Si's Low Tech Tank Journal
- Thread starter PDSimon
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SuperColey1
Planted Section
You'll work out the answers before I give them here 
The fish have been in circa 30ppm through the photoperiod. The CO2 has had to be injected non stop throughout the photoperiod to stay circa 30ppm. Why did we need to keep it running through this period?
Because it is permanently gassing off trying to return to equilibrium.
Take a sample of tank water during the photoperiod and immediately Ph test it.
Test it after 10 minutes, 20 minutes, half an hour etc. See how long it takes for the Ph to return to circa 1Ph higher than the immediate first test.
I would suggest within half an hour you will reach your conclusion, smile and stop testing.
Now you can answer the final question of whether an airstone is needed at all.
We don't actually know what percentage of the CO2 is taken by the plants and what percentage is lost. 95% loss wouldn't be a bad guess though
Some people with reactors will try and tell you that the reactor is much better at keeping CO2 within the tank. They are making the wrong correlation.
They are seeing bubbles from diffusers rising and being lost. They are not seeing any bubbles from their reactor due to the 100% diffusion. Therefore the CO2 is being lost at the same ratio.
How do they know when they can't see what is happening. the 'mist' is visible, the 100% is not, doesn't mean the same process isn't happening. I would bet that it is a little better but a fraction. Then when you consider only circa 5% is taken by the plant that fraction becomes miniscule.
However you can then come to a technical advantage of mist. Because you can see it, you can also see what is happening, where it is going, You can play with your circulation and watch the bubbles to achieve a better result. Can't do that with 100% in solution because you can't see it
I won't go into mist versus 10% ease of plant take up because that is unproven and theory at best
Do the test and post back the 0, 10, 20, 30 readings. I would do the test for oyu but I have long sold off my CO2 unit
AC
The fish have been in circa 30ppm through the photoperiod. The CO2 has had to be injected non stop throughout the photoperiod to stay circa 30ppm. Why did we need to keep it running through this period?
Because it is permanently gassing off trying to return to equilibrium.
Take a sample of tank water during the photoperiod and immediately Ph test it.
Test it after 10 minutes, 20 minutes, half an hour etc. See how long it takes for the Ph to return to circa 1Ph higher than the immediate first test.
I would suggest within half an hour you will reach your conclusion, smile and stop testing.
Now you can answer the final question of whether an airstone is needed at all.
We don't actually know what percentage of the CO2 is taken by the plants and what percentage is lost. 95% loss wouldn't be a bad guess though
Some people with reactors will try and tell you that the reactor is much better at keeping CO2 within the tank. They are making the wrong correlation.
They are seeing bubbles from diffusers rising and being lost. They are not seeing any bubbles from their reactor due to the 100% diffusion. Therefore the CO2 is being lost at the same ratio.
How do they know when they can't see what is happening. the 'mist' is visible, the 100% is not, doesn't mean the same process isn't happening. I would bet that it is a little better but a fraction. Then when you consider only circa 5% is taken by the plant that fraction becomes miniscule.
However you can then come to a technical advantage of mist. Because you can see it, you can also see what is happening, where it is going, You can play with your circulation and watch the bubbles to achieve a better result. Can't do that with 100% in solution because you can't see it
I won't go into mist versus 10% ease of plant take up because that is unproven and theory at best
Do the test and post back the 0, 10, 20, 30 readings. I would do the test for oyu but I have long sold off my CO2 unit
AC
I thought throwing the co2 all over the tank would be easy, it isn't as easy as expected. Most of it is going to the surface..need to keep playing around
But yes, sucessfully dosing the tank with 1 bubble per second!
But yes, sucessfully dosing the tank with 1 bubble per second!
SuperColey1
Planted Section
I had my filter in and out on the left hand side at the front (where the open space was.
Then I had the diffuser a third up from the substrate in the centre of the left pane.
Finally I had the Koralia shooting from the right hand rear corner along the rear.
That way the Koralia pushed along the back, hit the left side, took the bubbles along and the filter output blew it along the front.
I did move it a lot of times as growth changed flow substantially so it can be a little annoying. Part of the fun of the fair
AC
Then I had the diffuser a third up from the substrate in the centre of the left pane.
Finally I had the Koralia shooting from the right hand rear corner along the rear.
That way the Koralia pushed along the back, hit the left side, took the bubbles along and the filter output blew it along the front.
