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View Full Version : running co2 with lights off ?


cityreefer
03-08-2012, 04:02 AM
wondering should i run CO2 with lights off?

Aquattro
03-08-2012, 04:15 AM
CO2 for what?
Ca reactor?

cityreefer
03-08-2012, 04:18 AM
nope Co2 pressurized for planted tank

Corbin
03-08-2012, 06:12 AM
back in my planted days, i never turned it off.

Cugio
03-08-2012, 12:56 PM
I'm running mine on a PH controller and i have it turned off at night. No point having it running at night.

sphelps
03-08-2012, 02:51 PM
While I know very little regarding freshwater stuff I do now plants use CO2 through photosynthesis which also needs light. So you could certainly add at night but the plants will only use it during the day so you might find better results in terms of PH stability if you only inject during the daylight.

Mega
03-09-2012, 03:32 AM
You don't need to run CO2 when the lights are off.

StrikingMoose
04-01-2012, 01:53 AM
I don't run CO2 on any of my tanks at night. There's no point for it, fish won't mind PH swings I have some sensitive rams and they do just fine with a ph swing of 6.8-7.8 throughout the day/night cycle. Plants also switch their sugar production and PRODUCE co2 during the night

cityreefer
04-01-2012, 04:32 PM
i have been running co2 for day and night for the last month with no problems but this morning i have a rainbow dead. tested all the basics ph, no2 no3, kh, gh ,ammonia all are good.
does anyone lose fish at random like this i cant see how this would happen

Corbin
04-01-2012, 04:51 PM
i have been running co2 for day and night for the last month with no problems but this morning i have a rainbow dead. tested all the basics ph, no2 no3, kh, gh ,ammonia all are good.
does anyone lose fish at random like this i cant see how this would happen

havnt been in the hobby for long? lol no offence, but lossing a random fish isnt much. back in my days in LFS i use to through out handfuls every shift :cry:

cityreefer
04-01-2012, 07:21 PM
lol i use to work at my old LFS when i was in high school same thing..... feeder tanks are the worst

your Right i will calm down lol as long as my waters good

gregzz4
04-01-2012, 09:50 PM
What kind of Rainbow did you lose?
I went through 1/2 a school of Threadfins before I figured out it was chlorine-burnt gills. I was adding Prime as the WC happened.
I then started pre-mixing and problem solved. It did quadruple my WC time though as adding 50g from a 15g tub took much more time.

+1 to wasting CO2 @ night
Running it @ night can cause deaths if you don't have enough surface agitation/air injection -stones, venturi powerheads etc.
Having your CO2 on a timer set to turn off about 1/2 hr before lights out and come on about 1/2 - 1 hour before lights on is usually the best recommendation.

Arok3000
04-22-2012, 08:49 PM
Your plants will process CO2 through photosynthesis during daylight, during the night, they actually use up oxygen.
Running CO2 at night is both wasteful, and significantly lowers the amount of oxygen in the tank, usually resulting in death.