CO2 In the water

[alvarado41]

I heard that if you have a CO2 system, your PH will stablize and you will get rid of the red/brown algae. If this is true, can you connect the co2 line to the protein skimmer instead of connecting it to a reactor? Since the air bubble needs to be broken down and mixed into the water it seems like the protein skimmer can do that more efficient. Please let me know what the co2 can provide to the marine (fish) tank.
Thank you for your time.

 

[mogurnda]

I suppose you could. I would think it a bad idea to have the CO2as the only gas input to the skimmer, as it would either starve the skimmer or put way too much CO2 into the tank.

Vinegar is a carbon source that is easier to control.

Whether that will solve the algae problem depends on a lot of factors.

 

[Crown Royal]

Inserting CO2 directly into a SW tank through a skimmer is a risky proposition. CO2 will tend to drive pH downwards and setting up a rig to properly control injection in a skimmer will be difficult.

Using CO2 with a calcium reactor is the safer and more orthodox option although the CO2 in this kind of setup is used to react with the effluent in the reactor rather than the aquarium water itself.

 

[mogurnda]

I should have been a little more clear in my first response.

With regard to the algae problem, it comes down to balancing nutrients. In theory, coralline algae and the bacteria in the live sand and the live rock can complete with the nuisance algae for the major nutrients (carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous) if they are available in the right ratio (C>>N>>P). If there is limited carbon available, then adding it (in the form of CO2, vinegar, or even vodka) sometimes helps. A lot of the time it does not. What tends to be more helpful is general good husbandry: skimming, careful feeding, water changes and plenty of circulation.

As Crown Royal said, many people, myself included, inject CO2 via a calcium reactor. A slight coreection would be that the CO2 acidifies tank water in the chamber, which then dissolves some sort of calcareous medium, rather than reacting with the effluent, which is the stuff coming out of the reactor.

I agree with CR that injectingf CO2 would be risky, and could kill off everything in the tank if you weren't careful. Worse than an algae problem.

 

[Crown Royal]

Ahhh yes, the ol' vodka dosing method to algae control. An activity near and dear to my heart.

(And you wonder why we call ourselves "reefers"? :cool2: )

 

[mogurnda]

Ahhh yes, the ol' vodka dosing method to algae control. An activity near and dear to my heart.

(And you wonder why we call ourselves "reefers"? :cool2: )

Is it a coincidence that protein skimmers have a big chamber with a bowl on top? Hmmmm.

 

[horner420]

lol

 

[alvarado41]

Thank you very much for the information. It seems I really don't need a CO2 system to keep my fish tank. Just keep the protein skimmer and filters running and water changes. By the way, how much lighting do you need for a fish only setup? I have twin tube 40w power glo and marine glo on my tank.
I set up the switches to just leave the marine glo on when is bed time for my fish. Is that a good thing to keep a light on for them? or just turn off every light in the tank? I like the way the marine glo looks at night. Soft and blue. Any help or information will be greatly appreciated.