Hello,
Drop checkers have become suspect in their ability to accurately reflect CO2 levels of the planted tank. As I understand it, the key issues are that CO2 levels
*normally fluctuate throughout the day
*fluctuate with variation in filter or powerhead capacity to evenly distribute CO2
*and because of circulation issues, can be different at different locations of the tank
So the problem is that a drop checker reading only reveals CO2 levels at that particular part of the tank, at that particular time of day, and with the distribution/circulation of water for that particular period of time (which will change over time as a function of filter flow, etc.).
The issue seems not to be accuracy of drop checker measurement, but stability of actual CO2 levels to which the drop checker is sensitive. Have I got that right?
So my question is - under circumstances where there is serious and equivalent distribution of current/flow throughout the tank (e.g., empty tank, multiple powerheads all possible directions run 24/7), is the drop checker reliable under these conditions?
No one would run a tank this way, but if the answer is "yes, probably, kind of", then that suggests continued utility of the drop checker, under conditions where issues of flow are carefully addressed (the latter Tom has generously repeated for the hard of hearing, many times..). My interest is just trying to get a handle on what the key problems are, and how those problems might be approached - without having to return to similar problems of pH/KH charts.
Drop checkers have become suspect in their ability to accurately reflect CO2 levels of the planted tank. As I understand it, the key issues are that CO2 levels
*normally fluctuate throughout the day
*fluctuate with variation in filter or powerhead capacity to evenly distribute CO2
*and because of circulation issues, can be different at different locations of the tank
So the problem is that a drop checker reading only reveals CO2 levels at that particular part of the tank, at that particular time of day, and with the distribution/circulation of water for that particular period of time (which will change over time as a function of filter flow, etc.).
The issue seems not to be accuracy of drop checker measurement, but stability of actual CO2 levels to which the drop checker is sensitive. Have I got that right?
So my question is - under circumstances where there is serious and equivalent distribution of current/flow throughout the tank (e.g., empty tank, multiple powerheads all possible directions run 24/7), is the drop checker reliable under these conditions?
No one would run a tank this way, but if the answer is "yes, probably, kind of", then that suggests continued utility of the drop checker, under conditions where issues of flow are carefully addressed (the latter Tom has generously repeated for the hard of hearing, many times..). My interest is just trying to get a handle on what the key problems are, and how those problems might be approached - without having to return to similar problems of pH/KH charts.