hoppycalif

I'm very curious about how many of us are now either using an ADA style "drop checker" with a 4-5 dKH reference solution in it, how many are planning to do so, and how many have no plan to use one.

redstrat

I think a drop checker sounds like a cool idea and I'd really like to implement one into my tank mainly as a quick easy check.

Hoppy - I saw one of your posts before about drop checkers and it really sparked an interest but I have to admit I only skimmed through it because I was short on time. I wish I knew a little more about them. Whats in the indicator solution, is it distilled water and a couple drops of an indicator, how do you adjust the KH of it and how do you know what KH to adjust it to for your tank??? Do you need to replace the indicator solution often?

elaphe

Hoppy - If it weren't for your experiment, I wouldn't be using one.

I can't imagine my tank without one now

Brian

John N.

I've been following the talk on these drop checkers and your DIY Drop Checker. They sound very useful when establishing a planted aquarium and figuring out a more accurate reading of CO2 levels. I might have to give it a try later on if I see that I'm having problems with algae due to potentially low CO2 levels.

Instead, I just turn the CO2 bubble count as high as I can without harming fish and shrimp, monitoring it for a time after the intital setup.

-John N.

hoppycalif

You can adjust the KH of the solution in the bulb by adding a bit of bicarbonate of soda (baking soda, Arm and Hammer soda, etc.). The trick is to use a large enough container of distilled water so that the amount of soda required is not so tiny as to be impossible. I used a cup of distilled water, added a tiny bit of soda, measured the KH and found it to be too high. So I added more distilled water to the mix and retested. The first time I did this I was very lucky and that first addition of more water brought the KH down to almost exactly 4 dKH, where I wanted it. The next time I was shooting for 5 dKH and it took several tries before I finally got there.

Now that you have a container of 4 or 5 dKH distilled water, get a clean drinking water bottle and store this "doped" distilled water for use as you need it. Add a couple of ml of it to the bulb of the drop checker, using a syringe with a bent needle worked best for me. Then add a drop or two or so of pH indicator reagent to it, to get a strong blue color, but still transparent. That's it! Mine lasts over two weeks, and actually seems to last a lot longer, but I have changed the fluid for other reasons.

The reason for using 4 dKH distilled water, is that when it is an honest green color, the CO2 concentration is 30 ppm. And, 5 dKH water gives an honest green color at 40 ppm. In both cases if the water is blue or blue green you don't have enough CO2 and if it is yellow or yellow green you have much too much CO2.

redstrat

thanks for the explanation hoppy I'm probably going to get one of these as I think it would be really helpful expecially while I'm still running DIY co2. I'm sure it would still be just as usefull though when I can finally upgrade to a pressurized system. I think I'd rather know about my low CO2 before BBA gets a chance.

Cavan Allen

I favor pH controllers and don't see the need for one in my situation.

random_alias

Yes.

I took the clear dropper that comes with aquarium test kits and cut off the bulb. I then pushed short vinyl tubing onto the end of the bulb. I put 2 airline hose suction cups on the tubing and placed it in the tank with the suction cups bending the tubing into an arch. It works well, super cheap, extremely simple and actually looks quite good. Nothing like squeezing a bulb to suck water into a drop checker.

KH=5 and you bet it turned yellow!

epicfish

If you're using vinyl airline tubing, the opening might be a bit small and you'll get a lagged response to CO2 levels.

random_alias

Yes, I should be getting slower readings than if I used a larger diameter opening.