Ready made drop checkers vs 4dkh solutions
- Thread starter Soggy
- Start date
Not usually. The "ready made" stuff you get from places like aquaticmagic and such are just re-labeled bromothymol blue.
You wouldn't want to use tank water anyhow; it will have its own compounds floating around in the column that buffer pH. Use DI H2O instead.
You wouldn't want to use tank water anyhow; it will have its own compounds floating around in the column that buffer pH. Use DI H2O instead.
but the instructions say to use tank water and add a few drops of the ready made stuff.
Im talking about this item http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18478/si1380875/cl0/redseaco2indicator
Im talking about this item http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18478/si1380875/cl0/redseaco2indicator
If your tank's water is low in KH and PH and you use it in your DC,
your DC will probably be always green even if CO2 in your tank is low,
and vice versa if your water is high in KH and PH.
Try reading this http://www.njagc.net/articles/co2dropchecker.htm
And you will know why using tank water can be misleading about the amount
of CO2 in your tank.
your DC will probably be always green even if CO2 in your tank is low,
and vice versa if your water is high in KH and PH.
Try reading this http://www.njagc.net/articles/co2dropchecker.htm
And you will know why using tank water can be misleading about the amount
of CO2 in your tank.
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It's not snake oil. It's bromothymol blue that you add to the 4 dKH solution in the DC. GLA sells what I think your looking for.
http://www.greenleafaquariums.com/co2-drop-checkers/oracle-kh-standard.html
http://www.greenleafaquariums.com/co2-drop-checkers/oracle-kh-standard.htmlDrop checkers have been out for many years, but adding the 4 dKH carbonate based solution with its included bromothymol blue solution is rather new.
That is why your directions say to use aquarium water.
You can't use aquarium water even if it is 4 dKH either. There are more than just carbonates that add KH to the water than carbonates. Phosphates, other acids and bases add to the KH mix too. This invalidates the pH/KH/CO2 relationship. This relationship is only good is the water uses carbonates which is where the 4 dKH carbonate based solution comes in.
Read Chuck's explanation rather closely and will understand what he is saying about this relationship. http://csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_co2chart.htm
VaughnH wrote a series of articles about them. Here is one: http://www.barrreport.com/showthrea...Indicators-Why-and-How?highlight=drop+checker
That is why your directions say to use aquarium water.
You can't use aquarium water even if it is 4 dKH either. There are more than just carbonates that add KH to the water than carbonates. Phosphates, other acids and bases add to the KH mix too. This invalidates the pH/KH/CO2 relationship. This relationship is only good is the water uses carbonates which is where the 4 dKH carbonate based solution comes in.
Read Chuck's explanation rather closely and will understand what he is saying about this relationship. http://csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_co2chart.htm
VaughnH wrote a series of articles about them. Here is one: http://www.barrreport.com/showthrea...Indicators-Why-and-How?highlight=drop+checker