Fire Extinguisher Co2 Setup On 380l Tank?

[Ian H]

right finally got it all together and what not all seems fine with no leaks but i dont have a drop checker. As a guide how many bubbles should i be counting? (im assuming im counting per min?)

I do have something to check the co2 kh and gh maybe? bought them ages ago.

 

[aaronnorth]

i would start with 2 bubbles per second. It isnt very reliable. On a 60l tank (which i have) the reccomendation is 1 bubble evry 3 secconds. I am running 3BPS! to get my DC into the greeny yellow.

f you dont have a drop checker then this one is a good buy:

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/Co2-Drop-Checker-for...id=p3286.c0.m14

 

[Ian H]

just ordered it thanks is that all i need or will i need to buy anything special to put in it?

 

[Dave Spencer]

You will need 4dKH reference solution from either Aquaessentials or The Green Machine (I made theirs for them ) and Bromo Blue (ie Nutrafin low pH test kit).

When the dropper is fitted below the water level in the tank, an air gap is trapped between the tank water surface and the reference solution. What happens now is that the amount of CO2 in the tank water will, over the period of an hour or two, equalise with the CO2 in the dropper air gap, and thus affecting the reference solution. The colour of the reference solution should change from blue to green, with green corresponding to a pH of 6.6 on the Nutrafin chart. Correlating a carbonate hardness of 4dKH against a pH of 6.6 and we get a CO2 level of 30ppm. If the solution remains blue then CO2 levels are too low, and if it goes beyond green and turns yellow then CO2 levels are too high.

Dave.

 

[aaronnorth]

I dont know if you have a solenoid, but put the CO2 on 2hr before lights on, and turn it off 1hr before lights off. You can experiment, i have to turn mine on 3hr before lights to get it just hinting into the green colour.

 

[Ian H]

yeah i have a solenoid, at the moment is on the same timer as the lights so i'll get another one later so it can come on before.

Another thing now while im ordering stuff off aquaessentials what dry powders will i need?? want to try EI dosing but dont know what i need at the moment i have about half a bottle of TPN+ left so will need to buy some ferts soon anyways.

 

[aaronnorth]

KNO3
KH2PO4
Trace Mix

OPTIONAL:
K2SO4 - if you ant to add more K, enough is usually dosed with the above.
MgSO4 - If tap water is low in Mg
Gh Booster - Gh of 4 or less.

 

[Ian H]

Thanks alot! (again!!)

so far my shopping list for AE looks like this:

* 1ea.- Hagen Ph Low Range Test Kit
* 1ea.- 4 dKH Solution - 250ml
* 1ea.- Mono Potassium Phosphate - 100g
* 1ea.- Potassium Nitrate - 100g
* 1ea.- Trace Elements mix - 100g
* 1ea.- Magnesium Sulphate - 100g (just in case, dont have a test for this)

although am i right in saying i can use TPN+ instead of trace mix? or have i got it confused some where?

I think i only have a test kit for gh out of them so will check that tomorrow.

 

[Dave Spencer]

I wouldn`t bother with the Magnesium sulphate, personally. If you have soft water, GH booster will supply the Mg and Ca by adding it at each water change.

TPN supplies trace elements, TPN+ also contains NPK, as well as the trace elements. A lot of people using TPN+ seem to be adding additional P via Potassium phosphate, due to GSA appearing in their tanks.

I tend to stick to the dry powders as they are cheaper and I get good results, but TPN+ is held in high regard.

Dave.