New Idea Seems To Be Working

[shrimply]

I built this as a last attempt at increasing my CO2 concentration. And it appears to be working great. It sprays hundreds of miniscule bubbles all through my tank. You can see my favourite tool lying beside it too Where would we be without penknifes?

Anyway MY KH test is so rubbish it only measures to the nearest whole number and reads 4 at the minute. At least there is no debate about what it is trying to tell me though.

However I took my pH test which goes up in 0.5s and under the incandesent lights it is a yellowy green, between 6.5 and 7.0. Under our kitchen flouresent tubes and an energy saving bulb it is green,7 and under my fish tank lights it is yellow,6.5

So what is the real pH. For anyone that knows the table of by heart (I am sure there are some of you) 6.5 is reaching dangerous levels. 6.7 is about right and 7 is not enough so really I need some opinions.


Thanks

 

[penguinpimp1990]

what is that thing in your picture?

 

[shrimply]

It is a powerhead attched on to a botttle top. The powerhead should help to dissolve the co2 bubbles when they come out the air stone.

Anyone able to help me with the results?

 

[George Farmer]

Are your fish (or shrimp are an even better indicator) ok?

If you're oversdosing CO2 then you will see symptoms i.e. drowsy behaviour or gasping.

Is the CO2 yeast-based? What recipe are you using? What size tank is it?

KH 4, pH 6.5 is a little high (38ppm CO2) but should be nothing to worry about. Just keep an eye on your livestock.

Being unable to measure anything accurately in this hobby is something that I have learnt to live with (unless you spend a lot of money on lab spec kits).

 

[Waterloo Kid]

If you look at the test AND the result card under the same light you should be able to make a comparison. The reason you are having problems is that you are looking at the result under different light spectrums so it looks different all the time. You need to compare the results card with the test under the same conditions. i don't think it makes any difference what conditions that might be so long as the different colour grades look different (if that makes any sense).

WK

 

[shrimply]

Are your fish (or shrimp are an even better indicator) ok?

All the fish seem okay and out of five shrimp I added on satuarday I did a total clean out on Sunday (trust me it needed it) and only rescued two. My kribs and congo tetras terrerised them. The only difference I have noticed is that my female kribs belly has faded. I doubt Co2 is the cause but I struggle to find another reason.

Is the CO2 yeast-based? What recipe are you using? What size tank is it?

It is yeast based. The tank is 30 gallon and the recipe is:
4 cups sugar
1 tsp yeast (this does not always seem enough so I add more)
plenty warm water
Couple of pinchs of bicarbonate of soda

I also am not using a plastic bottle but have changed to the glass one pictured below after I got fed up with leaking gas. It is acctually filled fuller than in the picture and works really well.

I am quite pleased at the performance the motor head is doing so hopefully all will go fine.