Turning off CO2 at night with SMS122...

[aronson]

Hello all,

I am using the Milwaukee SMS122 and solenoid for my CO2 setup. Is anyone else using this setup turning their CO2 off at night? If so, I am curious how people are doing so -- what is the most sensible way?

I am thinking that cutting power to the SMS122 when lights go out might be the best way to accomplish this. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Adam Aronson

 

[jonathan11]

Re: Turning off CO2 at night with SMS122...

I use a timer (be sure it has a 3 prong female receptacle), from HD, to shut mine down. However, supposedly, when you shut the lights out, the CO2 should cease to operate shortly thereafter. I use a singular timer to operate my lights and CO2 system. I have two multi plug receptacles plugged in to each other (series), then plugged into the timer, which is plugged into a power source. I plug my CO2 solenoid, pump for the reactor, and controller into one multi plug outlet. This is then plugged into my multi plug receptacle that carries the light and light fan. This is then plugged into the timer, which is in turn plugged into the wall. The reason for separating the lights and CO2 is to allow me, by flipping the on/off switch on the CO2 multiple outlet, to perform cleaning/maintenace to the CO2 units without turning off the lights and leaving me working in the dark. The multiple outlets can be had from WalMart for $3.00 apiece or so. The flexibility this system allows me far outways the cost in my opinion. An alternative, would be to plug everything into one multiple outlet (CO2 & lights), then into a timer, then into power source (outlet). This, obviously, would then shut lights and CO2 off together for a pre-determined time. I do not add any aerating device at night in my tank- never have had to, the fish do fine. :gw

 

[Tom Barr]

Re: Turning off CO2 at night with SMS122...

Ditto.

Some use two timers and have the CO2 come on 1/2 hour before the lights and shut off the last 1 hour.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[aronson]

Re: Turning off CO2 at night with SMS122...

Thanks Jonathan and Tom for the suggestions.

I am fairly certain that killing power to the SMS122 will effectively prevent the solenoid from opening and any more CO2 from entering the tank so I may simply put it's AC adapter on a timer as well.

Adam

 

[turbomkt]

Re: Turning off CO2 at night with SMS122...

No!!! You don't need to kill the SMS122. The SMS122 and the solenoid are on two different plugs. Let the 122 monitor your pH 24x7, but have the other plug on the timer. That other plug is switched on and off by the 122 and that is what controls your solenoid.

If I'm not clear enough, let me know and I'll draw a picture

Thanks Jonathan and Tom for the suggestions.

I am fairly certain that killing power to the SMS122 will effectively prevent the solenoid from opening and any more CO2 from entering the tank so I may simply put it's AC adapter on a timer as well.

Adam

 

[magicmagni]

Re: Turning off CO2 at night with SMS122...

I think what they are getting at aronson is that you do not want to use the PH controlling part of the device. Just set a bubble rate which allows for say 30 to 40 ppm of Co2 during the peak of the day when photosynthesis is most active. Obviously the C02 would be less in the morning and more toward the end of the day, but it's fine.

You may think that this is a less accurate way of injecting your CO2, but consider this:

The PH controller is set to a certain PH. You enter this PH based on your KH reading and looking at the CO2 chart, right?

So say you measure KH 4' You would want a PH setting of 6.6 to achieve 30ppm CO2. You set it and forget it.

What happens if the KH changes??

Let's say the you do your weekly water change. You don't know it, but your water is now 2' KH. So now your tank is say around 3' KH (assuming 50% H20 change) You think you have 30ppm Co2 still because you see ph at 6.6, but in reality you only have 22ppm. You now may see some BBA and the plants are growing less- maybe not pearling as much and you are wondering what the problem is. The C02 is too low!!

With a calibrated constant bubble rate you will always have the same amount of C02 regardless of the KH. This allow you to enjoy your plants more and test KH less- and lets face it KH test kits aren't that accurate anyways. Will you see .5' KH change- probably not, yet it is enough to cause a C02 fluctuation. This is why I don't use a the controller part anymore, it's honestly not needed.

Jeff

 

[Cornhusker]

Re: Turning off CO2 at night with SMS122...

when i measure kh in my 75 gal it comes up between 9 and 10 with ph of 6.5 to 6.6. if you look at the chart thats a lot of co2. is there something i'm doing wrong. using ap kh test kit and mill.digital ph tester. regards,cornhusker

 

[jonathan11]

Re: Turning off CO2 at night with SMS122...

