MartinBlank
Aquarium Advice Freak
I would like to run what I think I understand past you guys and you can let me know how far off base I am in my assumptions
First some background. This is a 75 gallon community tank. Light are 48" Dual Bulb T5 HO fixture with 2 54w bulbs.
The water from my tap is very high on both the kH and pH scales. Like off the end of the scale high.
I started out Fish only. Eventually decided I wanted to add some plants. But was resistant to CO2 more out of fear than anything else.
I have finally come around to the idea of injected CO2. It will make my plants happy, and it should also lower the pH levels of the tank itself, making it a happier place for a broader range of fish. So I a double-win right? Or is that my first false assumption?
So I will need a tank (I am thinking a 10 gallon) and then a regulator to go on top. The Milwaukee MA957 seems to be a very popular entry level regulator and was the one I was looking at purchasing. Good choice?
After that point a reactor or diffuser is needed right (along with some CO2 tubing)? What would you guys recommend. It appears that some reactors are really quite expensive. What do you guys recommend in this regard (I am not handy when it comes to DIY stuff, just sayin)
And finally we get to the drop-checker or other measuring device. My main question when it comes to this is that the fact that my water kH is so high, would it skew the results of a drop checker? I am terrible at chemistry. My gut feeling is no, it doesn't matter what kind of water you have in the aquarium, the drop checker will work regardless. Is that correct?
Also tell me anything that I am stupidly missing entirely.
As always thanks for all the great information.
First some background. This is a 75 gallon community tank. Light are 48" Dual Bulb T5 HO fixture with 2 54w bulbs.
The water from my tap is very high on both the kH and pH scales. Like off the end of the scale high.
I started out Fish only. Eventually decided I wanted to add some plants. But was resistant to CO2 more out of fear than anything else.
I have finally come around to the idea of injected CO2. It will make my plants happy, and it should also lower the pH levels of the tank itself, making it a happier place for a broader range of fish. So I a double-win right? Or is that my first false assumption?
So I will need a tank (I am thinking a 10 gallon) and then a regulator to go on top. The Milwaukee MA957 seems to be a very popular entry level regulator and was the one I was looking at purchasing. Good choice?
After that point a reactor or diffuser is needed right (along with some CO2 tubing)? What would you guys recommend. It appears that some reactors are really quite expensive. What do you guys recommend in this regard (I am not handy when it comes to DIY stuff, just sayin)
And finally we get to the drop-checker or other measuring device. My main question when it comes to this is that the fact that my water kH is so high, would it skew the results of a drop checker? I am terrible at chemistry. My gut feeling is no, it doesn't matter what kind of water you have in the aquarium, the drop checker will work regardless. Is that correct?
Also tell me anything that I am stupidly missing entirely.
As always thanks for all the great information.