Tony F
08-08-2011, 07:39 AM
I recently introduced 4 discus into a heavily planted 120 gallon tank with pressurized CO2 injection. I have high lighting (4- 56 watt T5HO bulbs) suspended about 7 inch above the tank with lights on 10 hrs a day. My CO2 injection is controlled with a pH meter, so I can hold my pH steady @ 7.0 which equates to 30 ppm CO2. If I run my CO2 24/7 I can hold the pH steady within a +-0.1 tolerance. BUT, if I run my CO2 with lights on only, off with lights off, my pH raises to 7.5 - 7.6 during lights off. It slowly and steadily climbs during lights off. I turn the CO2 on 1 hr before lights on and it takes about 45 minutes for CO2 to build and pH to drop back to 7.0.
My dilemma is, should I run my CO2 system 24/7 or lights on only, so my question is how does the 0.5 - 0.6 daily swing in pH effect the fish? They have only been in the tank a few days, and are still adjusting to their new environment (and doing well), but I'm not sure about the pH swing and the well being / long term health of the fish. Cost of running the CO2 24/negligible, The issue is the health and well being of the fish. BTW, if it makes any difference I also have about 30 rummy nose tetras and 4 yoyo loaches (snail control) in the tank.
Looking forward to your thoughts and comments and hearing what others do with CO2 injection.
Thanks, Tony
My dilemma is, should I run my CO2 system 24/7 or lights on only, so my question is how does the 0.5 - 0.6 daily swing in pH effect the fish? They have only been in the tank a few days, and are still adjusting to their new environment (and doing well), but I'm not sure about the pH swing and the well being / long term health of the fish. Cost of running the CO2 24/negligible, The issue is the health and well being of the fish. BTW, if it makes any difference I also have about 30 rummy nose tetras and 4 yoyo loaches (snail control) in the tank.
Looking forward to your thoughts and comments and hearing what others do with CO2 injection.
Thanks, Tony