Do You Use a pH Controller?

[WaywardSon]

I was wondering if I should use a pH controller.

I have a 45 gallon planted tank with a Co2 canister and Milwaukee regulator, which delivers Co2 for 10 hours a day (the same 10 the lights are on). My pH fluctuates from 7.2 to 6.4 with the Co2 (ppm around 23).

Is it wise / best to use a pH controller to keep my pH more stable during the day?

 

[phanmc]

I don't use a pH controller, just a solenoid to shut off and on the flow to correspond to the lighting period. For a somewhat accurate measurement of the CO2 level so I don't overdose, I use a simple drop checker.

 

[DrNo]

There is no correct answer here. For every answer "yes" another forum user will say "no" and both will be correct. For me, it is a matter of providing as much insurance as possible given the fact that I am a busy professional and can not baby-sit the tank for 10-15 hrs. a day.

I use the American Marine Pinpoint pH Controller. The solenoid is controlled by one of the outlets in response to low CO2 levels (that is, high pH) and I have an airpump/stone on the other outlet that is activated in response to low pH. The control range is within ~0.10 pH units and it is easy to calibrate and otherwise maintain.

Even with these precautions, I am still running an airstone at night and use a CO2 drop chcecker with 4 dKH solution in it to estimate actual CO2 levels more accurately. Ultimately, I think it comes down to how comfortable you are with manipulating the tank parameters and how much risk you're comfortable with.

 

[WaywardSon]

Great feedback - I recently turned my bpm up and my Co2 level is at about 23 ppm (way up from 9). The lights and the Co2 go off at night and come on together in the morning. So far I have seen no gasping fish - do you think I need an airstone at night?

 

[phanmc]

It depends on the amount of water surface movement you have. If you have your filter set up in such a way that the water surface is like a glass top with very little movement then it would be a good idea to have an airstone set up at night. If you have some ripple and plenty of movement then probably not.

 

[Riiz]

I'm in the same boat as phanmc, I just a solenoid and a timer for my CO2 needs. Usually the only adjustments are needed at the beginning, when trying to get that balance down. I was thinking about a controller at one time, but I couldnt see spending 200+ plus the cost of replacement probes in the future.

 

[DrNo]

It depends on the amount of water surface movement you have. If you have your filter set up in such a way that the water surface is like a glass top with very little movement then it would be a good idea to have an airstone set up at night. If you have some ripple and plenty of movement then probably not.

Sound advice! :grinyes: You could bounce a quarter off the top of my tank's surface, so the airstone at night lets me sleep easier....

 

[WaywardSon]

That solves it - my top has plenty of riffle. No airstone here! Thanks!

 

[Fishy_Fun]

Ph controller are to expensive for me so im just using the solenoid.

 

[WaywardSon]

Co2 seems to be controlled rather successfully by the lights on, lights off method. From the feedback I rcvd, a pH controller may be an extra expense that is often times not really necessary.