co2 regulator on a timer?

I have my solenoid hooked up to the same timer as my lights. I always understood that if your lights are not running then you plants are not using the CO2, so you would be wasting it. The old photosynthesis, turning CO2 into O2 using sunlight. When I first set up my tank I kept it on 24/7 and came down one morning to my fish sucking the surface do to lack of O2. Didnt lose any but was still scary. Since then i have had it shut off with my lights and no problems.
 
actually plants don't turn co2 into 02. Plants turn co2 into glucose and the oxygen comes from H2O. It's usually good to have the co2 go on before the lights go on that way you can get your co2 to the desired levels then your lights turn on. Plant's don't like change, it's usually good practice to keep the same conditions when they first go on to when they turn off.
 
What is a higher equilibrium? Equilibrium is an Equilibrium. Perhaps you meant higher [CO2] in nature (water & Atmosphere) than our room/tank?

I understand higher [CO2] at diff location but nothing stays at one point as things are constantly changing in nature as well as in tank.

I dont see much difference b/n drop check & Indicator. Even drop checker need mixing tank water with reagents:4dkh Solution and Bromothymol Blue.

Due to reason that water chemistry is constantly changing/shifting and as Indicator I depended on for decades never failed, I had no problems maintaining healthy Dutch Aqaurium via complete CO2 System which were less pain in ---- than DIY/timer method.

Why anyone would inject CO 2 during no light, I would never understand. Even without CO2 injection, [CO2] increase overnight (dark) as fish and plants themselves constantly produces CO2. How much accumulates depends on many factors and no two tanks are ever alike.

afa I know, endproducts of Photosynthesis are Carbohydrates(glucose) + O2 (some may call it pearling of plants)
& cellar respiration (in dark) produce CO2 and water.
Check the leaves of household plants for water dropets in the morning.
 
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Well water and sunlight turn C02 into two by products, sugar and O2. IE.. Sugar-Sap,fruits,Vegetables,flowers etc. Just meant that by having your CO2 on at night you are missing one of the variables in the equation, that being the sunlight, so it is pointless. I don't doubt it is beneficial to turn my CO2 on an hour early. I will give it a try. Just nice only using one timer. But luckly theres an open space on my power strip.
 
I would turn it one hour after the light since [CO2] are usually higher in the morning. Why inject in dark when plants themselves will produce CO2 for free + fish repiration?
 
My tank always seems to be pearling at its best when my light have been on for a couple hours. I run high wattage of lights for a 55 so I think the more CO2 may be beneficial. As long as it does not effect my fish.
 
the theory behind injecting co2 an hour before the lights on is so that you keep a constant ppm of co2 during the entire light cycle. It usually takes 40 min to an hour for you co2 diffuser to bring you co2 ppm up to your desired level which is around 40 ppm or in some cases higher.

I agree fish and plants do produce co2 but no where near the ppm a pressurized system can bring it. Again the goal is to give your plants the same conditions throughout the light cycle so that their growth is optimized.
 
coach_z said:
pH probes are a waste. They need to be calibrated, and are overall a pain.

a timer to turn on/off your solenoid is the best method. Many people have it turn on 1 hour before their lights turn on and one hour before they turn off. This allows co2 to build to proper conditions before lights turn on, and allow co2 to 'run out' during the remaining hour of the photoperiod. Running co2 24/7 is a waste IMHO. Save 14 hours of co2/day and use it for the other half of the year.

co2 in the wild? Co2 reaches a higher equilibrium in nature (why? google it) than in the tank. in a tank it is only about 2-3ppm. This is why we inject co2. also to get even better growth than we could.

also, 4dkH is the new 'technology' that is being used in drop checkers. Using tank water is an outdated way of doing it.

But...In the end, do what you want and keep doing it if it works for you.
Click to expand...

This is the method which was suggested by Tom Barr. I used it for several years when I ran a high tech tank.

Mark
 
Thank you everyone for the posts! I really appreciate everyone's input here. I will put my co2 reg. on a timer. I will have it turn on an hour before the lights go on and turn it off an hour or so before they shut off. I don't want to waste co2 by any means, I have already spent enough on this tank (1200.00), I don't need more money spent. Plus the whole carbon footprint thing right? Thanks everyone!
 
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