DIY Pressurized Co2 (with a sketch!)

[Rex Grigg]

Originally Posted by ummyeah

Okay so after some serious thinking, I was interested in the Azoo regulator. It was a good quality all-in-one solution, but it has a solenoid which I don't need. Apparently turning the co2 off at night is bad and most people leave it on 24/7 because of ph swings. I want to make sure that the beer regulator will not need to be replaced. Is my regulator good? I want this co2 system to last and I want to do this right the first time. Although the Azoo seems really expensive.

Ummm.... where did you read that most people leave it on 24/7? And who gave you the idea that CO2 related pH swings harm fish?

Both those statements are totally incorrect.

And BTW. The needle valve on the Azoo is "adequate". Not good. But "adequate".

[fishscale]

I've heard that it can work either way, 24/7 or turning it off at night.

[ummyeah]

Well I got that the majority of people run co2 at 24/7 including you Rex. http://http://www.plantedtank.net/fo...off-night.html

I read the ph rises harmful theory on The Krib and pretty much all over the internet. I personally think that either way will work fine as long as you look for any problems. What's wrong with the needle valve? Should I go with the previous setup and look for a better needle valve? I think the Azoo needle valve is just fine.

[jaidexl]

I really need to find the holy grail of pH info, I know it's suppose to be a measurement of hydrogen ions/ acidity or basicity, But in my mind, the pH shift there is nothing but less CO2/more O2, so I don't understand most of the cases where pH swings are said to be dangerous, or why some people go to great lengths to monkey with their pH for a certain fish species just because some profile said they require a certain range, how can they know the CO2/O2 relationship of that fish's natural environment and how it relates to an aquarium? If there's some other relevant change happening there that constitutes danger to the fish then I missed it, maybe I just don't understand pH well enough. Seems like they should be able to handle gas off. This is a big reason why I rarely use my pH reagents anymore, like when acclimating I just ignore it and make sure temp, KH and GH are in check, and SG for SW inverts. Like when I reconstitute RO, I can add the same amount of KG/GH as the tank but the pH is 7.2 where my tank is 6.6, from the bucket being sloshed around and no CO2 injection as the tank has. If that pH shift can hurt my fish, someone please enlighten me.

[Rex Grigg]

I still have one tank that has 24/7 CO2 (the Cobbler's children have no shoes) other tanks are on a timer.

Either way works.

pH changes caused by CO2 do not harm fish. Anyone that tells you different is lying and doesn't understand Water Chemistry in the Planted Aquarium 101.

If you can't explain the CO2/pH/KH relationship and don't know what TDS stands for you flunked the class.