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Ph and CO2 in new tank
After reading the lists for several months, I set up a 70 gallon tank,
following all the advice I could get. It has been up and running now for
about 4 weeks. For the most part, everything seems to be doing okay, but I
do have a few problems which I don't understand. The first concern is Ph and
Co2. My tap water has a Ph of 6.8 which is what this tank started out with.
The Kh is 6, and pressurized injected Co2 at about 1 to 2 bubbles per second
should read about 28 ppm according to George L. Booth's chart on the krib.
However, after testing with a Red Sea Co2 kit, I could not get a reading - no
matter how much reagent I added, indicating I thought, a very high amount of
Co2. Thinking the Red Sea kit was in error, I tested with a La-Mott kit.
Results showed over 100 ppm. of Co2. If I turn off the Co2, the Ph steadily
rises approaching 8.0, which I do not want. The few fish, ottos, barbs, and
tetras - 10 in all don't seem to be doing well either, In fact, a few have
died. Can the Co2 be as high as indicated and what makes the Ph in a new
tank keep rising? I change 25% of the water every week, have 200 watts of
flourescent light, 50/50 mix of laterite substrate, tank is heavily planted,
and plants are growing, but lately some are turning yellow - especially the
Ludwigia, the Didiplis Dian,and the Crypt, Wenditi, so I started adding some
Pmdd. Also, as of yet, have no algae of any kind. Please Help. Frank , West
Chester, PA.