new on plants

[joselito76]

I know this question is been ask many times , but every tank is different so i am going to ask again. First I have a 125g tanks with a wet/dry filter it was sea water before ,but to much maintenance ,so i decide to go fresh water.I just got the co2 tank,regulator,Co2 diffuser etc... an extra 250 gallon pump,plus the already running 450gph pump, 2 96 watts cf 67000 k lights.How much co2 i should inject bubbles per minute etc. thanks.

 

[Dr. Scroggins..]

i have a 55 gal, and my drop checker finally turned green up around 5 bubbles per second. i would say you're going to be even higher than that , with over twice as much volume, but a good place to start.

 

[Crepe]

I would just purchase a drop checker and slowly adjust the bubble count. Every tank is different.

 

[joselito76]

Thanks guys.one more question ,do you guys run it all day ,only few hours a day?

 

[Crepe]

The whole All day vs. off at night is still under contention. The widely held belief is that you should turn it off if you have a pressurized system and keep it on all the time if you have only a diy setup.

 

[joselito76]

My co2 is running about 4 bubble per second, but the drop checker is still blue,but the ph drop from 8.2 to 7.6, so i am planing to increase the count. Do you guys think that I should get a buffer to try to keep the ph around 8 .The reason for that is, because most of my fish are Malawi cichlids .

 

[Crepe]

How are you dissolvin the CO2?

 

[joselito76]

I dont want to drop the ph to low and start having issues with the fish.Fish first,plants second.

 

[joselito76]

How are you dissolvin the CO2?

The reactor 1000 by aquamedic with a 250 gph pump.

 

[Crepe]

Are you getting 100% dissolution? Also, what is the reference solution in your drop checker. Is it 4dKH?

 

[joselito76]

Are you getting 100% dissolution? Also, what is the reference solution in your drop checker. Is it 4dKH?

How do i know that,I got Red sea co2 indicator.1 ml of water 2 drops of solution.

 

[Crepe]

Well I've found your problem, mate.
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forum...ce-kh-solution-for-co2-measurement-88293.html

The relationship of pH and CO2 can only be measured with a known KH. For this reason we use a reference solution of a precise KH to correlate pH and CO2 levels.
Your tap water probably has a high kH, keeping the pH from changing.

 

[joselito76]

thanks guys for your help