I did move it a lot of times as growth changed flow substantially so it can be a little annoying. Part of the fun of the fair
AC
i have mine sat under my Juwel powerhead, the bubbles then throw out towards the Koralia and then disperser over the tank. It does take a while to sort out where the best position is, but you'll get it. 
lol cheers Ian, at the moment the best place is right in the front of the tank The filter is (apparently) x10 filtration and the power of the spray bar seems good but only works if the diffuser is infront of it, if its below it it just goes behind the spray bar to the surface 
Another thing, my co2 came on at 10, before it did I noticed a water droplet that had escaped the check valve The check valve was full of water too from the bubble counter. It seems to have disappeared now though..........the co2 tubing looped down below the solenoid before it goes into it so it probably wouldn't have got near it but should I invest in a better valve?
edit: I am still dosing easycarbo, not sure what to do involving that now i'm adding co2? I've got plenty left
The filter is (apparently) x10 filtration and the power of the spray bar seems good but only works if the diffuser is infront of it, if its below it it just goes behind the spray bar to the surface Another thing, my co2 came on at 10, before it did I noticed a water droplet that had escaped the check valve
The check valve was full of water too from the bubble counter. It seems to have disappeared now though..........the co2 tubing looped down below the solenoid before it goes into it so it probably wouldn't have got near it but should I invest in a better valve?edit: I am still dosing easycarbo, not sure what to do involving that now i'm adding co2? I've got plenty left
its not gonna hurt dosing Easycarbo, i still am. As for the NRV, make sure its on the right way around, i did this when i first set my C02 up and the bubble counter filled with water. The pressure from the cylinder stopped it from going further down the tube. Tis fine now, also make sure the tubing is tight and secure around the joints and seals as they can leak if not secure.
It's definately the right way around. I tested it before hand too... It just seems like a bad design... It should be ok.
May go get a korlalia in a bit.
The tubing is tight. I tested all the joints, although the one for the cylinder was difficult to get liquid on as its a bit enclosed. As its in my room, would a leak that small have any health problems? I tested, but it doesn't seem a very effective method, atleast not for the canister and solenoid
how long are your lights on for Ian?
May go get a korlalia in a bit.
The tubing is tight. I tested all the joints, although the one for the cylinder was difficult to get liquid on as its a bit enclosed. As its in my room, would a leak that small have any health problems? I tested, but it doesn't seem a very effective method, atleast not for the canister and solenoid
how long are your lights on for Ian?
The poisoning would be very unfortunate! lol. The only times i ever look after people with c02 poisoning is with severe cases of COPD when people retain c02 due to their resperation decrease and over copentation due to the thalamus not working properly. Carbon monoxide is a lot more serious. In a normal human being, you would notice your resperation rate increase and maybe a headache. If you were asleep you body would naturally wake you up (unless you have copd). In a well vented room i wouldn't worry.
You can get cheaper Koralias on ebay, i got mine from my LFS for about £25, well worth it though.
You can get cheaper Koralias on ebay, i got mine from my LFS for about £25, well worth it though.
sorry mate!
My c02 comes on at 12:30, my lights come on at 14:30. The pearling starts at about 18:00, the c02 then goes off at 20:30. When the c02 goes off the o2 bubbles from the plants then rise through the tank until lights out at 22:30.
The tank is in the living room, so we all get the best out of the tank in the evening. I often find myself watch the tank rather that the TV half the time.
My c02 comes on at 12:30, my lights come on at 14:30. The pearling starts at about 18:00, the c02 then goes off at 20:30. When the c02 goes off the o2 bubbles from the plants then rise through the tank until lights out at 22:30.
The tank is in the living room, so we all get the best out of the tank in the evening. I often find myself watch the tank rather that the TV half the time.
Cheers, 8 hours hmm.. I've just upped mine from 7-8. I was thinking about moving it to 9 eventually because of this tank my George Farmer (http
/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=208540&st=0)
Sounds nice having one in the living room, the problem with my tank is that its by my bed, so if i'm tired and start watching it I fall asleep! I keep finding myself waking up late evening wondering what the hell!
/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=208540&st=0) Sounds nice having one in the living room, the problem with my tank is that its by my bed, so if i'm tired and start watching it I fall asleep! I keep finding myself waking up late evening wondering what the hell!
SuperColey1
Planted Section
Leave it at 7-8 until all the plants get used to CO2, then if you still have an algae free tank move it up
I use 9 hours. lol (24 hours if you count the moonlight)
Ha ha. I often wake up in the living room
With the NRV it is normal for that particular version it to fill with water. However a droplet coming out is not normal. If there is a leak try and sort it out. Nowhere near enough for poisoning like Ian says BUT it costs money and a small leak can release more than you would think.
I replaced mine with a brass one. wasn't because of the filling with water bit. Just cleaning etc. I have 2 of those in the cupboard if you want some spares. I think I still have a brass one too if you want the lot
You pay the postage though AC
Righto, it's currently on 8 hours a day. Got it up to 2bps yesterday and it started going green, but not the pale/lime green that is described. So going to up it to 3 today... Although I've already started injecting today and it's my waterchange day so its going to mess things up a little 
My NRV isn't doing a good job at all, as soon as the gas goes off in the evening, it slowly leaks all the water from the BC through the NRV and down the tubing. I made a big dip so that the water couldn't go into the solenoid as well, not entirely sure that would even work seeing as that it was sort of syphoning down but it seems to have done.
I'd appreciate if you could send out a valve
My NRV isn't doing a good job at all, as soon as the gas goes off in the evening, it slowly leaks all the water from the BC through the NRV and down the tubing. I made a big dip so that the water couldn't go into the solenoid as well, not entirely sure that would even work seeing as that it was sort of syphoning down but it seems to have done.
I'd appreciate if you could send out a valve
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