Shut off CO2 at night?

kreesdqban

kreesdqban

Miami Aquarist
Jan 30, 2009
293
0
16
Miami
I want to dive into DIY CO2. I read that CO2 injection will cause fluctuating pH levels at night (or something like that). My tank is in my room so i turn off the filter at night so I can sleep. I've had no problems with turning the filter off at night and have been doing it for over a year.

My question is, will turning my filter off at night play a factor when injecting CO2?
 
kreesdqban said:
I want to dive into DIY CO2. I read that CO2 injection will cause fluctuating pH levels at night (or something like that). My tank is in my room so i turn off the filter at night so I can sleep. I've had no problems with turning the filter off at night and have been doing it for over a year.

My question is, will turning my filter off at night play a factor when injecting CO2?
Click to expand...

I just got my DIY CO2 up and running finally. I am doing CO2 for a little CO2 boost, not a lush, jungle-like tank so YMMV... I was more worried about gassing the fish and killing them all (because CO2 is not utilized at night) I obsessively watched the pH yesterday, it went from 7.6 to 6.8 and stabilized at 6.8. I even got up in the middle of the night to make sure I hadn't gassed my fish. They were fine. This morning still fine and the pH still 6.8. Now, my tank is not planted much right now. But, I think depending on how much CO2 you want to add, you will be fine running it at night also.
 
IMO, it's really hard to kill fish using DIY.

If you're worried, I recommend using an airstone to create some surface agitation to lower the CO2 concentration in the water.

You don't want to plug the output of a DIY CO2 system. The Hagen CO2 system does have a pressure-release system in case that happens, but I wouldn't rely on it.

*EDIT* Alternatively, you can just pull out the output from the water. Make sure you have a check valve to prevent backsiphoning into your reactors.
 
Just run an airstone at night when you turn the lights out. Turn it off when the lights come back on. Should do ya just fine.
 
James0816 said:
Just run an airstone at night when you turn the lights out. Turn it off when the lights come back on. Should do ya just fine.
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If he cant sleep with a FILTER on, do you think he can sleep with an air pump and air stone? At night just remove the co2 outlet and put it in a cup of water and in the morning place it back into the tank.
 
Get earplugs !! OR -- try a cannister filter, like a Fluval and make sure the output hose is submerged so you don't hear the water going into the tank -- the filter is otherwise very quiet. If you have alot of plants and fish -- Both will give off additional CO2 at night. Couldn't hurt to remove the CO2 at night if you don't have an air stone going.
 
I would say you will be fine but if your killing the filter at night and keeping on the CO2 it might be a issue. Water agitation and aeration is what breaks up the CO2. So by keeping the CO2 and turning off the filter as well as the lights it might get pretty bad for them. I would do a test run just to make sure. I am also in for swapping to a less loud filter and keeping it running.
 
jasonG75 said:
If he cant sleep with a FILTER on, do you think he can sleep with an air pump and air stone? At night just remove the co2 outlet and put it in a cup of water and in the morning place it back into the tank.
Click to expand...

Actually....yes....the air pumps I use (with exception of one) are quiet. Don't even know they are on.
 
Hahaha, first off, thanks to everybody for their input. My filter is pretty quiet (AC50), but I can't sleep with ANY noise, although I admit some nights I do forget to turn it off and sleep fine.

I guess I'll just try it slowly, maybe sleeping a night with it on and try turning it off the next night.

Thanks again to everybody
 
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