Down we go

[StarOrbs]

Okay I verified this with two test kits and currently I have a PH of < 6.0. Which is a problem. I added C02 one week from tommorow and I only have 1 DIY 2L bottle and it's pumping out about 3-5 bubbles per second probally less now. My water is soft and my KH is somewhere around 3.5. Any ideas? Should I stop the CO2 and let the tank take it's course and then put it back on if my plants aren't doing good?

I should probally add my tank has been cycling for a few weeks so that could be why my ph dropped and also because of the addition of Co2.

 

[iggy01]

Wow! what's your CO2 recipe? 3-5 bubbles per second from a diy is some goin'!

You've got well over 100 mg/l CO2. How much yeast did you use?

With that amount of bubbles, I think you could expect your bubble rate to fall dramatically any day now.

Don't put any fish in yet. You'll probably kill 'em

 

[Undawada]

That is a high rate for a DIY CO2 unit. Try using less yeast in your mix otherwise you'll have a CO2 jacuzzi.

The PH could be low because of the CO2 or the cycle taking place. Try lowering your CO2 and do a water change to dilute anything building up in the system. If you don't have fish in, try changing 50% of the water.

The 3.5 KH measurement, is that out of tap or from the tank? Check both to see if there is a difference. I bet there is. You may need to consider raising the KH of the water you add to the tank if you are using CO2.

 

[StarOrbs]

I actually didn't put much yeast in it.

Less than 1tsp of yeast
little more than 2 cups of sugar
1 tsp of baking soda
and of course water.

I read I can raise my Kh by 3-4 if I add sodium bicarbinate. About 1/2 tsp/ 6 US gallons. I added 4 tsp and I'm going to see what it's at today. Then I'll add 1 tsp every water change to counter act the water drop of KH in my tap water. (When I actually get to do water changes lol).

Something must be wrong with my cycle though because my ammonia is taking forever to go down its going down like .3 a day now. I suppose it could be because I lowered the amount of ammonia I'm putting in my tank. I just added some more ammonia a few minutes ago I'm going to check it again in 12 hours or so and hopefully it goes down.

 

[iggy01]

1 tsp of yeast can be more than enough. I usually use just less than 1/4 tsp, but it all depends on the type of yeast you use.

 

[Undawada]

To slow the fermentation rate down, you can add gelatin to the sugary water before you add the yeast and allow it to set. That way, the yeast must eat through the outer layers before it can get to the middle.