Tiny super efficient CO2 reactor - Page 12 - DIY Aquarium Projects

Brendan Redler · 08-15-2008, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niko

Shutting off the pump at night works perfectly well. Big ol' CO2 bubbles make their way to the surface and don't solubilize in the water.

But my question is why would you want to shut off the CO2 at night. People that do that save a little CO2 from their pressurized setups, that's all. The plants don't benefit that much from lower CO2 at night.

--Nikolay

I haven't noticed much of a difference when I ran CO2 24hrs a day vs. when I ran it only with the lights. I have a solenoid valve on my pressurized setup and I think I'm going to take it off. It's needlessly drawing current because I have it running 24/7. I would say don't worry about it, and if you're still worried about it...you can either shut off the pump, or pull the CO2 line out of the bottle so that CO2 is just offgassing into the air from the bottle.

stuckintexas · 08-15-2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niko

Shutting off the pump at night works perfectly well. Big ol' CO2 bubbles make their way to the surface and don't solubilize in the water.

But my question is why would you want to shut off the CO2 at night. People that do that save a little CO2 from their pressurized setups, that's all. The plants don't benefit that much from lower CO2 at night.

--Nikolay

the co2 levels that build up at night can harm fish ive been told. during the day the co2 is used during the photoperiod but at night the co2 isnt and builds up concentrations in the water which can harm fish. am i wrong or over paranoid about this?

stuckintexas · 08-15-2008, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brendan Redler

I haven't noticed much of a difference when I ran CO2 24hrs a day vs. when I ran it only with the lights. I have a solenoid valve on my pressurized setup and I think I'm going to take it off. It's needlessly drawing current because I have it running 24/7. I would say don't worry about it, and if you're still worried about it...you can either shut off the pump, or pull the CO2 line out of the bottle so that CO2 is just offgassing into the air from the bottle.

i shouldnt worry about it because it wont harm my fish at night?

jackh · 08-20-2008, 04:52 PM

i did this mod and it works great imo. spits out microscoping bubbles everywhere and provides a little more circulation in the tank

niko · 08-20-2008, 08:30 PM

Stuckintexas,

I run all my CO2 tanks with the CO2 on 24/7. Never had a problem for 7 years now. Just the first night when I turn the CO2 I worry, but it's always in vain. No issues whatsoever.

--Nikolay

jackh · 08-21-2008, 06:27 PM

im about to order another one for another tank

idk if this has been discussed yet cuz i dind't really wanna read every post on the last 11 pages. how do you keep shrimp and snails from getting sucked into the filter?

hoppycalif · 08-21-2008, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niko

Stuckintexas,

I run all my CO2 tanks with the CO2 on 24/7. Never had a problem for 7 years now. Just the first night when I turn the CO2 I worry, but it's always in vain. No issues whatsoever.

--Nikolay

I think it depends on how hard you are driving your plants. If you try to run the maximum concentration of CO2 in the water, over 30 ppm, then the fish can be bothered by it at night, unless you maintain really good water circulation and make sure there is plenty of dissolved oxygen in the water - a little ripple on the surface helps. And, the smaller the fish, the less they seem to be bothered by the CO2.

Tex Gal · 08-21-2008, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackh

im about to order another one for another tank

idk if this has been discussed yet cuz i dind't really wanna read every post on the last 11 pages. how do you keep shrimp and snails from getting sucked into the filter?

I made a little netting sleeve to fit over the entire pump. Works great.

jackh · 08-21-2008, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tex Gal

I made a little netting sleeve to fit over the entire pump. Works great.

did you use pantyhose or what?

niko · 08-21-2008, 10:32 PM

This is one of the good things about this Elite filter thing - it has a big strainer that lets snails pass over it and not get sucked and stuck. I don't need to sacrifice my pantyhose, no sir!

Truly an amazing, miraculous, design!

--Nikolay