Bubble Counter

[Livewire88]

Hey everyone,

I should be setting up presurised CO2 on one of my tanks tomorrow but have 1 question I need to ask, I will be using a glass bubble counter (like the one below) Do I need part fill it with liquid? If so what liquid is required?

 

[coldcazzie]

Yes, fill it around half to two-thirds full with water

 

[Livewire88]

Yes, fill it around half to two-thirds full with water

Thank you

 

[ian]

ensure you use a non return valve below the bubble counter.

 

[Livewire88]

Just setting it up, a few questions.

1; I broke the Glass one way valve lol, can I use a normal one way valve that I used on my air line for an air stone?

2; When setting up the drop checker it says on the liquid bottle that I need to put 5 drops in then fill to the fill line with tank water, There is no fill line so should it just be drop checker fluid that is used?

3; What pressure should the regulator be set at, 2bar?

4; What would be the best place to put the Atomizer in my tank (picture in sig)


I will get some photos up in a bit once it is set up.

 

[ian]

1; I broke the Glass one way valve lol, can I use a normal one way valve that I used on my air line for an air stone?

This is the problem with glass, you have to be super careful, it's hard sometimes though!

As for the non return, the air nrv should work, but there are specials ones for C02 as the pressures are different. So it should hold out for the time being.

2; When setting up the drop checker it says on the liquid bottle that I need to put 5 drops in then fill to the fill line with tank water, There is no fill line so should it just be drop checker fluid that is used

tank water is no good for a drop checker. You need 4DKH water, there is to many variables in tank water to throw things off.

read this...

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/268972-drop-checkers-how-they-work/

3; What pressure should the regulator be set at, 2bar?

the 'working' pressure needs to be 2bar, so once it's set up and running, turn the pressure up very slowly until it reaches 2 bar on the regulator.

4; What would be the best place to put the Atomizer in my tank (picture in sig)

This is the bit where you'll have to move it around, i would put it at the bottom left hand corner, near the substrate to begin with. You'll get a handle for it, and you find the best place where the bubbles are being diffused.

 

[Livewire88]

Thanks, some fluid came with the drop checker (pic below) and it shows the back of the bottle with the instructions but 5 drops seems very little??

Also here is a picture of the whole lot,

 

[StandbySetting]

The stuff in the small white bottle is Bromothymol blue, you need to half-fill the drop checker with 4DKH water as Ian mentioned and then add 2-3 drops of the Bromothymol blue.

 

[ian]

Thats the Ph regent, it's the same stuff you get with a test kit. Five drops seems a little to much to me. I normall use 2-3 drops and then fill with 4 DKH water.

 

[Livewire88]

Ok thanks, I assumed I could just add that to the drop checker and job done!

So off I go to buy some 4 DKH water, nothing on Ebay and I bet my LFS wont sell it

 

[ian]

you could always ask what DKH your LFS, ro water is. Some Ro has a DKH of 4...Is you tap water soft?

 

[Livewire88]

you could always ask what DKH your LFS, ro water is. Some Ro has a DKH of 4...Is you tap water soft?

I will ask my LFS tomorrow, I found the instruction sheet that came with the drop checker and it says you can use tank water, I am assuming this is not realy any good, but for the time being till I get some 4dKH water it will have to do.

Have set the Co2 up at 1BPS and set it to come on 1 hour before the light turn on tomorrow, I will get the misses to keep her eye on the drop checker whilst im at work and if it turns yellow I will make sure she turns it off.

 

[ian]

the drop checker needs to turn a lime green colour. At 1 BPS i can 99% say that you're not going to over do the C02. I'm also 99% sure that the drop checker will stay blue with tap water in it. Tell the missus to keep an eye on the fish...if they are all gasping then turn it straight off.

 

[Livewire88]

the drop checker need to turn a lime green colour. At 1 BPS i can 99% say that you're not going to over do the C02. I'm also 99% sure that the drop checker will stay blue with tap water in it. Tell the missus to keep an eye on the fish...if they are all gasping then turn it straight off.

Thanks Ianho your a star

Its tank water I put in the drop checker not tap water, but thats probably just as bad as using tap water. Will report back tomorrow.

 

[ian]

no probs...it'll be pearling tomorrow night and make sure you get some pearling pics.