ChicagoDiscus.com     Golden State Discus

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 33

Thread: Discus planted tank with co2 pro system

  1. #1
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Posts
    9

    Default Discus planted tank with co2 pro system

    Hi guys,
    Pls help. I recently add co2 to my 60 gallon planted discus tank. As I started , my two adult discus (not Hans) went to die. I stopped co2 , changed water then start again, around 2 bpm and this time I reduced diffuser reactor to lowest option. Co2 Indicator did not show any co2 level at all, it's blue , so I don't know why discus did so bad?? Was that related with diffuser?

  2. #2
    Registered Member warblad79's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    San Jose, CA
    Posts
    1,879

    Default Re: Discus planted tank with co2 pro system

    It's a bad idea to play around with c02 and discus.

  3. #3
    Homesteader DiscusLoverJeff's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Lake Villa, IL 60046
    Posts
    3,913

    Default Re: Discus planted tank with co2 pro system

    When I started my setup I was only doing 1 bubble per sec. Then over about 3 to 4 weeks I increased it to 2bps with no issues at all. Are you sure all equipment was working properly? No leaks?
    DiscusLoverJeff

    Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
    Confucius

  4. #4
    Registered Member Skip's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Austin, America
    Posts
    11,839

    Default Re: Discus planted tank with co2 pro system

    Quote Originally Posted by warblad79 View Post
    It's a bad idea to play around with c02 and discus.
    Yep
    Jester - S0S Crew Texas

  5. #5
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Space City USA, Tx
    Posts
    418

    Default Re: Discus planted tank with co2 pro system

    Quote Originally Posted by warblad79 View Post
    It's a bad idea to play around with c02 and discus......... if you dont know what you are doing
    Fixed it for you.

    Injecting Co2 lowers pH. If you lower pH too quickly is can strip the slime coat off the fish, and this will kill a discus very quickly. You can also suffocate the fish if you inject too much Co2. Color changing "drop checkers" are all but useless in my opinion.

    If you are going to inject Co2 you need to do it right. You need to determine your KH and insure it is stable, then you need to inject Co2 with a a pH controller and target the proper pH for your water's KH and you need to make the adjustments in pH through Co2 injection over weeks, not a single day.
    Last edited by rbarn; 05-10-2013 at 09:12 AM.
    800hp Mustang, V-tail Bonanza, Fly Fishing, Golf, Discus
    Got too many damn hobbies. .............

  6. #6
    Registered Member Chad Hughes's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    4,696

    Default Re: Discus planted tank with co2 pro system

    Quote Originally Posted by rbarn View Post
    Fixed it for you.

    Injecting Co2 lowers pH. If you lower pH too quickly is can strip the slime coat off the fish, and this will kill a discus very quickly.

    If you are going to inject Co2 you need to do it right. You need to determine your KH and insure it is stable, then you need to inject Co2 with a a pH controller and target the proper pH for your water's KH and you need to make the adjustments in pH through Co2 injection over weeks, not a single day.
    Now THIS is excellent advice! There is absolutely nothing wrong with using CO2 with discus. You just need to know how to do it.
    Chad Hughes

    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

  7. #7
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Posts
    9

    Question Re: Discus planted tank with co2 pro system

    Quote Originally Posted by rbarn View Post
    Fixed it for you.

    Injecting Co2 lowers pH. If you lower pH too quickly is can strip the slime coat off the fish, and this will kill a discus very quickly. You can also suffocate the fish if you inject too much Co2. Color changing "drop checkers" are all but useless in my opinion.

    If you are going to inject Co2 you need to do it right. You need to determine your KH and insure it is stable, then you need to inject Co2 with a a pH controller and target the proper pH for your water's KH and you need to make the adjustments in pH through Co2 injection over weeks, not a single day.
    Thx for quick response guys. I have mc122 too but one of the guy in LFS suggested me to connect co2 to light timer instead of PH reader. He said if there is any problem with that, at least it's 8 hours not 24/7 which PH reader will be on. I'm completely confused. He said, I don't need co2 be on all day so I can save while it's gonna be too dangerous when I use PH reader because co2 will work till PH adjust at the point that I want, but instead , I can use timer and just goes onanistic off with my lights. Last night I reduced diffuser to minimum and everything went fine for 2 hours. I don't really know relations between bubble counter and diffuser! I'm trying to search but I couldn't find out yet. I have Red Sea co2 pro with solenoid and diffuser reactor.

