Co2 disaster???

[lauraf]

Given the CO2 backup and subsequent mini-cycle my tank went through, maybe it's no surprise that some fish were traumatized. I immediately lost one multipunctatus and my male ram (who was 'headstanding' for a couple of days before the full CO2 backup). Last night I also lost my female ram. Everyone else seems to be fine, my angels spawned again, and my water readings are thus:
Nitrite - 0
Ammonia - 0
Nitrates 10mg/l
pH -6.7
Kh - down to 1 mg/l
I'm happy to start another thread about rams or general water quality elsewhere to preserve the relevance of this thread, as I do have more questions about CO2, as might others. But is this new ram death simply a result of the CO2 issue? Also shouldn't my hardness be higher (and if so, how do I get it higher without increasing the pH, other than adding another chemical ingredient, namely a "pH down" product)?

 

[anshuman]

I just started my DiY Co2 setup, it took me 10 mins to prepare the pipe, hole in cap and fill it with sugar and 1tsp yeast and add water, shake it and cap it . its in test bucket. lets see.

BTW i want to add here laura that CO2 will lower PH by good amount, like if its ~7, it will go around ~6, the fish who dont do well near 6, will suffer, but its rare to read fished died on introduction on co2. its gotta be more than just Co2 to really kill them off. I am sure any other super-fish user can tell more.

 

[lauraf]

No, I know it wasn't the CO2 that would cause any problem, but the CO2 disaster, when the yeast 'n stuff got into the tank.

 

[lauraf]

Umm, no one seems to have responded to me about the death of my female ram. Okay, moving on And I did think this thread should be primarily about CO2 issues.
So I started up my CO2 after a bit of a hiatus because of the disaster that started this thread. I understand from my LFS that it might take a couple of days for the pressure to build up again. I hooked the system up again Saturday afternoon (Feb 27th); it is now Tuesday late evening, and while I can still see the flow coming out of the diffuser mouth, there are no bubbles at all.
Should I be waiting longer, or do I need to replace the reactor mixture (I can mix it myself instead of buying it)?

 

[anshuman]

well I am testing my DiY with no check-valve , I have learned they can be faulty and make it impossible to detect whats not working etc. Right now i have massive leakages at the cap (i discovered after coming back to my place and seeing no bubbles) and sealed the caps with rubber sealant etc. thats my tip, wait for the bubbles and see if there are any leakage (wont be in your case as its a product).

 

[lauraf]

Okay, thanks anshu -does anyone have additional advice? Tonight still no bubbles. The canister was opened a couple of different times, and some of the mixture dumped out during last week's disaster. It seems to be sealed tightly, but I am really wondering why there still is no pressure built up enough to start the bubbling? I feel like I should be starting again with new reactor mix . . . . .

 

[OrangeCones]

I've been using this recipe for CO2:

1/2 cup sugar, 1/8 teaspoon yeast, 3/4 teaspoon baking soda, 2 cups water.

Add the sugar first and add the water at 90degrees (the temperature makes a difference - and I use a dedicated former fishtank thermometer haha!)

Then add the baking soda, stir well.

The add the yeast, stir well. Cap and leave it alone.

The bubble start for me in about 24-36 hours later.

 

[anshuman]

thanks for the info OC i was just going to make another bottle. will use this recipe

 

[lauraf]

Thanks - the reactor stuff I initially used was a packaged mix that came with my store-bought CO2 system. I was planning on switching to a homebrew after the first month, 'cause buying it at $16/can each month is silly. But, just to ask again - considering all of the opening/closing of the canister with the disaster stuff, will this have completely deactivated the reactor mix? Should I be more patient? Or do I just dump whatever is still in the canister and start fresh with this recipe?
(My LFS felt so badly about my CO2 issue and the mini-cycle that I'll bet they would bonus me another $16 reactor mix - they already offered to replace my multipunctatus . . . .)

 

[OrangeCones]

If it were me, I'd start a new batch.

 

[lauraf]

If it were me, I'd start a new batch.

OC, this is what I was waiting for, thank you. I shall do so tomorrow. OC, you give me sanity. Cheers, love.
Just to clarify, the kind of yeast I have, that I am going to use with your recipe as previously listed instead of the store-bought combo, is Fleischmann's active dry yeast. This is the right yeast?

 

[OrangeCones]

That's the kind I use. I got a small jar and keep it in the fridge once opened. I end up throwing it away after a year or so (you'll see it start to run out faster, then its time for a new jar). Mine usually lasts 3-4 weeks. I change it every 2 though, because it gets slower the longer its running.

 

[lauraf]

What size canister do you use for this recipe? My store-bought one is just over a liter. And no shaking at all? The store-bought mixture instructs for 2 mins of gentle shaking . . . .
But I trust OC.

 

[OrangeCones]

I've never shaken, only stired (Guess I'm not James Bond? hahaha!).

Don't know if shaking is ok or not, I was given the instructions to stir, it worked, so I've not deviated from that.

Sorta like ~'if it ain't broke, don't fix it!~

Maybe you should start a new thread with a poll, "do you shake or do you stir?" Prolly get lots of both answers!

My empty container holds 3 cups of water. When I add sugar and 2 cups of warm water, its about 4/5 of the way full.

 

[lauraf]

Okay! Good idea, will start a new thread. But meanwhile, OC, I am your disciple

 

[OrangeCones]

Oh my *blush*

If it wasn't illegal to do so, I'd send you some plant trimmings you could use I hate throwing them away, but I can't keep them all or my hubby would kill me because I'd need to keep adding more tanks.

Speaking of throwing plant trimmings away, always be mindful not to let a plant that is NOT NATIVE to where you live get established. The easiest way to make sure what you are tossing out is truly dead is to freeze the plants. I wrap them in a couple of sheets of newspaper, mark the date on the outside with a marker, pop them into the freezer, and two weeks later, it goes out in the trash or compost pile.

 

[lauraf]

That's very mindful. I didn't really think about it, as most of what I discard are decaying bits. But a great tip, as all parts of the world do suffer when you get invasive non-native plants.
Started a James Bond poll just now!

 

[OrangeCones]

Some of the states in the USA prohibit some common aquarium plants now, since they get out and outcompete local native plants so easily.

I never thought much of it since I compost for my garden in the yard until one day I opened the top to stir things around and found several African ferns growing. The are an aquatic plant that can be a 'marginal' plant too. The compost container was very humid and full of fertilizer, so it took off. I've been very careful ever since. I don't want to be the cause that someone can't enjoy a truly beautiful plant in their aquarium.

And some of the fast-growing stem plants I mentioned in the other thread are considered WEEDS in their native country. They can't believe we WANT the plants!!

 

[lauraf]

Oh, I can believe it about weeds - the parallel idiom is "one's man's trash is another's treasure". My Australian friends can't believe that we actually encourage blackberry bushes in our public parks, for example.
But yes, I compost too, and I'll sometimes see avocado pits starting to split and bloom - definitely not native to Vancouver, Canada!
Where in the States are you located, OC? Midwest, right?

 

[OrangeCones]

Sadly, I'm in Iowa. I hope to move in the next year to almost anyplace else!