Can I overdose CO2 on my tank?

**chinnp** · 10-19-2012, 6:14 AM

I have recently set my 75g up from scratch and planted it with a pressurized co2 setup. Nothing is living in the tank at the moment except for plants and a handful of snails. I can easily move the snails elsewhere. If I do so can I really crank up the lighting, ferts and co2 on the tank to really grow it out? Or is this a bad idea? I'm thinking of leaving the lights on 24/7 and really cranking the co2 up. Should I up the dose of ferts as well?

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**mesto** · 10-19-2012, 8:55 AM

Plants can't use 24/7 light. That would just grow a bunch of algae.

If the co2 is too high, won't that stop the tank from cycling? Not sure if you are trying to do that at the same time.

I've heard the best way to really crank a start on a planted tank is to do a dry start- no standing water, saturated substrate. Co2 is much higher in air than in water.

**mesto** · 10-19-2012, 8:56 AM

ETA obviously dry start best for stiffer or shorter statutes species, not stems that need water to hold up.

**James0816** · 10-19-2012, 8:58 AM

sure...crank it up a bit. BUT....

Don't have a photo period longer than 10hrs. Even plants need a rest period. Do you have a solenoid on your cylinder? Put it on a timer as well to shut off the CO2 after 10 hours. Kill the lights and let the plants do their thing when it's dark. They'll thank you for it.

**chinnp** · 10-19-2012, 5:29 PM

Originally Posted by mesto

Plants can't use 24/7 light. That would just grow a bunch of algae.

If the co2 is too high, won't that stop the tank from cycling? Not sure if you are trying to do that at the same time.

I've heard the best way to really crank a start on a planted tank is to do a dry start- no standing water, saturated substrate. Co2 is much higher in air than in water.

Honestly, I don't care if the tank cycles at this point. There's nothing in there at all except for the snails and plants. I can cycle it in a hurry later on by simply seeding it from an existing tank. My plan was to grow the tank out before adding fish. I want to work out any kinks in my co2 delivery system as well before doing anything and that's easier to do when there's no livestock to worry about killing if you over dose the tank on accident.

**chinnp** · 10-19-2012, 5:34 PM

Originally Posted by James0816

sure...crank it up a bit. BUT....

Don't have a photo period longer than 10hrs. Even plants need a rest period. Do you have a solenoid on your cylinder? Put it on a timer as well to shut off the CO2 after 10 hours. Kill the lights and let the plants do their thing when it's dark. They'll thank you for it.

Yup. I do have a solenoid. My plan was to sync it up so that the CO2 and lights are on at the same time with the PH controller turning the co2 on/off during the day as necessary. I want to test the system out for a few weeks before stocking fish.

**mesto** · 10-19-2012, 6:49 PM

Crank it then!

and post pics please.

**chinnp** · 10-19-2012, 7:43 PM

I ran into a hiccup trying to get everything set up. I'm not entirely sure how to use the PH controller. The instructions say that it turns OFF the outlet when PH is ABOVE a certain level. Given that CO2 makes the PH drop I'm not sure how I'm supposed to use this controller TBH.