Solenoid Valve

[Booswalia]

Question.....

What does it do? Should I have one on my Co2 system?

[aquatic-store]

Solenoid Valve-a valve used with pressurized CO2 systems. There is a PH sensor that detects the PH of the tank water and tells the valve to adjust the flow accordingly.

not necessary but a must have if you use an automatic controller to stop the co2 when ph changeses to much

[Rocketman]

Aquatic-Store, didn't you mention something about it hooking this up to a timer to turn off the CO2 at the same time as the lighting?

Or does the Ph change enough when the lights go off, (and the plants stop absorbing Co2,) that it will just shut off then?

Because the only purpose of turning it off when the lights go off is to aviod drastic Ph changes...right?

[aquatic-store]

yes a co2 unit can automatically be set up to turn off with a timer @ night.

marc
Http://www.Aquatic-store.com

Co2, Plants, Substrate, Filters, Heaters, UV and more

[aquatic-store]

some people let it runn all of the time. I PREFER to have it go with my lights off co2 off as plants quit absorbing the co2 @ night. Some people also have thier air pump click on @ night to increase oxygen @ night

marc
Http://www.Aquatic-store.com

Co2, Plants, Substrate, Filters, Heaters, UV and more

[Booswalia]

I'm not getting this.

If you have just a solenoid valve without a ph sensor will it turn off the Co2 with the lights if they are both on a timer?

[Rocketman]

When CO2 is added to a tank, it normally increases or decreases the pH, (I cannot remember which.) However, as most people have plants in tanks with Co2 injections...the plants absorb the Co2. Yet when there is no light, the plants stop growing - and absorbing Co2. Therefore, the Co2 level will countinue to rise with no stop, having a potentially negative effect on the fish.

As Aquatic-Store mentioned, some people just time their air pump to pop on when the lights go off, so as to increase surface agitation and diffuse more Co2 from the water into the air and replace it with oxygen. However, this is a waste of Co2 - not that it is all that expensive though.

[Booswalia]

So this solenoid valve is like an electric on/off switch for the CO2?

(I understand the ph thing.....it's just the switch I don't get.)

[aquatic-store]

it isnt a switch at all, do a search @ my website for a pic

marc
Http://www.Aquatic-store.com

Co2, Plants, Substrate, Filters, Heaters, UV and more

[slipknottin]

its an electronic device. When electricity is applied it opens a valve.

You can set it on a timer so it sends it electricity all day, keeping the valve open, and when the timer shuts off, the valve closes.

The Ph meter does the same thing, except it will shut the valve when the Ph drops below a certain point.

Your options are either a timer ($4) or a Ph controller ($100).

The valve doesnt 'regulate' the flow. The flow is either 100% or 0%. You still need a needle valve to control the C02 flow.

[Booswalia]

Thanks. I've got it now. :)

[Rocketman]

When you say, "Control the flow," I assume you mean the bubble count?

Some Needle Valves can handle a bubble count close to 1 a minute, I hear, although they are quite expensive.