Plant Use More CO2 Than I Can Inject

g8wayg8r · 02-26-2004, 04:15 AM

I use a ceramic disk diffuser to inject CO2 24/7 at about 1 bubble per second. The pH in the morning is usually 6.6 and after 10-12 hours of light it's up to 7.0. I've got the stream of fine bubbles below the spray bar so a lot of the bubble are forced deep into the tank. I know that a lot of folks here simply bubble the CO2 into the cannister filter or some other device that may be much more efficient that the diffuser. Has anybody here ever had the same thing happen in their tank? Maybe I have too much water circulation although I can only see small ripples on the surface.

P.S: I guess that solenoid I bought and the CO2 controller I've made is going to sit in a box for a while :roll:

pH = 6.6 to 7.0
kH = 2.5
Ammonia = nill
Nitrate probably <=10
2 W/gal 5500K CF with 90% CRI
29 gallons, 18" deep
gravel substrate

Rex Grigg · 02-26-2004, 12:23 PM

Well you could hook up the solenoid and controller and increase the bubble rate. The controller will keep the pH from dropping too much at night and allow you to keep decent levels during the day.

g8wayg8r · 02-26-2004, 02:34 PM

It's a matter of trust to change something that appears to be working well. On top of that, I need to learn more about how this home-built controller works without actually piping CO2 into the tank. All of the while, I keep thinking, "If it aint broke, don't fix it". Geez, I do torture myself at times.

Do you think that increasing the bubble rate may make the tank look like someone dropped an AlkaSeltzer or Fizzy into it :shock: ? I guess that's not too bad. If my goal, however, is to save CO2, I should do some homework and figure which process is most efficient: Running at a low rate 24/7 or on and off at a higher rate. I have a hunch I need to get more efficient.

Rex, have you ever had any problems with injecting CO2 into your canister?

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02-26-2004, 04:15 AM	#1
g8wayg8r Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: St Charles, MO Posts: 517	I use a ceramic disk diffuser to inject CO2 24/7 at about 1 bubble per second. The pH in the morning is usually 6.6 and after 10-12 hours of light it's up to 7.0. I've got the stream of fine bubbles below the spray bar so a lot of the bubble are forced deep into the tank. I know that a lot of folks here simply bubble the CO2 into the cannister filter or some other device that may be much more efficient that the diffuser. Has anybody here ever had the same thing happen in their tank? Maybe I have too much water circulation although I can only see small ripples on the surface. P.S: I guess that solenoid I bought and the CO2 controller I've made is going to sit in a box for a while :roll: pH = 6.6 to 7.0 kH = 2.5 Ammonia = nill Nitrate probably <=10 2 W/gal 5500K CF with 90% CRI 29 gallons, 18" deep gravel substrate

02-26-2004, 12:23 PM	#2
Rex Grigg Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (65/100%) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland Orygun Posts: 9,600	Well you could hook up the solenoid and controller and increase the bubble rate. The controller will keep the pH from dropping too much at night and allow you to keep decent levels during the day.

02-26-2004, 02:34 PM	#3
g8wayg8r Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: St Charles, MO Posts: 517	It's a matter of trust to change something that appears to be working well. On top of that, I need to learn more about how this home-built controller works without actually piping CO2 into the tank. All of the while, I keep thinking, "If it aint broke, don't fix it". Geez, I do torture myself at times. Do you think that increasing the bubble rate may make the tank look like someone dropped an AlkaSeltzer or Fizzy into it :shock: ? I guess that's not too bad. If my goal, however, is to save CO2, I should do some homework and figure which process is most efficient: Running at a low rate 24/7 or on and off at a higher rate. I have a hunch I need to get more efficient. Rex, have you ever had any problems with injecting CO2 into your canister?