CO2 24/7 or timed with lights - APC Polls

davemonkey · 04-25-2009, 03:52 PM

Just curious: do you run CO2 24/7 or do you time it with your lights (so it's shut off at night) .

Also, if you run 24/7, is it pressurized or DIY?

-Dave

cah925 · 04-26-2009, 06:07 AM

I time the CO2 to come on/go off about 30 mins ahead of the lights.

polardbear · 04-26-2009, 06:23 AM

I'm running 24x7 pressurized.

BenBOMB · 04-27-2009, 04:15 PM

Well I use DIY Co2 so I have to run it 24/7. If I ran pressurized Co2 I would time it because running co2 at night is a waste because plants don't use it anyway.

davemonkey · 04-29-2009, 08:01 AM

Very interesting that just as many people run 24/7 as do time the CO2 to come on just before the lights. I was not expecting that, but I would assume that most of the 24/7's are DIY except for Paula?

Newt · 04-29-2009, 08:20 AM

I do 24/7 as I have a 75-gal tank and am using a ceramic disc diffuser. I found that I have a steadier CO2 level doing 24/7. I have a very good needle valve and am able to get a very reliable bubble rate. I have recently purchased a submersible powerhead which I will mount with the intake over the diffuser. This may make a difference in efficiency and how I handle/manage the CO2 injection.

I did try injecting directly into my 2028 Ehiem filter inlet and timing it with lights on/off but this caused disasterous algae issues.

bosmahe1 · 04-29-2009, 08:25 AM

I run co2 24/7 with a Redsea paintball regulator and 20 OZ tank in a 46 gallon bowfront. Since $5.00 worth of gas lasts 4 to 5 weeks, adding another timer and soleniod isn't worth it to me. Also, I don't have to worry about ph fluctuations since my tap water has a kh of 5.

davemonkey · 04-29-2009, 08:33 AM

Well, that does it! I'm going to 24/7 as well. Every time my solenoid shuts off and then back on (like, EVERY DAY) I have to re-tweek my needle valve.

Newt, I had mine hooked up to a powerhead also until recently. I found that the ceramic disc I just got is far more efficient at dissolving CO2. I was pumping 4 bps in my 55 with the powerhead. With the ceramic, I'm doing half of that and getting the same pearling, and when I try to get over 2bps the fish really start stressing out.

Newt · 04-29-2009, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davemonkey

Newt, I had mine hooked up to a powerhead also until recently. I found that the ceramic disc I just got is far more efficient at dissolving CO2. I was pumping 4 bps in my 55 with the powerhead. With the ceramic, I'm doing half of that and getting the same pearling, and when I try to get over 2bps the fish really start stressing out.

I was still going to use the ceramic disc. I am going to place it under the intake of the powerhead. I am hoping this will help circulate the CO2 around the tank and help dissolve it more by having it in contact with the water longer. The ceramic diffuser is quite inefficient as many CO2 bubbles just rise to the surface and escape into the atmosphere. I will have the powerhead on the timer with the lights.

davemonkey · 04-29-2009, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newt

I was still going to use the ceramic disc. I am going to place it under the intake of the powerhead. I am hoping this will help circulate the CO2 around the tank and help dissolve it more by having it in contact with the water longer. The ceramic diffuser is quite inefficient as many CO2 bubbles just rise to the surface and escape into the atmosphere. I will have the powerhead on the timer with the lights.

AAHHH! Very good thinking. I have my diffuser sitting just below, and in front of, my cansiter filter spraybar. That way all the bubbles are caught up in the current and fly all over the tank.