Nothing much happening in the tank today.
Water Chemistry
I purchased a digital pH meter from ebay, only a cheap one for £10.
It's pretty interesting. It shows that the CO2 being pumped into the water is having the expected result, lowering the pH. The pH of the tank water is 7.0-7.1, compared to the tap water which has a pH of over 8. A good validation test for if the CO2 is working properly.A KH test (Carbonate Hardness) of the tank shows KH at 200ppm (or 11.2 degrees). Therefore we can work out the CO2 level in the water:
With a pH of 7.0
CO2 = 3 * KH * 10^(7-pH)
CO2 = 3 * 11.2 * 10^0
CO2 = 3 * 11.2
CO2 = 33.6 ppm
With a pH of 7.1
CO2 = 3 * KH * 10^(7-pH)
CO2 = 3 * 11.2 * 10^(-0.1)
CO2 = 3 * 11.2 * 0.7943
CO2 = 26.7 ppm
So between 26.7 and 33.6 ppm of CO2, high CO2 levels, great news for the plants.
hi ya gray, unfortunately the ph/kh way of checking c02 is not reliable as it does not take into account any buffers in the water. the best way of checking co2 is with a drop checker and 4dkh soulution or what c02 you think you have just isnt that amount. if you need any help contact me. via my blog, PFK or direct at mralgae@aquaticsuppliesireland.com
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mralgae
Thanks very much for the advice. Your blog makes it very clear how to use the drop checker, I think I'll try that method of determining the CO2 when I come to add fish to be sure CO2 levels aren't too high for them.
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