Oxygen question

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tyjo1334

Gambusia
MFK Member
Oct 13, 2009
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around the corner from the LFS
I have about 4-5 bubbles per second running with my 5lb co2 tank set up. I have my Milwaukee ph controller set at 6.9-7.0. It is a 75 gallon heavily planted tank with multiple different species of plants filtered with an fx5 but I changed the angle of the output so it is not agitating the surface yet my plants are pearling an incredible amount. My question is if I shut the lights off and go to sleep for the night with this new adjustment of no surface agitation will my fish be deprived of oxygen and die?????I have 5x cichlids with the largest being 2.5" and the other 4x being under 1". I also have 5x 3" clown loaches, 1x 3.5"-4" L240, 1x 6" male albino bristlenose, 1x 5" male longfin bristlenose. Please help before I fall asleep


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I actually run a nice ripple at the surface of my water 24/7. Gas exchange is VERY important. Not only for the fish but the plants as well. BTW pearling is an effect of the plants collecting O2 bubbles because the water is saturated with it. Not always an indicator of plants doing great.

Do you run your Co2 24/7 or is it on a timer?

I have some planted tanks I run wet dry filtration on, some with canisters. Reguardless I always always have a output creating a ripple at the surface. Again as Stated before gas exchange is very important. You will find it will actually improve the plants in the tank doing so. Some people worry its a waste of Co2, but it is so minimal its nothing and the benefits of the gas exchange are greater.

Id be glad to show you some of my Co2/High Tech planted tanks that run like this. I use a solenoid system on my dual stage regulated Co2 systems and a timer. I also use a custom built by me Co2 reactor to mix the water and co2. But on all of them I have some of the filter outputs creating a good ripple at the surface (or I use a power head to do the same.) I run my Co2 (with or without a ripple) at 15 bps (or More) never have gassed my fish. BUT I use the fish to tell me how much co2 is to much.
 
My co2 is set up with a Ph controller so if the Ph rises above 7.0 the co2 will activate until it is lowered back to 7.0. I am running a fx5 on the tank with the output causing a very small ripple at the waters surface. Do you recommend I cause more surface agitation with the output of my filter then?

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A drop checker is seriously all you need, and its not even that expensive and takes a lot of the guessing out of how much Co2 is in your tank...

Using your fish to tell you if you are running too much Co2 seems a bit harsh, since if it does crash from too much Co2, you maybe too late to save the fish...
 
From my experience with running CO2 and a pH controller, when CO2 is added, the pH will drop.. plants use the CO2 to produce oxygen which will raise the pH. When the lights go off, the plants no longer use CO2, instead they use oxygen, which also will lower pH. Therefore in theory, the controller should be off for most of the night due to the plants lowering the CO2. Having a slight ripple on the surface should introduce enough oxygen for your plants and fish without raising the pH enough to have your CO2 pumping all night.
 
tyjo1334 said:
My co2 is set up with a Ph controller so if the Ph rises above 7.0 the co2 will activate until it is lowered back to 7.0. I am running a fx5 on the tank with the output causing a very small ripple at the waters surface. Do you recommend I cause more surface agitation with the output of my filter then?

Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Click to expand...

The ripple doesnt have to be large. Just enough to create some agitation across the surface of the water. It allows for good gas exchange.
 
Fat Homer said:
A drop checker is seriously all you need, and its not even that expensive and takes a lot of the guessing out of how much Co2 is in your tank...

Using your fish to tell you if you are running too much Co2 seems a bit harsh, since if it does crash from too much Co2, you maybe too late to save the fish...
Click to expand...

Drop checkers are a useful tool but you have to remember they are very inaccurate. Several things influence them. Drop checkers have issues/trade offs. They are not responsive, takes awhile for them to respond to cO2 change, they only measure one place in the tank, a larger issues as the tank become larger, color differentiation can be tough and not that accurate. Current and flow in the tank or lack of can make a difference in how a drop checker responds. Placement will make a difference. The 4Dkh solution as well as the color solution you use makes a difference. Even the method the Co2 is introduced to the water makes a difference on a drop checker. If you use an Atomizer it will make the drop checker change faster especially if its where direct bubbles can enter it easily. If using a reactor the mix of the water and co2 is greater so you end up with higher dissolved Co2 amounts in the water. It causes drop checkers to respond slower. Some things can cause drop checkers to get false readings. Thus you end up with a much lower concentration then what you want. That can lead to quick and difficult Algae issues or growth issues with your plants. Then you have the opposite where Ive seen drop checkers get false readings or be VERY slow to respond and out of no where next thing you know you have fish gasping. Tweaking in a Co2 system is probably one of the more difficult things for a planted tank enthusiast.

If you work with most any of the people that have lots of experience with Co2 and planted tanks you will find most of them use the fish and their plants as the tool to tell them if they have to much or not enough. Of course well all give way to the fish as we dont want fish deaths or stress issues. So we push it to the first sign of fish stress, Then back it off a safe amount. From there you adjust your light, circulation and other factors. It is ni no way harsh. In fact quite the opposite as your keeping the life of your fish being the most important. I can revive most plants. Even if not oh well. But I cant revive a fish once its died and I have that attachment with them. Its not oh well..

I know im new to the forum here, but have been doing plated aquarium and Co2 for some time now.
 
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