co2 tank

[cravy]

How many bubbles rates do I need for my 60cm x 30cm x 45cm tank? Given the bubble rates, I long can a 3.2 litres co2 tank last(before refilling) if it is on for 24hrs? What about 2 litres co2 tank...how long will it last (24hrs operate)?

[bclee]

Bubbling rates very greatly from tank to tank. Diffusion method, surface agitation, tank temperature and a number of other factors affect the bubbling rate.

Measure the pH & KH to determine the correct level of CO2. Use charts or converter like this. Go for 20-30ppm of CO2. For easy reference, I usually recommend beginners to raise KH (using baking soda) to 3°KH, and increase the CO2 bubbling just enough to drop the pH to 6.5.

As for how long each re-fill will last... a very rough estimate... 3 months. It varies.

Go to the FAQ section, I believe you can find some useful information there.

BC

[cravy]

will my fishes be posioned by the overdose of co2 when my light is off ?

[bclee]

I have inject CO2 for 24hrs in the past. No problem.

But you have to be careful to increase your CO2 little by little. The time when you expect to have highest CO2 level is in the morning before your lights come on. So do a pH and KH measure at that time to ensure that the CO2 is not more than 30ppm.

Remember be patient. Increase the CO2 a little at a time.

BC

[theodore]

----------------
On 9/6/2003 10:30:53 PM

will my fishes be posioned by the overdose of co2 when my light is off ?
----------------

Unlikely if you spend some time fine-tuning your CO2 output. I'm running pressurised CO2 24hrs a day and the level fluctuates between 10+ to 30+ ppm throughout the day.

[eric_kclee]

----------------
On 9/6/2003 10:22:55 PM

Measure the pH & KH to determine the correct level of CO2. Use charts or converter like this. Go for 20-30ppm of CO2. For easy reference, I usually recommend beginners to raise KH (using baking soda) to 3°KH, and increase the CO2 bubbling just enough to drop the pH to 6.5.
BC
----------------

Heard many have commented that after doig KH adjust, PH-KH relationship no more relevant, cannot use the chart anymore.
True or not???

[theodore]

I think dosing KH up/down is still ok (most of them, like the one Nature is selling, are just some form of carbonates anyway).

The problem is with pH up/down solutions and other products like peat. pH-KH-CO2 chart is only accurate if CO2 is the only thing that is used to adjust pH.

[cravy]

How much is the KH tester ?

[CT]

If I am not wrong a Sera kH testkit cost ard $9/-

[bclee]

----------------
On 9/7/2003 12:03:47 AM


Heard many have commented that after doig KH adjust, PH-KH relationship no more relevant, cannot use the chart anymore.
True or not???



----------------

It is true if you and non-carbonate buffers.

If you have non-carbonate buffers, the error of the CO2 reading tends to be on the higher side. That means the amount of CO2 by calculation is higher than what you have actually... which is ok. So targeting at 30ppm is relatively safe.

BC