C02

[superjalami30]

I know there are test kits on the market to measure the PPM of C02, but is there a poor mans way of doing it?

 

[zig]

Well i suppose you could ring your local water company to find out the Kh of the water supply, but because you need to measure the Ph of your tank water to check the level of co2, i dont think there is any way around this unless you have a permenant Ph probe or similar setup going, not that im aware of anyway, but Ph test kits are probably the cheapest of all the test kits mine will do 250 tests, if their is another way id be interested also, but because the Ph can vary as you dissolve the co2 in your tank water, this has to be tested to ensure the correct level or ppm is achieved.

 

[superjalami30]

I've been using a hagen C02 system for about 8 months now and I change the mixture every 3-31/2 weeks.
My Ph doesnt drop much when I start a new batch so i'm not worried about that,
but I would like to know exactly how many PPM I actually am getting in this tank.

I know the C02 is working, my plants took off after I started using C02 and then started using KN03, K2s04, trace, comp and iron supplements.

Couldnt I test the KH right outta the tap, then test the Ph to determine the C02 PPM?

If not, spose I'll have to call the water company.
When and if I do get the info I need on the Kh and test my Ph, what exactly do I have to do to figure out the PPM of C02?

thanks for the reply zig!!

 

[zig]

Oh ok i wasnt sure what you were looking for, i thought you were looking for a revolutionary new method to test how many ppm

You need to know your Kh and your Ph and then you use a co2 chart to determine the auctual ppm of co2.

You can buy a Kh test kit at your lfs or get one online, below is a good link with a co2 chart, it explains it in much more detail, most people will target 30ppm of co2, this is a safe level for fish and a great level for plants and it helps keep algae at bay if you can keep the supply of co2 constant.

Co2 Chart

 

[jimbooo]

sorry to butt in but thanks for that link zig, most helpfull.

i have 66.5ppm co2 apparently (KH 14 PH 6.8 ), oops no wonder the plants are going strong. i thought the fish looked a bit fed up in there )

plants/fish, fish/plants. oh what to do.......

by the way just because i've got co2 over load what will be the negative effects on the fish (ph is technically fine)??

 

[houndour]

by the way just because i've got co2 over load what will be the negative effects on the fish (ph is technically fine)??

They might die. won't they? I thought above 30 was potentially lethal.

 

[jimbooo]

yeah thats what i thought but it's been at that level for months (just worked out how to read my test kit. idiot, i thought i was at 20ppm so was adding more and more.)

 

[jimbooo]

i think i should put this as a new topic so dont worry about replying here.

i'm a little concerned now

 

[superjalami30]

Cool, thanks zig.
I thought I seen a C02 tester that detects the C02 level in your tank.
I beleive it was a sensor or something, it had nothing to do with measuring your ph and kh.
I dunno, maybe I'm going insane.

I have a kh and ph test kit (nutrafin ).
So I tested this morning and used that link with the test calculator I found on jimboo's post.

Ph 6.8
Kh 12 (approx)
C02 PPM 53,53 mg/l CO2

Now, I'm supposed to enter the "dkh" right.
Well, I used my Kh value, what the hell is "dkh", and how do I determine this value?

 

[daza]

There are also a couple of permanent ph and co2 tests available.

Here is a JBL one.

Dupla also make one. I have a JBL one on order but have never used one before so I don't know how good they are.

 

[superjalami30]

Yea, thats what I was talkin 'bout.
I just did a search for a Canadian site that has 'em.
found one for 24.99 CND.

Thanks again guys!

 

[smithrc]

Ph 6.8
Kh 12 (approx)
C02 PPM 53,53 mg/l CO2

Now, I'm supposed to enter the "dkh" right.
Well, I used my Kh value, what the hell is "dkh", and how do I determine this value?

[snapback]851700[/snapback]​

dkh are Degrees KH the are the ppm reading divided by 17.9

it is the dKH you work with in most cases.

Make sure its the KH your using too - no the GH.

 

[superjalami30]

Thanks smithrc