This site is supported by the advertisements on it, please disable your AdBlocker so we can continue to provide you with the quality content you expect.
  1. We are after as many aquarium plant images that we can get, doing so will assist us in completing the aquarium plant database.

    https://barrreport.com/threads/aquatic-plant-images-wanted.14374/
    Dismiss Notice

24-hour lapse in CO2?

Discussion in 'CO2 Enrichment' started by dapellegrini, Jan 30, 2007.

  1. dapellegrini

    dapellegrini Lifetime Charter Member
    Lifetime Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2006
    Messages:
    111
    Likes Received:
    0
    Local Time:
    7:29 PM
    Just noticed my drop checker went blue and upon further inspection my CO2 tank is empty. My pH is back up to near ambient level at 7.7 (tap is ~7.9) and the brewer supplies place doesn't open until noon tomorrow for a refill...

    Since this is the first time I have had to refill the CO2, I am wondering how others typically deal with this kind of thing? Is 24 hours ok with no CO2 on a tank that otherwise gets it 24/7? Should I dose Excel tomorrow? Other thoughts?
     
    #1 dapellegrini, Jan 30, 2007
  2. shane

    shane Lifetime Charter Member
    Lifetime Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2006
    Messages:
    269
    Likes Received:
    1
    Local Time:
    7:29 PM
    Do you actually run the CO2 24/7?
     
    #2 shane, Jan 30, 2007
  3. dapellegrini

    dapellegrini Lifetime Charter Member
    Lifetime Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2006
    Messages:
    111
    Likes Received:
    0
    Local Time:
    7:29 PM
    :D yes, and shamelessly... Or rather out of laziness... I have been meaning to setup another timer...
     
    #3 dapellegrini, Jan 30, 2007
  4. VaughnH

    VaughnH Lifetime Charter Member
    Lifetime Member

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2005
    Messages:
    3,011
    Likes Received:
    94
    Local Time:
    7:29 PM
    Amazingly, the same thing happened to me today. My drop checker was blue green, making me think the fluid in it was changed, but I checked the tank just to be sure - 0 pressure. And, of course this was just as the stores were closing. I shut off the light, and will keep it off until I get the tank refilled tomorrow. It does make me wonder what the effect would be if this had happened late Friday. Two and a half days - would keeping the lights off for that long be the answer? Intuitively I don't think a day or two without CO2 would do much harm if any.
     
    #4 VaughnH, Jan 30, 2007
  5. dapellegrini

    dapellegrini Lifetime Charter Member
    Lifetime Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2006
    Messages:
    111
    Likes Received:
    0
    Local Time:
    7:29 PM
    I have also turned my lights off and will not dose until the CO2 is back online... I seem to hear a lot about inconsistent CO2 levels being the biggest cause of algae... just hoping that one day doesn't get me there...

    It would be nice to have some kind of aubile alarm or warning system when the tank pressure starts to give... If not for the drop checker, I might not have looked for another day or two, when things stopped pearling, etc...
     
    #5 dapellegrini, Jan 30, 2007
  6. JoeBanks

    JoeBanks Prolific Poster

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    Messages:
    70
    Likes Received:
    0
    Local Time:
    7:29 PM
    I keep a bottle of Excel around for just such an occasion.

    Or even better - get a spare 5lb tank so you can switch over - that way you don't have to rush to get the main tank refilled and the 5lb tank will last a lifetime if you're only using it for a few days each time.
     
    #6 JoeBanks, Jan 31, 2007
  7. shane

    shane Lifetime Charter Member
    Lifetime Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2006
    Messages:
    269
    Likes Received:
    1
    Local Time:
    7:29 PM
    Ya, it would be nice to get an audible alarm when the tank is very low. I have an extra 5lb bottle for emergency backup. As well as other parts. Never know what is going to break.
     
    #7 shane, Jan 31, 2007
  8. dapellegrini

    dapellegrini Lifetime Charter Member
    Lifetime Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2006
    Messages:
    111
    Likes Received:
    0
    Local Time:
    7:29 PM
    Strange thing, my pH was up to 7.7 before lights out, and this morning it was down to 7.4.... Huh... Last night I turned the lights off and pulled the plug of one of my 2 XP3s (the one that creates more water current / surface agitation)...

    Anyways, I was able to make it down to a Welding Supplies shop this morning and get the tank replaced before the lights came on. I will keep a close eye on things for the next couple days...

    Without that drop checker in there, I would not have even thought to check the CO2. It could have gone on for another day or two until I started to wonder why the pearling had slowed or stopped... It's even more handy than I was thinking when I set it up.
     
    #8 dapellegrini, Jan 31, 2007
  9. Tom Barr

    Tom Barr Founder
    Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2005
    Messages:
    18,692
    Likes Received:
    725
    Local Time:
    7:29 PM
    Some pH depression is normal and predicted/expected, there is no uptake of CO2 at night, so the plants, the bacteria, the fish are still producing some CO2, not a lot, but enough to knock the pH down.

    But as soon as you add light, this amount of CO2....that took all night to produce........will be lapped up by the plants in 30 minutes and your pH will shoot back up.

    So the actual rate (CO2 produced/unit time), not a discrete measure(one pH/KH measure- no time rate added) is what is important here.

    So even though there is some contribution from non plant organisms in terms of CO2, the rate of production they produce is paltry.

    The plants need a lot more than that.

    Regards,
    Tom Barr
     
    #9 Tom Barr, Jan 31, 2007
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Loading...
Similar Threads - hour lapse CO2
  1. edwardsmith

    Hours Vs Intensity.....

    edwardsmith, Apr 14, 2018, in forum: Lighting
    Replies:
    2
    Views:
    1,292
    Allwissend
    Apr 16, 2018
  2. cloozoe

    Watt-hours/gal vs watts/gal

    cloozoe, Mar 10, 2015, in forum: Lighting
    Replies:
    3
    Views:
    294
    chris.rivera3
    Apr 2, 2015
  3. Monilovesplants

    Interesting Source of Excess Phosphorus..API Posting...does not appear for 24 hours!

    Monilovesplants, Sep 16, 2013, in forum: General Plant Topics
    Replies:
    0
    Views:
    363
    Monilovesplants
    Sep 16, 2013
  4. jbrekken1@yahoo.com

    Does 8 hours of 48 watts equal 16 hours of 24 watts?

    jbrekken1@yahoo.com, Sep 23, 2009, in forum: Are you new to aquatic plants? Start here
    Replies:
    2
    Views:
    354
    jbrekken1@yahoo.com
    Sep 25, 2009
  5. cggorman

    Just discovered I've been running a 17 hour photo period....

    cggorman, Jul 14, 2009, in forum: General Plant Topics
    Replies:
    1
    Views:
    203
    GTR
    Jul 14, 2009

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Accept Learn More...
    Dismiss Notice