Need Help on Water Parameters

[cichlid1409]

it's no problem. if your keeping tank raised cichlids from the fish store and you don't think you need one then you probably don't it's an added extra that us fish freaks NEED. when doing 80-90% water changes i think it gets a little more dangerous. there are plenty of people all over that just use dechlorinators and they are 'safe' to an extent. alot of us like the added insurance.

[DUHK]

Speaking of carbon and stuff. I am trying to set up a DIY CO2 generator. How will I know once my CO2 supply runs out and I need to make more? I am putting my tubing into the intake of an internal filter.

[cichlid1409]

you will know ...it will slow down significantly then stop producing bubbles .

[DUHK]

Okay, great!

Wow, I have to say I've tried to read articles and "how to's" on the internet, but for the past couple of days I have learned so much from this forum!

Thank you guys! I love this community!

[Complexity]

Understood. Thanks, Cichlid.

DUHK, you could use a drop checker which changes colors based on the level of CO2 in the water. Otherwise, you'll just have to check the mixture. After you've used it for awhile, you should start to get a feel for how long it lasts before you need to refresh the mix.

Regarding putting the CO2 into the filter intake, I've heard of people doing that with some reporting issues with their impeller long term. You'll probably be okay, but you might want to consider putting it in the output side of the filter. If you use a reactor or diffuser, you shouldn't have to worry about the CO2 dissolving into the water.

[DUHK]

Are drop checkers expensive? Where can I find a good kind? Do you have one?

[Complexity]

I have two, but I'm using them.

They can be expensive if you get the fancy glass ones, but you can also make a DIY very inexpensively.

I posted some links with DIY instructions in another thread. Let me see if I can find it for you.

[Complexity]

Found it! Check out the links in this post. Hopefully, something will work for you.

http://www.houstonfishbox.com/vforums/showthread.php?p=405122#post405122