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Re: CO2 concentration
> From: David Whittaker
> Subject: Peculiarities of Webb-Kelly tank
>
>
> Water Parameters
> Before After
> KH (TETRA) 2.0/2.5 3.0
> pH (TETRA) 6.4 7.2
> CO2 injection x/3 sec x/2 sec where x is 1 bubble
>
> The substrate has a layer of fine clay and vermiculite through which the
> water passes. The DIY CO2 generator seems to be producing enough CO2 and
> there appears to be no leakage in the bottle, tubing, or connection to
> the Fluval which is submerged. And the gas seems to be dissolving. But
> the pH will not drop and the plants are not growing as well as before.
Try putting a small amount of the suspected clay in distilled water and
measure the pH after a day or so. You should be able to measure an increase
in hardness if that is the case. As a test for your CO2, pull the airline
off the spray tube and hold it underwater. It should release a bubble
every few seconds unless there are leaks. Blow into the tube; there should
be NO leakage. I've found silicone cement superior to epoxy for sealing
plastic tubing into the pop bottle cap. Better yet, is to use a rigid
plastic tube like the one you pull from an airstone and cement that in
and attach the PVC tubing to that. I recently caused a drastic pH swing
in an incident involving a leaking CO2 rig; the result was one dead
farlowella. :`( Plants, neons, otocinclus & platys survived. BTW I keep
platys in very soft water with my plants so don't be afraid to try it.
- Steve