zer0zax

^^I think this would show 20-30ppm Co2, but I plan to run DIY Co2, so the 10-15 range is what I would really expect. You have a real good point though, the in between numbers like 15ppm or 25 ppm would be to much of a pain to try and decipher. As long as I can get above 10ppm for a lowlight I will be happy!

dawntwister

I see a lot of simple designs for the drop checkers but I don't see any mention of where to buy the fluid to put in the drop checker. Where do you buy the fluid to put in the drop checker?

pepetj

You DIY!

Use distilled water and add tiny-tiny amounts of baking soda. By trial and error, take samples of your water and measure until you know you have a 4 dKH solution. If you use 10ml of water as sample instead of 5, your reading will be more accurate; just divide by two the number of drops you added until the color changed. Once you get it dump the sample you added the KH reagent to, use your solution to add some drops (I like adding at least 7 of bromthymol blue) pH reagent solution and insert it in your DIY drop checker device.

Pepe
Santo Domingo

lovingHDTV

Looking at some of these designs I would like to offer up another idea.

Why not use a test with a single hole rubber stopper. The insert a glass tube into the hole. Invert the whole thing and your done.

I was looking around and you can buy these parts for < $5.

The only question I have is the effect the rubber stopper would have on the solution.

Comments?

dawntwister

Sounds like a niffty idea. Where do you get the rubber stoppers?

lovingHDTV

These guys have it all, but are out of stock on the tubing.

http://www.crscientific.com/stoppers.html

lildark185

I made a DIY drop check which holds very little water ~0.75mL. Would this work?

pepetj

The amount of water you use will not matter as long as you keep some air trapped between the two fluids (#1. water tank; and #2. 4dKH -sodium bicarbonate solution in distilled water- with a few drops of pH reagent).

Pepe
Santo Domingo

pepetj

I used a catheter (medical use rigid plastic tube for Intra-Venous administrations) and a glass test tube. Here is a pic of one I just made. I am working in a smaller unit now.

Attached Thumbnails

 

Jebadiah

FYI, in case you don't want to or don't have the equipment to make up your own batch of 4dKH, I am selling the remainder of my last batch on Ebay. It is cheap, just looking to cover my time and costs, not make a huge profit.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=320329616880