Just Set Up High-tech System For First Time

[eschaton]

I've finally upgraded from a low-tech to high-tech system. Got my Solenoid today, set it up on a light timer to work in tandem with the lighting, installed check valve and bubble counter, plumbed it all into my existing diffuser...and I have no clue if I'm putting in enough CO2.

I've read a few places online that you ought to have around 3-5 bubbles per second (though I know this is a misleading measure). Once my bubble counter gets much beyond 1 bubble per minute it all looks like one continuous stream to me - certainly couldn't count fast enough to keep track.

I've decided for the time being to set it at a semi-low rate (slow enough to see bubbles, but too fast to count them) - this still looks substantially better than I ever got out of my yeast-sugar bottles. Then wait a few weeks and see if plant growth is what I would like.

 

[Revision17]

You could buy a KH test kit, then test your water's pH and kH. You can then look up the amount of dissolved CO2 that way (there are many tables on the internet for this), and adjust till good. Or you can get a permanent CO2 tester: http/www.fishforums.net/content/Plants-a...owtopic-169942/