Just Installed Pressurized

[nicklfire]

Hey guys,

just a quick question, i just installed the pressurized co2 a couple days ago, i was running it through the ladder and now i got the red sea reactor (ceramic setup to produce little bubbles). Anyways i got the co2 indicator (in tank) and it says to use the tank water and just add two drops of the co2 indicator. for the last 4 days it's just been yellow which indicates its low on co2, i'm pumping out about 3 bubbles a second, is that maybe not enough for a 55 gallon? I have the bubbles floating up to the spray bar and then they spray everywhere so it should be pretty good to dissolve into water.

Also since i been running this my spray bar is under the water(so i dont put in too much air) and there is this film forming on top of the water..maybe could be co2 or... dust from air.. i'm not sure any help thankfull.

 

[John59]

This film is common when you are on high level side of CO2 so it must be something wrong with your test on 55 gal with PH controller i have about 1.5 bubbles per sec and some times it cuts off for a long time

 

[nicklfire]

the thing i dont undestand on the instructions it says to use tank water in the diffuser..wouldnt distilled water be better?

 

[nry]

Does the colour of the CO2 indicator you need not depend on your kH? I have just got and set up a JBL CO2 permanent indicator: it says that I need to measure kH and then use this with the colour chart to determine which colour I should aim for given my kH. Using the colour on the test to say whether I have the correct CO2 levels or not is not valid, the kH is needed.

Not sure whether all permanent tests are alike though?

 

[nicklfire]

Here is what i have
Basically directions say fill cap up to line with tank water, and drop 2 drops of the co2 indicator in it place in tank about 10 cm from top of water surface.

 

[thefirethief]

and there is this film forming on top of the water..

If its a white-ish film that breaks up if you try to net its out then its harmless build up organic compounds such as protien. I had the same problem just a few weeks ago with my new 24 Gal but it seems to have dissappeared completely for some reason.

 

[nicklfire]

so it's not because of a high concentration of co2 in the tank than, so my co2 indicator could be correct still

 

[John59]

the thing i dont undestand on the instructions it says to use tank water in the diffuser..wouldnt distilled water be better?

In the diffuser or in the bubble counter the diffuser is in the tank so tank water will be in the bubble counter it doesn't matter

 

[John59]

Here is what i have
Basically directions say fill cap up to line with tank water, and drop 2 drops of the co2 indicator in it place in tank about 10 cm from top of water surface.

Now i got it you have to fill it with tank water and read the instruction again yellow if i'm not mistaken means too much Co2 + means you are over and not add more check again and correct me if i'm wrong that is why you have the film on the surface

 

[nicklfire]

o damn lol

that would make perfect sence... that's retarded. You'd think if it was a + that means that you would have to keep on adding. But when i was thinkin that the solution might be contaminated i dumped some into a old bucket of water and it turned blue.. and i thought to myself.. whoa.. that's werid. Yes your aboslutely right it means too much. Darn darn. Well we gotta make mistakes now and then..at least nothing died. turning off co2 now.

Green color - 30 ppm of CO2 in the water. Good dose of CO2
Yellow color - More than 70 ppm of CO2 (Dangerous level for fish)
Blue color - 10 ppm of CO2, not enough CO2 for your plants

found that online

 

[John59]

Start with something like 1 bubble per second and ajust slowly over a few days the indicator need time to change color good luck Happy that your fish are Ok it could turn to a disaster

 

[nicklfire]

Well the funny thing is, when i first put the co2 indicator in, it was a very light yellow.... and that was without any co2. I thought it woulda turned blue. But i'll let all this co2 get out (rasied spray bar to get oxygen in there) then i'll start again.
thanks for the headup, you saved me lol

 

[JamesC]

Green color - 30 ppm of CO2 in the water. Good dose of CO2
Yellow color - More than 70 ppm of CO2 (Dangerous level for fish)
Blue color - 10 ppm of CO2, not enough CO2 for your plants

found that online

This is only appilcable if the water you use has a KH of 4. As you've used tank water it makes it a lot less accurate as we don't know the tank's KH. Take a look at this thread - http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...l=4dkh+solution.

James

 

[nicklfire]

Yes i was reading up on that a while ago, i assume i should do that than, thanks for the help guys much apprecaited.

 

[cleekdaFish]

mine is greenw hich means adaquate co2..i think