  8. #8
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Posts
    9

    Default Re: Discus planted tank with co2 pro system

    Thx for quick response guys. I have mc122 too but one of the guy in LFS suggested me to connect co2 to light timer instead of PH reader. He said if there is any problem with that, at least it's 8 hours not 24/7 which PH reader will be on. I'm completely confused. He said, I don't need co2 be on all day so I can save while it's gonna be too dangerous when I use PH reader because co2 will work till PH adjust at the point that I want, but instead , I can use timer and just goes onanistic off with my lights. Last night I reduced diffuser to minimum and everything went fine for 2 hours. I don't really know relations between bubble counter and diffuser! I'm trying to search but I couldn't find out yet. I have Red Sea co2 pro with solenoid and diffuser reactor.

  9. #9
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Space City USA, Tx
    Posts
    418

    Default Re: Discus planted tank with co2 pro system

    You are being fed lots of bad information.

    KH + Co2 = pH.
    A controller will turn the Co2 on and off to maintain a certain pH level. It does not run 24/7. It comes on only when it needs to be on.
    If you have fluctuating Co2 levels by just putting it on a timer with the lights then you will have fluctuating pH, and fish hate this.

    You set the ph level you want to maintain by testing for your water's KH, then setting the proper pH for the proper Co2 concentration


    Try this forum for information
    http://www.barrreport.com/forumdispl...CO2-Enrichment
    800hp Mustang, V-tail Bonanza, Fly Fishing, Golf, Discus
    Got too many damn hobbies. .............

  10. #10
    Registered Member -gb-'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Toronto, Ontario
    Posts
    455

    Default Re: Discus planted tank with co2 pro system

    As several here have said the only way to correctly run Co2 is with a controller and a PH probe. I personally use Apex controllers. Here is a link: http://www.neptunesystems.com/produc...x-controllers/

    Running Co2 isn't cheap but your plants will love it and your fish will benefit of having a very stable PH.
    Last edited by -gb-; 05-10-2013 at 03:29 PM.
    - don't eat my fish

  11. #11
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Space City USA, Tx
    Posts
    418

    Default Re: Discus planted tank with co2 pro system

    There are really couple of schools of thought on how to control Co2.

    Some very smart and informed people like Tom Barr will tell you to dial in Co2 diffusion rate with a pH meter, but not to worry about trying to "control" it exactly. And he will turn it off at night and the tank will go through pH swings from 8.0 at night to 6.8 during the day with Co2 on.

    Others like myself prefer to control the pH with constant Co2 injection and everything is run by controller.

    I think the 1st method works well in tanks where the plants are the main focus and the fish are more of an add-on. When dealing with ultra sensitive fish like Discus it is my opinion that pH should be stabilized as much as possible, and Co2 concentrations kept on the weaker side of what the plants would prefer, but allows the fish to breathe easier.
    800hp Mustang, V-tail Bonanza, Fly Fishing, Golf, Discus
    Got too many damn hobbies. .............

  12. #12
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Littleton MA
    Posts
    613

    Default Re: Discus planted tank with co2 pro system

    interesting and informative thread so far
    Its me "Prabhu" I am just a little angry these days

  13. #13
    MVP Oct.2015 discuspaul's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Surrey, B.C. Canada
    Posts
    3,871

    Default Re: Discus planted tank with co2 pro system

    Yes, very good advice here.
    This is why it is not recommended to use pressurized CO2 in a discus tank, unless and until the user is both very well familiar with keeping discus, as well as operating a CO2 system with the right equipment to properly control water conditions, particularly pH.

  14. #14
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Posts
    9

    Default Re: Discus planted tank with co2 pro system

    @rbarn, tnx a lot the chart is so helpful and you are right about unstable PH but if I set my ph controller, how do I know about amount of co2 that pump in the tank? I don't know if I can explain. For example, Los Angeles tap PH is around 7.8 to 7.9. , my concern is co2 so if I set PH to 7.4 it could pump more co2 to set PH at that level, am I right? If yes, it could be dangerous for fish. Right now, I set needle valve around 1.4 bpm. After 90 minutes, discus look fine to me.i changed reactor to simple glass diffuser and there is no problem yet. I will do your suggestion because I already have controller.i just want to make sure what PH I have to set on conroller? 7.4? Or 7.6? Which one is better for fish and plants?? So confusing. I checked another aquarium store today and the owner simply said , he has no idea....lol.

  15. #15
    Registered Member dkeef's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    OC, CA
    Posts
    1,271

    Default Re: Discus planted tank with co2 pro system

    i use ph controller set at 6.8-6.9 (KH is 6 with new WC and around 4 a week later) and i also have solenoid regulator on timer to turn on with light on and off with light off. when co2 is off, ph is around 7.1-7.2
    this is a pretty stable ph swing that i can run this way right?

    my priority is discus but without co2 in my size tank, plants would suffer greatly.
    there is a balance point one can use for both plants and discus.

    my question is even tho ph is stable, can co2 overdose occur with ph controller? (and also with co2 off at night w/ timer)
    Under what scenario can this occur?

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Cafepress