How do I measure O2 and CO2??? PLEASE HELP ASAP!!!!

[AquariumFreak]

Well I brought home some Harlequin Rasbora's and Perstella / X-ray Tetra's. I floated them in the tank for about 20 min and then released them into the tank.

It's been about 45 min now and most of them are still hanging out at the surface of the water.

So I am guessing it's one of two things, they are either hungry or I have too much CO2 and not enough O2 in the tank.

How can I measure the O2?

Please let me know... don't want my new little friends to die.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[AquariumFreak]

I forgot to mention that my plants are giving off a BUNCH of small bubbles... some are giving off streams of bubbles and every once in a while you'll see a couple of big bubbles come up from the gravel...

Not sure what it is either...

 

[patryuji]

You can indirectly measure CO2 levels by finding the carbonate hardness (kH) and the pH of the water. "Rex Grigg" has links to tables of this nature from his website (find his name and look for the link from his signature).

The small bubbles could be damage to the plants if it is from the stems. If it is from the leaves it may mean they are just photsynthesizing quite well.

The water you have in your tank may have been very different from what the fish lived in at the lfs. You equalized the temps but if you did not slowly introduce them to the water from your tank (I usually just put a few mL of water in their bag every minute until the water volume has doubled) it may be a shock for the fish.

 

[patryuji]

Wow, I just checked your link...you have all of them fish from your profile and the ones just described above in a 10Gallon tank?

Do you do all of the standard maintenance practices (water change etc)? If not then it could be "old tank syndrome" where the occupants have become accustomed to the water conditions but the new comers find the water not clean enough. [just grasping at straws here]

 

[patryuji]

Okay...I just read your other posts...this is a 90 gallon planted tank huh?

In that case it is most likely that the water from the fish store was significantly different from your water and the fish did not like being dumped into the water without being slowly acclimated to it.

 

[AquariumFreak]

Well thank you guys for the input...

Guess I learned a very important lesson tonight about adding fish to the tank....

They seem to be adjusting now so I am keeping my fingers crossed that they will all be ok.

I'll test the water later tonight and post it.

Thanks again for the input.

Jeff

 

[betowess]

Jeff, most folks let the new fish bag float in the tank for 15 min. so the water in the bag reaches the same temp as the tank water. Next, pour half of the water out of the bag (in a sink) and add same amount from the tank the fish are going in and let that sit (floating in the tank) for another 10 or 15 minutes before releasing into your tank. Gives them a little time to adjust abit to the new Ph and GH.

Pearling from your plants is a good sign. Also, you might want to try to keep your pH about neutral on days you are adding new stock. Rasboras like to hang near the top most of the time swimming in the current from the spray bars. Its fun to watch them do that... Goodluck, Bob...

 

[malkore]

All about measuring CO2 levels: http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_co2chart.htm