adding co2

[One_Trick_Pony]

this being the case is that going to a major probelem as the ph is already quite low?

 

[jimbooo]

bogwood should stabilise it to some extent but only one way to really find out.

fingers crossed hey!!

if you do get a big drop just throw in an airstone to get rid of the co2. you shouldn't lose any fish

 

[Bloo]

jimboo, could ou please answer my question about the DIY versus sachets question ?

Edit: about why you refer to them as "useless" etc.....

 

[houndour]

I don't think they were useless. I got about 18ppm out of them. Maybe jimbooo had out of date yeast?! But probably value for money wise you may as well buy your own yeast and bicarb. I have started to, although it took 3 goes to get it right. Had 54 ppm with one of my doses could have have killed all me fishes.

 

[Bloo]

Yeah but to be honest, I really really don't want to hassle with making a DIY mixture every few days and fiddling around with the levels yada yada yada. I just want a nice "plug and play" type thing. That's why I wondered about the comment that they are useless ? I don't think the £1.50 a month is going to break the bank to be honest.
So far mine seems to be working really well ...

 

[jimbooo]

Jimboo, why are they useless ?
I've only had mine running a few weeks, and thought it would be much easier to just use sachets in future - saves measuring up and fiddling around and all that. Isn't it also true that DIY mixtures only last a few days while the sachets are supposed to last an average of 28 days ? Or do I have the wrong end of the stick here ?

sorry bloozoo, i should have elaborated. when i used the sachets the max i could get in the tank was 15ppm. and it lasted about 10 days (ideal being 25ppm)

the problem is if using sachets you cant tweak the system to give you more output.

using a tub of yeast and a tub of bicarbonate of soda is just as easy in my opinion.

i use 1 tsp yeast and 1/2 tsp bicarb, sugar to the usual level and water 2cm short of the top fin (just to be safe). that gives me about 20-25ppm co2 for about a week. i do 25% water change every saturday and change the mix at the same time. it's really no more hassle than using the sachets but you have the option to add a little more yeast if your not getting enough output.

plus it's a hell of a lot cheaper anyway.

i still have 2 or 3 unused sachets in the cupboard and wont use them unless i run out of the other stuff.

the only draw back is you can over do it and end up with mixture creeping up the tube into the tank which is a HUGE problem. dont over fill the water and it should be fine.

I hope thats clearer and sorry for the delayed reply (manic day at work)

 

[Bloo]

ok thanks for that explanation mmm - still have to contemplate and see what's best for me. Guess I'll have to get one of those JBL permanent CO2 tests and measure my PH at various times of the day, but I think my current output is in the region of 13ppm which I suppose isn't great wtih a PH of 7.4 and KH of 11. But I'll need to double check my PH again, as it might very well have come down to 7.2 - on which case my CO2 will be 21ppm which is much better.