pressurized co2 injection questions

[KC21386]

I will soon be ordering this for my heavily planted 20g hex tank. The main reason for going ahead and getting this is that I will be able to use it for many years down the road when I can set up a much larger tank.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3747+9935&pcatid=9935

My questions are the following:

How much testing of the co2 levels will I have to do to control the pH?
and can someone point me in the direction of an easy test kit?

What nutrient supplements should I be adding along with the co2?

I am hoping to get everything figured out and put in 1 big order very soon.


Thanks for the help

[modster]

Test co2 level with a drop checker. The ones on ebay are good enough imo. Test pH with liquid test kit. I don't think you have to worry about pH too much as long as your KH is not somewhere close to zero. Depending on your fish load, you probably want to dose K, P, N and micro.

[Dave66]

Get the fully automatic system, as it'll be much easier on your nerves. After the initial cost, pressurized Co2 is very, very cheap run. I spend 10 bucks every year to 16 months to refill a five-pound cylinder at a welding shop, and 20 bucks for 10-pound cylinders. And that's it. I replace the silicone tubing about every eight months as the Co2 eventually decays them, and they are pennies to replace.
So I end up spending under 30 bucks every couple years for on a Co2 setup.
If you use the auto system with the Pinpoint pH controller you really won't have to worry about your Co2. If you go to aquariumlandscapes.net you'll see a little blown glass deal with a suction cup on it. If you stick it about three inches down in your tank opposite of where the Co2 enters, the liquid in the glass turns green when Co2 is sufficient.
Co2 liquid test kits are inaccurate and notoriously unstable. If you had about 1200 to spend, you could use an electronic monitor to know the exact Co2 level in PPM, but with the blown-glass indicator and the pH controller and the conversion chart with them you wouldn't really need to.

Dave

Dave

[KC21386]

I would love to pick up that fully automated kit, but unfortunately thats beyond my college student hobby budget. I am willing to test frequently to make the semi-automated kit work, but I guess I need to take a class on this stuff. Once I graduate in May, I will have the money to add the pinpoint electronic tester to my set up, but for now can you all point me to a book or website that can teach me what to expect with co2 injection?

How often does the pH just 'crash'?

Thanks again

[digital3]

I would love to pick up that fully automated kit, but unfortunately thats beyond my college student hobby budget. I am willing to test frequently to make the semi-automated kit work, but I guess I need to take a class on this stuff. Once I graduate in May, I will have the money to add the pinpoint electronic tester to my set up, but for now can you all point me to a book or website that can teach me what to expect with co2 injection?

How often does the pH just 'crash'?

Thanks again

Definitely pick up a drop checker. That will take care of testing your Co2 and it's cheap. If your regulator has a solenoid you can set that up on a timer with your lights. Here are a couple of great sites...

http://www.rexgrigg.com/ (http://www.rexgrigg.com/)
http://www.plantedtank.net/