Too much surface agitation?

SingAlongWithTsing

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Feb 17, 2016
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this doesn't count as breaking the water surface right? wondering if i have too much agitation and if it's reason why it takes awhile for my ph to drop. i couldn't find any leaks on my regulator or co2 tubing.

currently it takes somewhere between 90-mins to 2hrs for me to get a 1 ph drop (7.2 pH).

Injection rate: 80 cc/min
dkH 10
dgH 12
pH 8.2 degassed
pH 7.5 in tank average, before co2 is turned on
pH 6.8 end of the day
co2 duration: 1pm to 9pm
lights: Channel A 2pm to 8pm, Channel B 3 pm to 9pm

additional info:
135 gallon with a 55 gallon sump (filter sock area has a lid)
co2 is injected into a 4.5" x 24" cerges reactor on a separate loop with a jebao DCT6000 pump set at 20%, which is about 808 gph
main return pump is a Jebao DCP8000 set at 46%, about 980 gph
Jebao PP-8 wave maker, think it's at 200 something gph
 
Last edited:

skija

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I guess your sump is degassing too much CO2 and that's why you have some co2 issues .

Try cover the sump with a glass lead, maybe helps .

Also, wait for others to comment
 

burr740

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Looks like a pretty good level of agitation to me. Its good to have a lot.

You're dealing with nearly 200 gallons of water, and what I assume is a fairly high KH, 90 minutes-couple of hours to drop a point isnt too bad.

My 120 drops 1.2 in about that time. I could get there a lot sooner if I wanted to, but it would become too much for the livestock later in the day. So I run a lower rate of injection and have it start sooner.

Are you getting any mist in the tank? One thing that could help is a ball valve after the reactor, if you dont already have one. Close it a little bit to create more internal pressure in the reactor. That'll make a big difference.

Otherwise if you need more co2 just turn it up or have it come on sooner. Keep the surface agitation.
 

SingAlongWithTsing

Junior Poster
Feb 17, 2016
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I guess your sump is degassing too much CO2 and that's why you have some co2 issues .

Try cover the sump with a glass lead, maybe helps .

Also, wait for others to comment

already have a lid on the sump on the side where the water comes in

Looks like a pretty good level of agitation to me. Its good to have a lot.

You're dealing with nearly 200 gallons of water, and what I assume is a fairly high KH, 90 minutes-couple of hours to drop a point isnt too bad.

My 120 drops 1.2 in about that time. I could get there a lot sooner if I wanted to, but it would become too much for the livestock later in the day. So I run a lower rate of injection and have it start sooner.

Are you getting any mist in the tank? One thing that could help is a ball valve after the reactor, if you dont already have one. Close it a little bit to create more internal pressure in the reactor. That'll make a big difference.

Otherwise if you need more co2 just turn it up or have it come on sooner. Keep the surface agitation.

no mist in tank. i do have a ball valve after the reactor, closed about 20%? i think.

i think i might have to start my co2 sooner too, i think that co2 dip mentioned in dennis wong's is what might be causing my bba.

my 20lb co2 tank is down to 500psi after about 78 days, trying to see how far i can stretch it. maybe i'm just being too greedy with trying to get every last drop of co2 lmao.
 

burr740

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Close the valve another 10% and see what happens

Also, and you may know this already, its good to look inside the ball valve before you connect it, to see how much it's actually closed at a given position. Instead of say, just looking at the lever. Most of the regular pvc types, you'll turn the lever like 2-3 o'clock before it actually starts closing inside.

In other words you may have the handle turned 20%, but the actual opening inside is still wide open.
 

SingAlongWithTsing

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Feb 17, 2016
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Close the valve another 10% and see what happens
i was wrong, was already at 50-ish%. bumping to 60%

Also, and you may know this already, its good to look inside the ball valve before you connect it, to see how much it's actually closed at a given position. Instead of say, just looking at the lever. Most of the regular pvc types, you'll turn the lever like 2-3 o'clock before it actually starts closing inside.

In other words you may have the handle turned 20%, but the actual opening inside is still wide open.
welp i learned something new today lol
 

burr740

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Yeah if you have the lever closed 50%, the valve itself is probably only closed 10-20%. There's a good bit of play in the beginning, where nothing much happens when you turn it. but once you get about halfway turning it just a little can make a big difference.

How wide is the lever itself, about 1/8", 3/16"? If you already have it closed halfway, turn it about one more width of the lever. Sometimes I make a mark with a Sharpie to help show how much I just moved it.
 
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SingAlongWithTsing

Junior Poster
Feb 17, 2016
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Yeah if you have the lever closed 50%, the valve itself is probably only closed 10-20%. There's a good bit of play in the beginning, where nothing much happens when you turn it. but once you get about halfway turning it just a little can make a big difference.

How wide is the lever itself, about 1/8", 3/16"? If you already have it closed halfway, turn it about one more width of the lever. Sometimes I make a mark with a Sharpie to help show how much I just moved it.
Yeah it's about 1/8" or 3/16. " it's one of those cheap ones from homedepot if it matters
 

burr740

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Good because that's exactly the kind Im talking about. :)