OK fellow PG's (Plank Geeks), I'm babysitting my granddaughter for a few days so I have very little free time to surf and I'm looking for a bit of info. The Home Hardware in Russell was having a tent sale and I picked up a couple of timers. I've staggered the startup and shut off times for the 4 lights on my 55g. What are the best times for the CO2 to kick in and then shut off. Before and after the lights come on or after they come on then before they shut down.
There she goes again...got to go!
Charlie posted about this recently - I believe it's CO2 on 2 hours before lights, and both turn off at the same time.
Generally, switch on the CO2 some time before the lights, at this time you want already enough CO2 in the water to keep the plants happily growing. You have to play around a little and check the CO2 saturation in the tank when the lights come on to fin the optimal time for your tank. I started with 2 hours, which wasn't quite enough. Now it's set to up to 4 hours earlier :o on some tanks. Plants do much better!
Keep in mind to stay at home and watch your fish if you play with CO2 saturation. There is a too much at some point (refer to: Chinese drop checker) ...
What fischkopp said - really depends on the tank and CO2 needs of that tank. I have a 75g that has the CO2 timer set to 1.5 hours before the lights go on, and then I have a 55g that has the CO2 timer set to 2.5 hours before the lights go on. Odd, I know, but such are the needs of the plants and I can't argue with them. The best thing to do is to patiently watch the CO2 saturation and the fish, of course (refer to: Chinese drop checker - lovin' it!).
I agree with all the good info you already received, to add to it,1- 2 hrs before is a good starting point, it all hinges on how efficient your diffusing method can get the CO2 saturation level as close to 25-30PPM at lights on, the objective is to have good CO2 saturation when the lights come on.
The turning off i also like 1- 2 hrs before lights off, this helps in decreasing build up of high CO2 levels when there is no photosynthesis.
Thanks guys, I knew You'd give me the quick and dirty. I'm going to try and find Charlies' thread tonight.
Took the little one to Rona (it's never too early to start getting 'em into a hardware stor...harr, harr, harrr) to get parts for a CO2 reactor for the FX5. The sales associate was a xxxx, no help whatsoever, same at Rona. Went to BMR and I now have a 2" x 24" reactor to put together and hook up. Kind of hard trying to fit the Fluval metric hoses (damn Europeans...only joking fischkopp ;D I'm from the low countries myself) with North American fittings. I went bigger and longer because of the Fluvals' approx 7/8" hoses and increased flow.
I'm going to have to check out the reference to Chinese drop checker. ???
Chinese drop checker = if you see the fishes on the surface and gaspping for air, that's mean you have too much CO2 in the water column. Turn the CO2 down a bit until the fishes are happy again ;)
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One week in. I was having a problem with too much CO2, gasping fish.
Not enough plants, lots of fish, I'm guessing. And not enough time to monitor!!!
Built a DIY CO2 reactor so that I can take out the powerhead reactor and put the CO2 on a timer. So far, so good, no leaks. I'll start the CO2 tomorrow so that I can keep an eye on things.
I added a few plants in the front, raised some plants from the bottom and snagged them in the root mass (closer to the light and it adds a place to hide for the plecos). The cherry shrimp are taking a real hit, I'm losing a few per day. Levels are all good, hope it's just the stress from the moves.
From the above post in his other thread i`d say he already tried it :D