CO2 Exposure to the tank environment

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SRIDENZ

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 19, 2010
155
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Ely, UK
So heres the story.. Hows long do you guys run your CO2 for in a daily cycle? I plan to run it only while i provide lighting (8 hours) a day.

Also, following some reading i found an artical ( cant find the link now :( ) that suggests with out equal addition of oxygen via an air pump larger fish may become stressed or unwell?!?

I have a spiral bubble counter/difuser which i am releasing around 3bubbles per second into. I dont have a means of testing the dissolved CO2 content at present........ but does this seem a reasonable amount to be using?

ANy comments, help, or laughter at my ignorance will be greatly appreciated! :popcorn::popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:
 
co2 is normally run with your lighting schedule. i would kick on the co2 1hr before/after the lights go on/off. i never used an airstone and never had any issues with my fish
 
My tank runs for about 9 hours, from 12pm - 9pm. My CO2 schedule runs from 11am - 7pm.

In my experience, it greatly depends on the amount of lighting you've got. My CO2 rate is bubbling in at over 10 bubbles per second, but my lighting backs up the amount of CO2 I'm pumping in (using an inline reactor with my filter). My drop checker reads a nice yellowish green. All the plants are happy, and fish love the pearling. I believe as long as you determine your bubble rate properly, and you see that your co2 is getting completely diffused, you should have nothing to worry about. Make sure you have a drop checker to dial in your correct, or I would say safe CO2 level. After you've established your co2 level, from there you can play with it and increase or decrease the co2 levels according to the response of your plants.
 
I fear my CO2 diffuser is not efficient as the bubbles whizz round settle in the top and then occasionally a large bubble escapes and pops on the surface, the other diffusers seem to split the bubble in to micro bubbles..............

I will purchase a JBL permimant test to establish the level of CO" present and see if it needs winding up or not
 
I've seen those airstone type of diffusers and I honestly do not believe that they are worth anything much, because the majority of co2 floats to the surface and escapes anyway. If you can find a drop checker it may be more inexpensive than buying a CO2 test kit. In addition with a drop checker you can keep your eye on the co2 level at all times.
 
It's a lot easier to monitor your co2 levels with a drop checker than test all the time. That one you posted will be just fine. Plus the drop checker will last you for a long time. Very long time.
 
any idea how long? i read you have to top the liquid up every fortnight or so on the more expensive kits. These cheap ones have no real info other than the basic function they perform!
 
drop checkers are great. just be sure to buy lab-grade 4dkh solution and change it out every 2-3 weeks or so
 
I need to do something like this, I really have no idea how efficient my DIY diffuser is. The bubbles are tiny, but still.
 
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