CO2/day + O2/night

[Aeon]

Hi need some opinion / experience / discussion on the following CO2-air strategies.

a) I saw this in new Amano tanks in Aqua Journal
CO2 injection: 10hrs/day
Aeration: 10 hrs/night

b) Most fall into this category
CO2 injection: 10hrs/day
Aeration: nil

c) Recommended for those without solenoid
CO2 injection: 24hrs/day
Aeration: 10 hrs/night

d) Safe?
CO2 injection: 24hrs/day
Aeration: nil

Who have tried which? results?

[fleekk]

Hi Bro,

Mine is 24/7 co2, no aeration at night. So far so good.

As long no overdose of co2, is alright.

[Aeon]

I just bought another timer and an air stone to do a)

Because plants photosynthesize in the day, working hard to manufacture food. They rest at night. A boost of O2 should make their rest more relaxing and luxurious. Fishes also will be healthier.

That's what I think. I think towards the end of the night, O2 should be quite depleted. If aeration is carried during this O2-depleted period, I believe it will be beneficial.

What I'm doing:
CO2 from 1000hrs - 2000hrs (10hrs/day)
Aeration from 2100hrs - 0900hrs (8hrs/night)

I'll report any visible difference in plant and fish health.

[bclee]

[quote:eb528cb608="Aeon"]I just bought another timer and an air stone to do a)

Because plants photosynthesize in the day, working hard to manufacture food. They rest at night. A boost of O2 should make their rest more relaxing and luxurious. Fishes also will be healthier.

That's what I think. I think towards the end of the night, O2 should be quite depleted. If aeration is carried during this O2-depleted period, I believe it will be beneficial.

What I'm doing:
CO2 from 1000hrs - 2000hrs (10hrs/day)
Aeration from 2100hrs - 0900hrs (8hrs/night)

I'll report any visible difference in plant and fish health.[/quote:eb528cb608]

Aerating the water do not inject O2 into the water. It merely equilibrate the dissolved gasses with the atmosphere.

At the end of the photosynthesis cycle, if your tank is heavily planted and your plants are healthy, you are likely to have an oversaturation of O2. This O2 level is higher than equilibrium level. By aerating the tank just after the photosynthesis cycle, you are bringing down the O2 level rather boosting it. Without, the O2 level might probably last for hours before going down to the equilibrium level.

IMO, in a moderately loaded tank with lots of plants, one can go without aeration with no ill effect to the fishes.

BC

[Aeon]

I didn't say I'm 'injecting' O2 by aeration. I know aeration causes surface turbulence which dissolves O2 in the air.

My tanks won't be heavily planted so aeration at night might be beneficial.

My thoughts:


The graph might not be accurate. Fishes and plants contribute to the CO2 at night when they respire. I'm not sure if aeration displaces that much CO2 in the 2nd diagram.

The CO2 level at night should drop slightly as I think the CO2 produced by plants at night is lesser than what is injected in the day.