Drop Checker And Reagent?

[jojouk]

Hi, anyone know if the diy drop checkers are easy to make?

I think I could cobble one together, but what about the reagent? Can I make it or should I buy it?

Do the cheap hong kong drop checkers come with everything that is neede to check the CO2 levels? or are additional chemicals required?

 

[tanksalot]

I can't help with DIY drop checkers as I bought the cheap one from Hong Kong here. Takes a while to arrive, but it does come with the testing solution.

Then all you need is the 4dkh solution. I made my own, but in hindsight I wouldn't have bothered because I had to buy a jewellers' scale to measure the bicarb and it would have been cheaper just to shell out for a bottle of ready-made stuff.

Have a read of this thread drop checkers if you haven't already.

 

[jojouk]

I can't help with DIY drop checkers as I bought the cheap one from Hong Kong here. Takes a while to arrive, but it does come with the testing solution.

Then all you need is the 4dkh solution. I made my own, but in hindsight I wouldn't have bothered because I had to buy a jewellers' scale to measure the bicarb and it would have been cheaper just to shell out for a bottle of ready-made stuff.

Have a read of this thread drop checkers if you haven't already.

ok cool, thanks.

anyone fancy making me some 4dkh solution???

 

[StandbySetting]

You can buy it really cheaply online, check ebay.

+1 for the Hong Kong DC too.

 

[jojouk]

There isnt any I can find on ebay

 

[StandbySetting]

Try aqua essentials.

 

[jojouk]

Yep, aqua essentials has it...

It also has one with the bromo blue added already...is this a waste of time?

Is anyone sure that they dont just want to sent me some....home made is fine! of course ill cover postage and a couple of quid for their trouble!

Will cost me £8 in total from AE, someone has gotta be able to do it cheaper on here?

 

[jojouk]

So I have my drop checker, the reagent and some of that kdh4 or whatever it's called water...

The reagent is orange in colour before mixing is that right?

Also, whatever I do I can't get the mix to be that bright blue colour before it goes in the tank...what am I doing wrong??

 

[ian]

the regent should be blue. It's the same regent that's in your Ph testing kit.

 

[jojouk]

I just cant get it to go that bright blue clour before putting it in the tank...its kinda greenish blue - do you think the kd4h solution is a bad batch?

 

[ian]

greeninsh blue is great...then when the C02 come on and has been on for a couple of hours it should go lime green. Move the checker around the tank and see what happens.

 

[jojouk]

greeninsh blue is great...then when the C02 come on and has been on for a couple of hours it should go lime green. Move the checker around the tank and see what happens.

I just gbot it go go a more bluey colour by mixing the 4dkh and a little bit of tap water...should i go back to purely the 4dkh stuff and the greeny-blue, or leave it with this blue colour i have?

sorry for all the questions...

 

[StandbySetting]

Adding tap water renders it useless, use only 4dKH water, my solution went green after a while, probably something to do with the quantity of dissolved CO2 in the solution, if you leave the cap off it will probably go blue.

 

[jojouk]

Ok, so I have gone back to the greenly blue, and left the lid off of my 4dkh solution, to get rid of dissolved co2 for next time.

Let's see how it goes!!

Thanks everyone!

 

[ian]

also, just use a couple of drops of the Blue, don't over do it.