joephys

Well, I have DIY, so I can't turn it off. I guess it runs 24/7

Lawrence Lee

DIY-ers and non-solenoid controlled CO2 users can "turn off" your CO2 diffusion by feeding the CO2 tube into a small inverted powerhead that is connected to the light timer.

When the light is on, the powerhead runs, sucking in the CO2 bubble, chopping it into a million tiny bubbles and spraying it out under the leaves of the plants where it get absorbed directly into the plant. This beats dissolving the CO2 into the water and letting the plants extract this dissolved CO2 back from the water.

When the lights go out, the powerhead stops, and the CO2 bubble just rises straight to the surface and gasses out, with minimal dissolution. Making this method a "night cut off device" of sorts.

Sudi

I have a 5lb bottle and I just set it to one "bubble speed" so it's on 24/7.
I turned it off now, because the plants were going nuts, but I'll have it back with a new layout.

With DIY co2, you could run it 24/7, but you would have to mix it more often...

Matt

sherry

I use a controller AND turn it off at night... I have finally been convinced from folks around here that ph swings due to co2, are not the same as those due to dissolved solids and that the fish can handle it... and are probably better off with a break from the co2.

yoink

I run mine 24/7 with no ill effects. I have pretty good surface agitation, so I think more is lost through degassing than plant uptake. No solenoids to mess with either.

Jdinh04

I have a solenoid on my regulator and I heard that it lets Co2 through, wouldn't it effect my co2 regulator if theres Co2 trapped in the regulator?

mousky

During the day when plants photosynthesise they use Co2 and emit o2 as a by-product. At night when the plants are 'asleep' they switch to a reverse photosynthesis, using o2 and emitting Co2.

If you keep your compressed Co2 on at night you run the risk of overdosing your c02. Have you ever noticed your fish swimming or gasping at the surface in the morning? fish that usually stick to the bottom regions, swimming up to or hanging around the surface in the morning? Chances are its a Co2 overdose.

A good idea is to set an air pump to switch on half an hour after your lights and Co2 turn off; and switch off half and hour after lights and Co2 are swithched on in the morning.

Oh and if you have diy Co2 please do not switch it off at night (or any time for long periods) unless you have some sort of pressure release system or you bottle will go BOOM!

goalcreas

Mine goes out with the lights, but I plan to add a PH controller soon

eklikewhoa

i have mine switching with the lights, i have no fish in there so i dont really care about ph swings.

as for diy, unless you are pulling the hose and letting it vent into the atmosphere i dont see how you are turning it off and the mixture would last about the same regardless if its pumping into the tank or not.

bpimm

After switching to a drop checker to monitor CO2 levels I have noticed that when running the CO2 24/7 the reading is the same 24/7 there is no change from lights out to lights on. My theory is that the plants use and produce such a small amount of CO2 compared to the amount we put into the tanks that it doesnt actually change the overall CO2 level in the tank. the out gassing of CO2 into the air is by far the largest user of CO2.

Any thoughts

Brian