Ignorant Newbie CO2 Question

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redranks

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 23, 2009
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Fort Wayne, Indiana
I recently purchased a used 220g that came with a Dr. Fosters & Smith Fully-Automatic CO2 System. I was able to get it up and running without a problem. Yesterday I had to unplug a few things while doing some set up and after getting everything running again I noticed there were no bubbles coming out of the tube in the bubble counter. I am almost positive it was prior to screwing around with it.

I was under the impression that you would continuously see this bubble even if the PH was within the parameters of the PH controller. The gauges say there is CO2, the solenoid is on, am I worried about nothing or do I have a problem?

First time with the CO2 system so forgive the ignorant question.

Everything is now ready in the tank and I am ready to get my aquascape going but I want this to be working properly first.

Thanks for the help!
 
redranks;3255721; said:
I recently purchased a used 220g that came with a Dr. Fosters & Smith Fully-Automatic CO2 System. I was able to get it up and running without a problem. Yesterday I had to unplug a few things while doing some set up and after getting everything running again I noticed there were no bubbles coming out of the tube in the bubble counter. I am almost positive it was prior to screwing around with it.

I was under the impression that you would continuously see this bubble even if the PH was within the parameters of the PH controller. The gauges say there is CO2, the solenoid is on, am I worried about nothing or do I have a problem?

First time with the CO2 system so forgive the ignorant question.

Everything is now ready in the tank and I am ready to get my aquascape going but I want this to be working properly first.

Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...
i would lose the ph controller its not really necessary, as it doesnt accurately show the co2 amount in the water. (although co2 does effect ph)

just plug the soleniod valve into the wall socket and see if you get bubbles that way. also make sure the canister has co2 in it.

what your gonna want to get is a dropchecker, check ebay. make sure it comes with the fluid to make the solution in it. a drop checker is a container of liquid you stick in the tank that changes color based on dissolved co2 amount. its really easy to setup.

do not add both fish and co2(or leave it on checking if it functions is ok) until you have a dropchecker. to much co2 kills fish
 
drop checker explained
http://www.njagc.net/articles/co2dropchecker.htm
the checker will say use tank or tap and mix with solution they give you
Dont use that water!
you want water of 4kh
heres how to make that, you can also by premade ones
http://www.instructables.com/id/SLEMZW7FWBNG1B0/

probably a more accurate way to make it with testing
by hoppy calif
First, get some distilled water from the grocery store.
Using clean glass container, pour about a cup of that water into the container.
Next, add a very small amount of bicarbonate of soda - baking soda - Arm and Hammer soda, etc. to the water and stir it up with a very clean stirrer.
Test the KH of that water with your test kit.
Most likely it will be a higher than 4 KH. So, add some more distilled water and repeat the test. (If the first KH comes out to 8 degrees KH, double the amount of water. If it is 6 degrees of KH, add 50% more water, etc.)
When you get close to 4 degrees KH, repeat the test using twice as big a water sample in the vial as the kit calls for, then count each drop of KH reagent as being half the degrees of KH that the kit normally says - for AP test kit, that makes each drop equal to .5 degrees KH. I found I can get very near "exactly" 4 degrees KH by doing this carefully.
Use a syringe to squirt some of this 4 degrees KH water into the bulb of the "drop checker". Fill the bulb about 2/3 full of the water.
Add a few drops of your pH test reagent - use enough to get a strong blue color, but not so much that the water becomes opaque with the blue dye.
Use the suction cup on the "drop checker" to suspend the device two or three inches below the tank water surface, with the "horn" of the "drop checker" pointing down so it traps air in the horn.
Click to expand...
 
what plants where you gonna use to scape?
 
Thank you for all of the advice! I don't know what plants I will be using yet. I am conteplating using someone online to put together an aquascape based upon fish, measurements, etc..... I have been doing this for awhile but this is the first time I am trying to set up something special. Hence, I know the plants I use with my other tanks but don't know enough to coordinate precisely what will look awesome and fit together.
 
redranks;3255817; said:
Thank you for all of the advice! I don't know what plants I will be using yet. I am conteplating using someone online to put together an aquascape based upon fish, measurements, etc..... I have been doing this for awhile but this is the first time I am trying to set up something special. Hence, I know the plants I use with my other tanks but don't know enough to coordinate precisely what will look awesome and fit together.
Click to expand...
oh well take you time i know its tough to get exactly the look you want.
but one popular plant i will warn you about is dwarf baby tears or HC(abreviation of scientific name). if you want that plant as for ground cover you will need to grow it out emmersed in the tank before adding the water. its supposed to be horrible to plant it underwater as the roots are small.

if you want some ideas check out this site http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2009.cgi
the 2009 tanks arent up yet but if you go to the previous years you can view all the entries.
 
sostoudt;3255737; said:
i would lose the ph controller its not really necessary, as it doesnt accurately show the co2 amount in the water. (although co2 does effect ph)

just plug the soleniod valve into the wall socket and see if you get bubbles that way. also make sure the canister has co2 in it.

what your gonna want to get is a dropchecker, check ebay. make sure it comes with the fluid to make the solution in it. a drop checker is a container of liquid you stick in the tank that changes color based on dissolved co2 amount. its really easy to setup.

do not add both fish and co2(or leave it on checking if it functions is ok) until you have a dropchecker. to much co2 kills fish
Click to expand...


A drop checker is a pH meter.
 
velanarris;3260240; said:
A drop checker is a pH meter.
Click to expand...
yes but its used with a specific water hardness of 4. that isnt affected by additives or substrate, or dechlorinated water ph.
it make the ph reading more accurate as its only effected by gas exchange of co2.
this stuff will change ph of the tank water
Ways to lower pH
Filtering water over peat
Add bogwood to the tank
Inject carbon dioxide CO2
Use a commercial acid buffer
Water changes with softened water or RO (Reverse Osmosis) water
Ways to raise the pH
Aerate the water, driving off the carbon dioxide (CO2)
Filter over coral or limestone
Add rocks containing limestone to the tank or use a coral sand substrate
Use a commercial alkaline buffer


with the seperate water container only co2 will effect it.
 
i agree with sostoudt. if youre still not getting any co2 flow even though it should be on, try increasing the working pressure on your regulator up to about 25-30psi. ive found that with lower workign pressures, the bubbles will stop flowing after the power to the solenoid is interrupted :)
 
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