CO2 on 24/7?

[TheDane]

I have read multiple opinions on this. Some say to turn it of at night (when light is off) others that it should be left on. If it has to be on all the time its easy, but if you have to turn it off at night, can you just add the solenoid power cable to the same timer as the lights and then have it shut off automatically?

How do you do it?


(I got pressurized CO2 with JBJ solenoid and external reactor)

[bossteck]

For convenience, I am using a multiplug with my light timer, both the lights and solenoid are controlled using the same timer.

I know there are some folks who use different timers and inject co2 1 hour before lights on.

[DanNiErSi]

i plug my tonardo fan , one of my light and the solenoid together in a timer , i think should be ok to let them start at the same time =) because i having a small tank so if i on 1 hour before the light come on i will have a lot Co2 in my tank and my shrimps and fishes will have too much Co2 then oxygen ,which i think not very good for them

[jason6142004]

my DIY CO2 is on 24-7..

[tawauboy]

if you co2 injection reaches 30ppm or more, you have to switch off co2 injection during light off period. this prevent excessive co2 concentration and plants cannot make use of co2 when there is no light.

diy co2 is ok to be 24/7 because the co2 injection is much lower.

[TheDane]

Guys,

Check out www.tropica.com under their aquaristic tab. They have an excellent article on CO2 and it seems that if you got the money for it may be worthwhile adding a PH meter to the CO2 system to control the valve.

They also have the most amazing plant catalogue - cant believe they are making all those plants in Denmark. I gotta go visit next time Im back.

[Thirteen]

Hi guys, since plants do not take in CO2 at night due to no light, is it actually advisible to even continue CO2 supply? The plants will be taking in oxygen instead, releasing CO2. The faunas will be affected if CO2 is on. Also, tank with CO2 on for 24hrs, will have a lower pH?

[EvolutionZ]

IMO, some pros and cons of having co2 on 24/7
pros: once lighting turns on, plants can start to take in co2 immidiatly
pH becomes lower and will be stable since on 24/7

cons: wasting co2 if on 24/7

[EvolutionZ]

Hi guys, since plants do not take in CO2 at night due to no light, is it actually advisible to even continue CO2 supply? The plants will be taking in oxygen instead, releasing CO2. The faunas will be affected if CO2 is on. Also, tank with CO2 on for 24hrs, will have a lower pH?

bro, if im not wrong. on-ing co2 for 24/7 will not affect the faunas..

[tawauboy]

depends on your co2 injection rate. high co2 injection can suffocate fauna.

[Zenislev]

depends on your co2 injection rate. high co2 injection can suffocate fauna.

True bro. For DIY Co2, i don't really see a problem having it on 24/7. As what tawauboy mentioned earlier on, DIY Co2 produces lower output rate. So it doesn't really affect much on the plants and water conditions in the process.

[jdlim]

I set my timer (recommend theben) to turn on the lights and CO2 at the same time. I don't think it's harmful to have the CO2 24 hours. My brother used to do it with his DIY CO2 for his 5ft tank. But for a tankful of CO2, it would be wasteful. Some suggest to turn on the light for the 1st half hour and turn when the photosynthesis kicks in the fuller capacity then turn on the CO2. I think it's very small difference.

[Quixotic]

New-school CO2 techniques

[ct13]

I am having a 3' x 1.5' x 1.5' tank, i switch on my CO2 24/7 with 2 bps. So far so good, it maintain at 30ppm(Shown on my drop checker).

[juggler]

New-school CO2 techniques

I read the above article before. Here's one good reason for 24/7.

CO2 24/7 means that the CO2 is immediately available to the plants when the lights come on. pH is more stable too, an advantage when keeping sensitive plants such as some Cryptocoryne that melt with fluctuating pH.

I set CO2 running 24/7 at low bubble rate of like 1 bps or slower.