Should I toss the drop checker??

lee3

Lifetime Members
Lifetime Member
Oct 13, 2014
14
0
1
Australia
Hi all.... first post...
I've recently re-entered aquarium keeping, and have set up a 165L planted tank. Through my 5yo son.....
Lights - Grobeam LEDs x2 - approx 50-60 PAR - 8hr duration
CO2 injected
pH controller
(While I investigate EI dosing I'm using Flourish comp/N/P/K/Fe)
water KH 3.6 deg

I put Sera's drop checker in the tank when setting up, and set the pH controller to 7.00. CO2 runs 24hr. The pH has remained stable - but the drop checker colour has been lightening, yellowing gradually over the past 48hr, tonight was a real light yellow-green, the colour Sera suggests CO2 is too high.

From a KH/CO2 chart, my level should only be around 10ppm, and fairly stable - I don't understand why the drop checker seems to be showing progressive change? Are there other factors in play?
I only really had the drop checker in as a cross-check while the pH controller was running in, doesn't really seem useful now, but results are incongruous....
Lee
 

Tom Barr

Founder
Staff member
Administrator
Jan 23, 2005
18,699
786
113
I'd drop the pH to about 6.4 to 6.3 and watch carefully.

Toss the DC.
 

lee3

Lifetime Members
Lifetime Member
Oct 13, 2014
14
0
1
Australia
I ended up leaving it there, mainly through inertia.... I noticed on Saturday it was yellow again - with a pH of 6.95 on the meter.
On closer inspection it had this clump of gelatinous matter accumulated in the barrel of the thing, at the water/gas interface, presumably a microbial growth releasing CO2?? It floated off into the water, I was able to scoop out most of it - was a fairly clear, gelatine like stuff?
I've tossed the DC now.
 

lee3

Lifetime Members
Lifetime Member
Oct 13, 2014
14
0
1
Australia
I ended up leaving it there, mainly through inertia.... I noticed on Saturday it was yellow again - with a pH of 6.95 on the meter.
On closer inspection it had this clump of gelatinous matter accumulated in the barrel of the thing, at the water/gas interface, presumably a microbial growth releasing CO2?? It floated off into the water, I was able to scoop out most of it - was a fairly clear, gelatine like stuff?
I've tossed the DC now.