Cornhusker, may want to read article on this relationship between CO2, KH, pH, at Chuck Gadd's website, http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_co2chart.htm. Phosphates may be the problem for what should be off scale high CO2 readings according to the chart, but if not, and the plants and fish are doing well, then there may be inaccuracies in the KH testing equipment. I set my controller @ 6.8 pH, GH @5-6, KH @ 6-7. I do have low carbonates from my test report, so I add sodium bicarbonate to the water to get my KH at that level (Hagen kit). I have gone higher on the KH with no ill effects, but that's under my conditions :gw

 

[Laith]

Re: Turning off CO2 at night with SMS122...

...
With a calibrated constant bubble rate you will always have the same amount of C02 regardless of the KH. ...

Jeff

Call me a bit dense but I'm having a problem understanding the above concept.

When working only with a bubble rate you first need to find the rate that gives you your desired pH. Let's say you find that "sweet spot" at 1bps and let's say your KH is 6 and this gives you the 30-40mg/l of CO2 you want. Now your KH changes to 3. How will the 1bps still give you the same mg/l of CO2? You theoretically now need more CO2 injection to get the same mg/l of CO2?

Ok, now I've really confused myself!

Someone help me out here...

 

[jonathan11]

Re: Turning off CO2 at night with SMS122...

If you fix a particular CO2 bubble rate, then the KH and pH will vary, but, as you have set the CO2 rate, that will not vary. You will have whatever CO2 level (ppm) that particular rate will establish in your tank. Some people fixate on the bubble rate, some use the controller. I use the controller, my KH is initially low, so I can simply add sodium bicarbonate to my water to bring up the desired KH, and, according to the chart, at my selected pH on the controller, this will give me the desired CO2 level I need, or feel I need, for good plant growth. The plants determine my CO2/KH levels. If I had a high KH (17-18 degrees German) (otherwise known as rocks where I live) then the bubble rate would be the way to go, or RO water to lower the KH (I'm sure there are other methods as well but can't think of any), and maintain that CO2 level. Point to remember in all this- an erroneous pH reading will screw everything up quickly- this is the most sensitive of all your readings, if you use a test kit. :gw

 

[aquaverde]

Re: Turning off CO2 at night with SMS122...

Ways to turn the CO2 off at night when using pH controller (Redundant Information Alert!!!)

1. If you have your lights on a timer, just plug the SMS controller into an available socket controlled by that timer. The CO2 will go off and on with the lights, since the controller will kill the power to the solenoid when it loses power.
Advantages- costs nothing extra, unless you don’t have a socket available under the timer’s control. In that case you have to get a power strip or extension cord.
Disadvantages- takes a while for the CO2 to ramp up after lights on

2. Remove the SMS and it’s control socket, and plug the solenoid directly into the power socket controlling the lights.
Advantages- same as #1, plus don’t care what your KH is any more
Disadvantages- same as #1, plus more difficult to maintain CO2 levels during the late part of the photoperiod and lose protection from CO2 overdose via tank dump or misadjusted bubble rate

3. Purchase an additional timer set for the time you want the CO2 off, and plug either the SMS or its control outlet into this timer.
Advantages- don’t lose any of the benefits of a pH-controlled system, can rig the CO2 to come on before the lights, adds some life to the SMS if this is what is turned off
Disadvantages- have to buy another timer/strip, adds more wires and a little more complexity to the spaghetti under the tank

There is a 4th option, which is to do #2 with its own timer as in #3, but I’m over it already.

I’m considering option #3 myself since I would like to stagger my lights anyway, which will require another timer/strip. If I keep one bank on the entire photoperiod, I can plug the controller into this circuit. The other circuit will just be on in the middle of the period. I think my bait will like this better as well. They give a pretty good jerk when those AHS 96W monsters go on in the morning.

Also, I have a power strip setup (like Jonathan does) which has my filters and heaters plugged into it so that I can turn only those things off for maintenance. Mounting the strips on the cabinet and zip ties or Velcro straps on the wire and things are tidy.

BTW, Laith, if 1 bps is fully dissolving in your tank and giving you, say, 30 ppm, it shouldn’t matter what the KH reading is. If the KH shifts, then the pH will shift, but not the CO2 concentration. That’s the beauty of setting up your CO2 by your bubble rate, but I don’t see much said about it.

 

[aquaverde]

hey Jonathan...

...bread and butter!

 

[jonathan11]

Re: Turning off CO2 at night with SMS122...

Aquaverde,
96 watts- pc's?- tank displacement? - total watts/gallon? curious, may want to change my lighting - think we both said the same things - many variances to suit particular tastes and objectives - bubble rate is fine - wanted to keep a pH of 6.8 or so for my angels, hence my preoccupation with the controller :gw