
10)ludwigia palustris
------------------------------

<State what fishes and plants you have to the best of your ability>
Ram eat snail


Describe your problem:
Grow Thread algae rapidly on my ricca and some green algae also. Snail appear in my aquarium. Hope that ram can help. Is pencil fish, yamato & glass shrimp help to eat thread algae & green algae. Does glass shrimp eat up dead fish also? If yes, I might want to buy 100 glass shrimp in my 2 feet tank. There are many types of pencil fish, which are the one can eat thread algae.

[eric_thian]

I used to add PH minus last week

[PeterGwee]

You probably have very high level of phosphate from the pH minus stuff in your tank which has skewed your KH reading. Consider doing 50% large water changes every 3 days to lower the phosphate level so that it does not interfere with the KH reading causing inaccurate reading.

You can also do an estimate for your current CO2 level. Take a sample of your tank water and aerate it with an airpump...After 15-30 minutes later, take reading of the pH and KH..How much is the CO2 level then? It should probably be high...take the CO2 reading and minus by 3ppm. That is the error margin. Eg. Aerate tank water sample reads 8ppm of CO2...ambient CO2 assume is 3ppm...that means you have an error of 5ppm. Inject CO2 to your tank..if your CO2 reads 15ppm after a couple of hours after injection, then the estimated CO2 is 10ppm only.

[ah tong]

Hi bro's wanna ask where you guys buy your pH pen?
How much roughly?

Thanks!!

[eric_thian]

I bought it at Nature Aquarium opposite Thomson Medical. Near Balestier Road. Sell at $62