How to schedule a DIY co2 setup

So I'm running the pretty standard yeast sugar soda bottle DIY co2 setup. I have the co2 feeding into an intake on an underwater filter which distributes little bubbles throughout my tank. All and all its working pretty well but I have been reading that you should correlate your c02 schedule with your lighting schedule. How do people do this with DIY CO2 setups? Do you have to pull your co2 line out of the tank every night and then put it back in every morning? This would suck.

 

When I was running my DIY CO2, I simply activated the air pump to come on 30mins after lights-out, and go off 30mins before lights-on.

Rather than trying to regulate CO2, I used the air pump to off-set the CO2 during the 'night', because you can't pause the CO2 reaction.

The only other way would be to invest in automated valves on the CO2 line, so that it switches from "to tank" and "to outside tank".

Personally though, just offsetting with an airstone seems to work quite well.

 

Hey Ryan, thanks for the response. Unfortunately I don't see how that would really work for me. I normally run my air pump 24/7 and I still have 30PPM co2 dissolved in the water, so unless I get another air pump I'm not going to be able to offset it that way. However, I just attached the power head I run the co2 through to the same timer my light is on. While the co2 will still enter the tank it'll just be as big bubbles all night that go straight to the top and pop. I figured this will help a bit...

Was also wondering....if not running, or rather, dispersing, co2 throughout the night will result in ph swings?

 

Was also wondering....if not running, or rather, dispersing, co2 throughout the night will result in ph swings?

It will/may result in swings. The best person here to comment would be Dena (catsma_97504), it's been a while for me whereas Dena is hands on everyday.

Hopefully she'll swing by and help soon.

 

cool, thanks man.

 

Almost missed this thread being as it is in the DIY section.

What makes you believe you have 30PPM CO2 in your tank with an airline running 24x7? To my knowledge, this is not possible.

What size tank? How many generators? What is the yeast mix and how often refreshed? What is the true pH or your water source and the tank's pH?

Sorry for all the questions but this info will help me to understand what is going on in your tank.

As this thread is focusing on CO2 dosing and not on a DIY project, I have moved the thread to the Aquarium Plants/Plant CO2 forum.

 

Ahh here we go, help has arrived : ) I am actually basing that belief off a conversation I had with you on this site about two months ago. You asked me to check my ph, then take some water out of the tank, run an air stone in it and check the ph again in 24 hours. After doing this I reported my findings to you were 6.8 and 7.8. you said I had 30 ppm based on those results. But I can see how depending on the time of day I took my first ph reading, this could be somewhat inaccurate.

Np about the questions, my tank is a 30 gallon long. I am running two DIY reactors, which contain 2 cups sugar, 1tbsp yeast, 1/4 tsp baking soda, and I also put in about 1 tbsp of honey. I refresh the reactors alternatingly (spelling) about once every 3 weeks.

 

As you've been running this system for a few months, are your fish acting strangely? Is there an increase in pH fluctuation? Is there anything going on in your tank that concerns you?

I am a firm believer in if it ain't broke don't fix it! This may be what is the norm for your tank.

Did you really say 1 tablespoon of yeast? I have never heard of someone using that much yeast in a DIY generator. Did you mistype and are using a teaspoon?

Assuming a tablespoon, I can see why your tank is so saturated with CO2 with an airline running 24x7. Without the constant O2 and without the constant gassing off of CO2 your fish wouldn't survive long. You can continue as is if your plants and fish are healthy; or you can reduce the amount of yeast to reduce the CO2 output. Then you'd be able to run the O2 line overnight when the lights are off, which is what is recommended for a DIY CO2 tank.

Hope that helps.

 

My fish and plants have been doing well, my main concern is an algae bloom ive been dealing with for close to a month now. Its cloudy/green water. Its not horrible, I can see to the back of the tank, but its bad to the point where if I look in the tank from the side, I won't be able to see the opposite side. I've tried less light, thinking that may have been the cause, but it started really slowing down my plant growth. So I was thinking maybe the co2 has something to do with it.

oh and yes, I do use 1 tablespoon. I found when I use less I can't even get to a bubble per second. right now I'm pretty consistently delivering 1.5.

 

As I said, if it ain't broke don't fix it. If anything I would use less yeast, maybe use 1/2 tablespoon. But if you've already tried this, then leave it as is!

Green Water is usually caused by too much light or an imbalance in the ferts. You've already tried reducing the lights, I'd look at the ferts?

What plants are in your tank? What ferts are dosed? How often?

Your 30G tank has high light and very high CO2, so it may be possible that your ferts are not balanced for this type of system.

 

Right now I have a bunching of ludwiga repens (about 5 stalks I think), a bunching of Water wisteria, 4 jungle vals I keep trimmed blow the top of the tank, two big banana pants, one large annubias barterI and one smaller one, two fat bunches of bacopa australias, a little java moss, and then 1 grassy looking plant I haven't identified

I have eco complete substrate (not enough, only one bag mixed in with my regular gravel), and I dose with flourish comprehensive twice a week (total of 5ml per week), and I dose Kent Iron and Manganese twice a week (total of 5ml per week). The extra iron was to try and get the repens redder (hasnt been working)

 

Not sure what to suggest. I never had any luck using the liquid Flourish products in a high light tank. I had issues with green water until I switched to dry ferts.

All I can say is that something isn't balanced correctly to keep the algae away. Are you able to test your iron level? If not, you may want to pick up a test kit.

 

I tend to agree with Dena, that there is some sort of imbalance.

I have eco complete substrate (not enough, only one bag mixed in with my regular gravel), and I dose with flourish comprehensive twice a week (total of 5ml per week), and I dose Kent Iron and Manganese twice a week (total of 5ml per week). The extra iron was to try and get the repens redder (hasnt been working)

Eco Complete + Flourish (contains Iron) + Iron Supplement could be a contributing factor here. I'd be interested to see a test result for Iron. I've never found a need to supplement Iron when dosing with Flourish (but that's only my experience)