ph changes due to Co2

[iggy01]

Is that based on distilled/tap water? I'm sure that if you run the same test with nitrates and different ions in aquarium water, it should probably be a lot less than 4 dH for 1 teaspoon.

I think these values are the same for any water, be it tap, distilled or R/O. I could be wrong though, as I haven't any experience with distilled or R/O water ( someone please correct me if I am! ).

 

[guppygirl]

So what do you think of this...

on thursday, I could add 1/4 tsp of bicarb.
On friday, I add another 1/4 tsp...
Saturday I add the third 1/4 tsp,
and on saturday, I would add the last 1/4 tsp, therefore my KH is raised by 4 degrees, one degree each day.
Is this too quick?
Or is it ok to add it in 1 or two days?

Also, what 2liter bottle yeast recipe do you guys use, I need to decide on one soon.
and how much bicarb should I add to the bottle, I heard that helped the yeast.
Thanks for all your help so far guys!!

 

[iggy01]

So what do you think of this...

on thursday, I could add 1/4 tsp of bicarb.
On friday, I add another 1/4 tsp...
Saturday I add the third 1/4 tsp,
and on saturday, I would add the last 1/4 tsp, therefore my KH is raised by 4 degrees, one degree each day.
Is this too quick?
Or is it ok to add it in 1 or two days?

Also, what 2liter bottle yeast recipe do you guys use, I need to decide on one soon.
and how much bicarb should I add to the bottle, I heard that helped the yeast.
Thanks for all your help so far guys!!

If you have a KH of 2dH, then you really don't need to raise it any higher than to 4dh to get the effect you require. So you only need to raise yours by 2dH. I'm not sure on the size of your tank, but you seem to have it all worked out now.

As for a D.I.Y. Co2 recipe........... I think there was a thread in one of the forums recently on this subject.

Good luck!

 

[guppygirl]

Ok, I think I will start adding soon. My tank is a 55 gallon. It also has 130 watts of light over it, and lots of plants. And lots of algae!!!
Ahh yes, I will now proceed to find a recipe by using the hidden search button......

 

[iggy01]

Ok, I think I will start adding soon. My tank is a 55 gallon. It also has 130 watts of light over it, and lots of plants. And lots of algae!!!
Ahh yes, I will now proceed to find a recipe by using the hidden search button......

I think 55 US gallons is just over 200 litres. So 1 tsp of baking soda should raise your KH by about 1 dH.

Good luck!

 

[guppygirl]

I think 55 US gallons is just over 200 litres. So 1 tsp of baking soda should raise your KH by about 1 dH.

Oh sorry. I'm not that good at maths!!
So the question still remains, should I use two bottles, or one?
I was thinking about this recipe~
for one 2Liter bottle it's~
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
1/4 tsp yeast
1/4 cup lukewarm water to mix yeast

Should the main water be lukewarm too?

 

[iggy01]

I think 55 US gallons is just over 200 litres. So 1 tsp of baking soda should raise your KH by about 1 dH.

Oh sorry. I'm not that good at maths!!
So the question still remains, should I use two bottles, or one?
I was thinking about this recipe~
for one 2Liter bottle it's~
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
1/4 tsp yeast
1/4 cup lukewarm water to mix yeast

Should the main water be lukewarm too?

Yes, you might need two bottles.........hopefully someone with a similar set-up can offer you some advice. Do you know what Co2 level you would like to achieve?

The water should be lukewarm, 70-80F is usually ok, though some people prefer it a bit warmer.

 

[Iron Man]

Are these flunctuations happening in the wild?

 

[George Farmer]

Are these flunctuations happening in the wild?

Basically yes. In a planted natural environment the sunlight throughout the day will result in the plants producing O2 and consuming CO2. The depletion of CO2 will result in a pH rise- peaking at the end of the day. Through the night the plants (and fish) use up O2 and produce CO2 thus lowering pH - peaking just before sunrise.

Minor pH swings are easily tolerated by most freshwater fish as the natural environment they originate from goes through many water chemistry changes i.e. floods, droughts, storms etc.

 

[guppygirl]

Well, between 10-25 ppm, but I would want a little higher, maybe 20? is that too high?
I only have 2.3 watts per gallon.
But I want to grow high demand plants!!

 

[iggy01]

No that's not too high! Many people with planted tanks try to keep it in the 20-30 range. You may need more light to grow some of the more demanding plants though!

 

[Iron Man]

Are these flunctuations happening in the wild?

Basically yes. In a planted natural environment the sunlight throughout the day will result in the plants producing O2 and consuming CO2. The depletion of CO2 will result in a pH rise- peaking at the end of the day. Through the night the plants (and fish) use up O2 and produce CO2 thus lowering pH - peaking just before sunrise.

Minor pH swings are easily tolerated by most freshwater fish as the natural environment they originate from goes through many water chemistry changes i.e. floods, droughts, storms etc.

Glad to hear that.

 

[guppygirl]

Well, the lighting thing isn't going to work with my parents, I went through a big argument to get this light, and I think it would be a cold day in hell before they let me get another one!!
Plus Takashi Amano grows high demand plants in big tanks with low lighting, and look at the dutch!!
But anyways.
So I will aim for 20 or higher. I'm scared I'll set it up and see all my fish dead the next morning!!

 

[iggy01]

Point taken about the lighting!

Don't worry about 20 ppm Co2. It isn't going to do your fish any harm. If you're still not sure about it, start off with one bottle and go from there.

Good luck

 

[guppygirl]

Yep, my parents are pretty frugal. But they're really smart that way, I would have spent all the money already!
So I will do one bottle first, just to see how it works.
Thanks for all your help guys!!