Just Got Presurized Co2. George, Help Please!

[DoubleJ]

I just got a 5# Co2 tank and regulator. I have it hooked up now. I have :

55gl tank:

PLANTS:

3 sword plants
2 java ferns
some ludwiga
some rotila???
Some hornwort
alot of wisteria

FISH:

6 harloquin rasboras
6 neon tetras
6 black skirt tetras
6 phantom tetras
5 pepper cory catfish

Its hooked to a Rena XP3 filter and the tank is mature. It has 160 watts of light above it so, just short of 3wpg and it's on for 10hrs a day. I have an airstone to bubble when the lights go out. I will be bubbling Co2 24hrs a day because I don't have a solonoid. The airstone should offset this. My question is, how many BPS should I be running to get the best result but not gas out my fish?

Also, what should I set my regulator at? it seems like, if it's set below 20psi, no matter what my needle valve is set at, I only get 1 bps. If it's set above 20psi, I get an uncountable amount of bps. Where is the sweet spot?

Thanks a bunch!!!

 

[George Farmer]

Bubble rate depends on many factors. 1 BPS is a good starting point. Aim for 30ppm using pH/KH table for a rough guide. You could gradually increase levels, keeping a close eye on fish behaviour.

I like the CO2 dropper test with 4 dKH reference solution to accurately gauge CO2 levels. http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=169942

If your plants are growing well, no problem algae, good fish health then I wouldn't worry about specifics too much.

 

[DoubleJ]

i can't seem to use the kh/ph table. I have too many natural buffers in the water and it throws the scale way off. I'll have to see if I can give the drop checker a try

I'm also having a bit of an algae prblem. I've looked and looked but, I can't find this type of algae. It's black in appearance and kind of looks like BBA but, it's long like hair algae. It's on the fixtures and leaves in the tank. I cut the leaves with it on them but, it still hangs around. I'm hoping the increased Co2 helps to get rid of it.

 

[smithrc]

can anyone else help out?

 

[RadaR]

i can't seem to use the kh/ph table. I have too many natural buffers in the water and it throws the scale way off. I'll have to see if I can give the drop checker a try

I'm also having a bit of an algae prblem. I've looked and looked but, I can't find this type of algae. It's black in appearance and kind of looks like BBA but, it's long like hair algae. It's on the fixtures and leaves in the tank. I cut the leaves with it on them but, it still hangs around. I'm hoping the increased Co2 helps to get rid of it.

Use the drop checker method then. I think the drop in 1 pH method may work too, not sure though.

It probably is BBA or even worse Staghorn Algae. Either way CO2 will definetly help battle agaisnt it.

JamesC's site is great for alage info www.theplantedtank.co.uk

 

[DoubleJ]

I'm pretty sure it's not staghorn. I've seen that stuff before but, it's nothing like this. I'll try to get pics tomorrow if I can.