Survey on amount of pH fluctuation with CO2 on timer

[PeterGwee]

Hi Guys, like to find out what is the pH before CO2 injection and pH after CO2 injection stops. One more thing...is there a way to keep the CO2 concentration in the optimal range other than a pH-Controller as it takes quite some time for CO2 concentration to reach optimal with other methods?

Mine pH before CO2 injection is around 7.1 - 7.3 (on timer together with lights)
After injecting CO2 for the day, the pH before lights out are 6.8 (KH level is 4)

[David]

Hi Peter ...get a second timer and use it solely for the regulator...program it to turn on about 2 hrs before lights on....

[sherchoo]

Peter,

Tank size?

[PeterGwee]

Sherchoo..its just a 2ft..LOL...small...but no choice coz no space..[]

[Allen_1971]

David,

I wouldn't advise 2 hours before... depending on your bubble rate, tank size, and efficiency of your reactor, 2 hours may be enough to cause problems.

[PeterGwee]

Allen..I think so too as my reactor seems to be too efficient.. 1 bubble per second and my pH would drop to as low as 6.2-6.3 at the end of the day with a KH value of 3-4.

[chongj88]

Hi Peter,

Mind letting me know which reactor you are using? I am still hunting around for an efficient reactor after trying those with bio balls, inverted bell, diffuser... Trying an external reactor from Taiwan (bot from Soong Heng) on my 3ft and seems pretty good. But still keen to know what others are using.

Thanks!

John

[Allen_1971]

Peter,

how big is your tank? and what reactor are you using?

[PeterGwee]

Hi Chongj88 and Allen, I'm currently using the ADEC external CO2 reactor (fully filled with bio-balls in the reactor to retard flow as well as to break up CO2 bubbles..in my opinion is very efficient). For your info, I got it from C328 (auntie). The price though is abit ex.

[Allen_1971]

ahem... and how big is your tank?

[PeterGwee]

Allen..if you see clearly..I did mention my tank size before..? 2ft only.

[Allen_1971]

not to be picky, but 2ftx ?x?...

[PeterGwee]

2ft X 30cm X 45 cm

[David]

Hi Peter

with a KH of 3 to 4 and a PH of 6.2 to 6.3, you just slightly pass the line for CO2 overdose...are your fish showing any signs of heavy gill movement? Even if they dont, i am still not comfortable with the PH (almost 1PH point) swing when your CO2 is shut off...is there alot of surface agitation created by the rainbar or outlet pipe?

Perhaps you may want to drop your bubble count to 1 bubble every 2 seconds and see if you could obtain 6.5 to 6.6. If there is alot of surface agitation, try to reposition the rainbar or outlet pipe.

Measure your CO2 level again just before the CO2 is supplied...and hopefully obtain at PH 6.9 to 7.0

[FC]

Just kay-po.

I was asking myself the same question too. I have 3 sets of lights with individual timer. I turn on my CO2 together with the 1st turn on lamp set. the rest of the lamp turn on half hr one after another. In that order, the CO2 get to turn off 1st too.

I have external reactor too, my tank 4x2x2ft. I use Dupla PH constant reader that stay submerge all the time. The colour stay nearly constant. I measured the PH with a 1 time tester (10 hrs after light off and 5 hrs after light on) and I got bewtween 6.8 to near 7. KH was 5 at that time.

[FC]

2 points to add.
1) The outlet pipe arrangement helps, I beleive. I let it "blow" parallel and along the long side of the tank. Water stay calm.
2) I on/off the fan togather with the 2nd lamp set.