{
  "slug": "aquascape-co2",
  "title": "Aquarium CO2 Dosing Calculator",
  "heading": "Aquarium CO2 Dosing Calculator",
  "category": "other",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/aquascape-co2",
  "summary": "Bubble rate and CO2 level for a planted tank.",
  "description": "Estimate target bubbles per second by tank volume, plus the dissolved CO2 implied by your KH and pH readings.",
  "formula": "CO2 ppm ≈ 3 × KH × 10^(7 − pH).",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=aquascape-co2",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "gallons",
      "label": "Tank volume",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 40,
      "unit": "gal",
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "kh",
      "label": "Carbonate hardness (KH)",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 4,
      "unit": "dKH",
      "min": null,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "ph",
      "label": "pH with CO2 on",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 6.8,
      "unit": null,
      "min": null,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "light",
      "label": "Light intensity (1 low – 3 high)",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 2,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": 3
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "co2",
      "label": "Dissolved CO2 (ppm)",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "status",
      "label": "Assessment",
      "format": "raw",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "bps",
      "label": "Suggested bubbles/second",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "bph",
      "label": "Bubbles per hour",
      "format": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Tank volume: 40 gal",
      "Carbonate hardness (KH): 4 dKH",
      "pH with CO2 on: 6.8",
      "Light intensity (1 low – 3 high): 2"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Dissolved CO2 (ppm): 19",
      "Assessment: In target range",
      "Suggested bubbles/second: 4",
      "Bubbles per hour: 14,400"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter tank volume (gal).",
      "Enter carbonate hardness (kh) (dKH).",
      "Enter ph with co2 on.",
      "Enter light intensity (1 low – 3 high).",
      "Read your dissolved co2 (ppm) on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "gallons": 24,
        "kh": 2.4,
        "ph": 4.08,
        "light": 1
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "gallons": 40,
        "kh": 4,
        "ph": 6.8,
        "light": 2
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "gallons": 64,
        "kh": 6.4,
        "ph": 10.88,
        "light": 3
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.",
    "Results are rounded for readability; add a buffer before ordering, booking, or committing.",
    "Double-check anything with a real cost attached against a local quote."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "How does the aquarium co2 dosing calculator work?",
      "a": "Estimate target bubbles per second by tank volume, plus the dissolved CO2 implied by your KH and pH readings. The underlying maths is: CO2 ppm ≈ 3 × KH × 10^(7 − pH)."
    },
    {
      "q": "What do I need to enter?",
      "a": "4 values: tank volume, carbonate hardness (kh), ph with co2 on, and light intensity (1 low – 3 high). Each field starts with a sensible default, so you can change one number at a time and watch the result move."
    },
    {
      "q": "What does the dissolved co2 (ppm) result mean?",
      "a": "It is returned as a decimal number and updates live as you edit the inputs, so you can compare two or three versions of a scenario in a few seconds."
    },
    {
      "q": "Is this calculator free, and do I need an account?",
      "a": "Yes, it's free, and no account is required. Nothing you type is stored on our servers — the maths runs entirely in your browser."
    },
    {
      "q": "How accurate is the result?",
      "a": "It applies the standard formula exactly, so the arithmetic is precise. Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary."
    },
    {
      "q": "Who is this tool for?",
      "a": "It's built for anyone doing everyday planning maths — a quick estimate that would otherwise need four browser tabs and a calculator app."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/aquarium-volume"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Aquarium CO2 Dosing Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/aquascape-co2)"
}