Do you count the bubbles? - Equipment

MiamiAG · 02-20-2004, 10:29 AM

For those of you with pressurized CO2, do you count the bubbles to determine appropriate CO2 levels? Or, do you use a pH monitor? Tables?

jerseyjay · 02-20-2004, 11:03 AM

I did count the bubbles years ago when I first setup my CO2 system. Now I have Milwaukee PH controller and I would never setup a show tank without one. This very user friendly toy would put those LaMotte test kits to shame

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MiamiAG · 02-20-2004, 11:06 AM

Jay, I agree. I had to save for quite a while to get my pH controller but it was worth it!

It is so nice to always look at the pH and it is hovering around 6.8 all the time.

gpodio · 02-20-2004, 11:38 AM

While I don't have a controller yet, I still find that counting bubbles is rather useless, actually I don't even have a bubble counter anymore. I think it's good for adjusting your needle valve to get the same bubble rate you had before messing with it, or before getting a refill, but can the number of bubbles tell you anything about the CO2 concentration in the tank? I don't think so. At times for example my reactor gets a little clogged with leaves and the CO2 concentration drops, bubble rate is obviously still the same. Or when water level drops a little too much or the suction cups that hold the filter return come off and I end up with some extra unwanted surface agitation... again only a PH test kit, controller or similar can tell you the actual concentration in the tank.

One of these days I'll buy a PH controller, I gave away my solenoid as I run the reactor off the light timer and didn't need it. I may set one up in the new tank however.

Giancarlo Podio

Sir_BlackhOle · 02-21-2004, 05:00 AM

Where did you guys get your ph controllers and about how much do they run?

MiamiAG · 02-24-2004, 11:07 AM

Kevin,

I purchased mine from Premium Aquatics, but they are widely available. I think they range from $150 to $300+ for the more feature rich ones.

Raul-7 · 02-24-2004, 11:08 PM

Go to aquatic-store.com, it's for $90...Aren't pH controllers a pain to maintain...with all that buffer, and probe changing?

jerseyjay · 02-25-2004, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raul-7

Aren't pH controllers a pain to maintain...with all that buffer, and probe changing?

Raul,

So far I have yet to have any problems. I never had one before so I basically went with what people told me. Buffering is fairly easy. Take probe, dip it in 4 and 7 solution and calibrate (screw on the back and front). This process takes few minutes. Some people have their probes for a long period of time and report no need for calibration.

Probe changing ?

Don't know about that.

cS · 02-25-2004, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir_BlackhOle

Where did you guys get your ph controllers and about how much do they run?

A pH controller should be IMHO on the very bottom of your to-buy list. Do you have nothing else to purchase? A different substrate than the neon red gravel for example.

I use pH and KH test kits to get [CO2] in the 25-30ppm range, and take note of how many bubbles per minute are required. That's it. As long as the bubble rate stays the same, there is no reason why [CO2] should deviate from what I had initially measured. I don't touch the system until the CO2 bottle needs refill. When that happens, I'll employ the pH/KH test kits again.

Sir_BlackhOle · 02-26-2004, 07:21 AM

Yes there is always plenty of other stuff to buy! I was just curious about the price. Replacement for the neon gravel is on the way