Do I need CO2 bubbler?

[Larry]

I have a 26g with a good number of plants. Someone suggested that
it's hard to maintain a regular ph level with this homemade type
apparatus.

Are my plants actually benefitting from this? It's designed for up to
a 20g tank by the way.

All the best,

Larry

[Elaine T]

Larry wrote:
> I have a 26g with a good number of plants. Someone suggested that
> it's hard to maintain a regular ph level with this homemade type
> apparatus.
>
> Are my plants actually benefitting from this? It's designed for up to
> a 20g tank by the way.
>
> All the best,
>
> Larry
>
>
>
Check pH and KH with a good kit and see with a chart if you're above
atmospheric CO2 of 2-5 ppm. For the pH test, mix very, very gently so
you don't drive the CO2 out of your sample. If you're above atmospheric
CO2, it's helping your plants. Charts and tables are at
http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/CO2/kh-ph-co2-chart.html

It can be hard to hold the pH steady as yeast bottles die off. My fish
never seemed to really notice when I changed bottles on my soda bottle
DIY, though. I guess the change is gradual enough that it doesn't
stress the fish.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[[email protected]]

It depends on what plants you have. You can make a DIY CO2 generator
for about 25 cents. Of course you need to add sugar and yeast and
baking soda. That should cost about 50 cents a week at most.

[NetMax]

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
.. .
> Larry wrote:
<snip>
> My fish never seemed to really notice when I changed bottles on my
> soda bottle DIY, though. I guess the change is gradual enough that it
> doesn't stress the fish.


Anyone ever measure the pH bounce which occurs? I imagine that there is
4 to 5 days of interrupted service when you account for the time it took
to notice, to when the next brew is bubbling, so that should be plenty of
time for the CO2 to outgas and the pH to reach normal equilibrium with
the kH and atmosphere. I'd be curious to see if the rate of change was
slower than the widely recommended .25pH per 24 hours. I doubt it is.
--
www.NetMax.tk

> --
> Elaine T __
> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><

[Nikki Casali]

NetMax wrote:
> Anyone ever measure the pH bounce which occurs? I imagine that there is
> 4 to 5 days of interrupted service when you account for the time it took
> to notice, to when the next brew is bubbling, so that should be plenty of
> time for the CO2 to outgas and the pH to reach normal equilibrium with
> the kH and atmosphere. I'd be curious to see if the rate of change was
> slower than the widely recommended .25pH per 24 hours. I doubt it is.

Don't forget that the plants are sucking the CO2 out of the water with
much gusto. My plants would have no problem raising the pH by .25 within
a couple of hours with the lighting and fertiliser I've got going if the
CO2 injection were temporarily interrupted. I've noted it when the
cylinder runs out. I presume the reversion to normal equilibrium would
follow some sort of discharge curve. A big change followed by a gradual one.

Nikki