Changing From 2Xt8 30W Tubes To 2Xt5 54W

[SuperColey1]

I could answere no, yes, yes and no but you'ld get confused being blonde (like me. lol)

If it is pressurised then yes set it up, use it, get used to how it works. It will if used properly help prevent algae.

Once you get to know how it works then decide whether you want it or not. If not either store it away or sell it

There is no problem with using CO2 if you don't need it. CO2 will always benefit the plants under any light. However it is an expense and of course has an environmental impact.

Therefore use what you have. Learn how it works. If you choose then to get rid, you have a head start on many as you now have that experience to go alonside what you would turn into a non CO2 tank.

As a guide I used to use real high CO2. I started my current scape off with it and let it grow the tank in for the first 6 months. Then I sold it and it has been running for the past year on no CO2 , no water changes (I did one the other day but only cos I'd messed about with the substrate) 1 year, 1 water change.

My light is far higher than yours @ 1.12WPG of LED. We are talking an equivalent close to 3WPG of flouro maybe more.

Yours should be fine

Plants. Fill it up. Cover the whole substrate. then remove things once you get confidence of avoiding algae.

AC

 

[elisew]

Thank you

I think, seeing as I`ve already paid for the CO2 kit (which is pressurised) I`ll give it a go. I spoke to one of my sons friends who works in a builders merchants and can get the cylinders filled for free which is a bonus. IF I feel the tank will do well enough without it then I`ll look at selling it on.

I guess it`s a simple case of 'suck it and see'!!

Thanks again

 

[elisew]

Hmmm, not sure what I`m going to do now. I received the kit this morning but there`s no sign of the regulator that should be in there. Have emailed the seller as it was supposed to be new in the box

Does anyone know if there`s an alternative regulator that I would be able to use with the proflora M602?

I may end up returning the kit, if I can` t even assemble it then there`s no point in keeping it. Looks like he`ll have to either stump up for another regulator or refund me all of what I paid

 

[fluffycabbage]

typical eh?! grrr

 

[SuperColey1]

typical eh?! grrr

I wouldn't use another regulator. Not that another won't fit. You should get a refund or a replacement for what should've been there.

AC

 

[elisew]

typical eh?! grrr

I wouldn't use another regulator. Not that another won't fit. You should get a refund or a replacement for what should've been there.

AC

Yeah, I`ll wait for a reply from matey and request a refund, if he gets sh**ty I`ll open a case with eBay as the goods aren`t as described or just recall the funds from my credit card......simples!!

 

[elisew]

Spoke to matey who I bought the kit from this morning and he`s driving all the way from Northampton to Poole to bring me another kit. He was mortified when he got my msg about the regulator and solenoid valve missing.
He did offer to get another regulator but as advised by SuperColey I declined. He`s been as good as gold and so apologetic bless him.

So, hopefully I`ll manage to get it all up and running tomorrow. No doubt being a dumb blonde I`ll have more questions

 

[SuperColey1]

He did offer to get another regulator but as advised by SuperColey I declined. He`s been as good as gold and so apologetic bless him.

If it was the same regulator that should've been with the kit then that would've been fine.

I am just thinking more along the lines of you use a different regulator with the kit and then something goes wrong and the usual behaviour from customer services is 'your fault for using a different regulator. lol'

Nice of the chap though. There are some good 'uns left in the world

AC

 

[elisew]

I agree with your point and appreciate your thoughts, thank you

All ok with the system as the guy turned up as promised this morning and replaced the kit. So I now have a CO2 system that works! I now have to do a fair bit of reading and learning.

I have managed to establish that the colour of testing my water with the test set, puts it on the PH chart at 7,6 (this is actually outside of the chart which goes up to 7,5 and the parallel colouring on the CO2 colour indicator is -!) Am I right in thinking this means there`s very little CO2 already in the water?

 

[SuperColey1]

I have managed to establish that the colour of testing my water with the test set, puts it on the PH chart at 7,6 (this is actually outside of the chart which goes up to 7,5 and the parallel colouring on the CO2 colour indicator is -!) Am I right in thinking this means there`s very little CO2 already in the water?

Firstly in a new setup yes there will be very little CO2 in the water. equilibrium's minimum. In a mature setup that has a suitable substrate then the 'rotting' substrate will be producing some CO2.

Are you using a drop checker? If so are you using 4dKH and bromo blue (Aaron's article in PARC covers this.)

DO NOT use the Ph/KH chart and DO NOT use tank water in the drop checker. Both these methods will make false correlations on what is changing the Ph.

4dKH will not.

AC

 

[elisew]

I have managed to establish that the colour of testing my water with the test set, puts it on the PH chart at 7,6 (this is actually outside of the chart which goes up to 7,5 and the parallel colouring on the CO2 colour indicator is -!) Am I right in thinking this means there`s very little CO2 already in the water?

Firstly in a new setup yes there will be very little CO2 in the water. equilibrium's minimum. In a mature setup that has a suitable substrate then the 'rotting' substrate will be producing some CO2.

Are you using a drop checker? If so are you using 4dKH and bromo blue (Aaron's article in PARC covers this.)

DO NOT use the Ph/KH chart and DO NOT use tank water in the drop checker. Both these methods will make false correlations on what is changing the Ph.

4dKH will not.

AC

Drop checker....yes. 4dKH = 4 drops? No only 2. bromo blue? ....No idea, sorry All I can tell you is that I`m using the JBL Permanent CO2 Plus PH Test Set, liquid is a yellowy kind of colour. (Aaron`s article? )

Son did put tank water in but changed it to tap water.

After a few hours I checked it again and IF the Ph/KH colour chart sticker thingy is anything at all to go by the ph is looking more like 7,2. Parallel = CO2 ok, KH = 12 - 16

 

[SuperColey1]

Son did put tank water in but changed it to tap water.

Tap water? You need 4dKH not tap water.

AC

 

[PDSimon]

Son did put tank water in but changed it to tap water.

Tap water? You need 4dKH not tap water.

AC

Sorry to jump in but I measured my tap water with an API test kit and it came up with 4KH. When I set my drop checker up would it be ok if I used tapwater?

 

[elisew]

Son did put tank water in but changed it to tap water.

Tap water? You need 4dKH not tap water.

AC

Ok sorted thanks AC.

There`s no 4dKH with the kit so have order from Aqua essentials

Just been reading articles by UKaps members, looks like there`s loads to read!

 

[SuperColey1]

Just been reading articles by UKaps members, looks like there`s loads to read!

Many of these articles are also in the PARC here too

AFter all a fair few of us are on UKaps too


PD - How accurate is the test kit? Is it a lamotte? How expensive is 1 bottle of 4dKH that at 3ml every 2 weeks will last you for 160 weeks?

You see where I am going?

Compare that to the price of a couple of dead fish

AC