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Re: Aquatic Plants Digest V1 #9
From: Roger Crowther <lysander at crl_com>
Subject: CO2 Measurement
Roger,
> While I agree with Karen that measuring CO2 may not be an essent
> experienced aquatic gardeners, I think I might have solved this
> bit quicker if I had been making direct measurements instead of
> table.
Just for the record, that's _not_ what I said.<g> I think that
measuring CO2 levels _is_ important. What I said was that if you
use a _good_ KH test, a _good_ pH test and a _good_ chart, you can
get a close enough reading on your pH without a separate test kit.
It is unrealistic to expect the chart to give a correct CO2
reading if the other numbers are bad. (Garbage in, garbage out!
;-)
Also, as you noted to John Ching, it is perfectly possible to
screw up a pH (or CO2) test by degassing, so this method is not
fool proof either.
Karen
------------------------------
Subject: Qualifying questions
Dave,
> How about:
>
> Please answer as many as possible of the following questions. W
> in some cases you may not know the answer. Do not let that disc
> answer as many as you can:
>
> 1. What size tank do you have? _____ US gallons or _____ liter
> 2. What depth? _____ inches or _____ cm
>
> 3. What substrate (gravel, sand, or ???)? ______________________
> 4. What particle size? ______ mm x ______ mm
>
> 5. What kind of lights do you have over your tank? _____________
> 6. What is your lighting schedule? ____________________________
>
> 7. How many and what size fish do you have in your tank? _____
> ____________________________________________________________
> 8. Would you say you feed them lightly or heavily? _____________
> 9. What kind of food? __________________________________________
>
> 10. Do you add (inject) CO2? _____________
>
> 11. Do you add any fertilizers (describe as completely as possi
> ___________________________________________________________
>
> 12. Please indicate test values for as many of the following wa
> constituents as possible (tell units used):
>
> pH
> KH
> CO2
> Ca
> Fe
> N
> PO4
> K
> any others you know
>
> 13. Now describe the symptoms or problems you are having: ____
> ___________________________________________________________
> ___________________________________________________________
> ___________________________________________________________
> ___________________________________________________________
> ___________________________________________________________
> ___________________________________________________________
******************************************************************
Good start. I'd like to see the following questions added:
All tank dimensions
Water conditioners used
Medications added to tank within the past 60 days
Under testing:
pH AM and PM
Spell out what we're testing for. "N", "PO4" and "K" don't
mean anything to beginners. Add copper to the list.
Planting density, types of plants.
Karen
------------------------------