CO2 dosing intervals

[Jur4ik]

first off al my photoperiod:

8am - 1pm (5 hours)
break for 2 hours
3pm - 8pm (5 hours)

i run well with this intervals for 2 years.
As well i have a solenoid valve for Co2 i plugged together with my light.
Is it better to leave Co2 dosing intervals like they are (see above, same as the photo period) or to change them like this:

Co2 dosing period
#1
7:30am - 7:30pm (no break)

or
#2
7:30am - 12:30pm
break
2:30pm - 7:30pm

which one is better or does it make any sense to make special Co2 dosing periods

or
#3
should i lett the Co2 run together with the photoperiod?

regards
Jur4ik

[Anti-Pjerrot]

Turn it on 30 min before the lights go on, and 30 min before the lights go off.

This way there will be sufficient CO2 before the lights go on, and not too much before the lights go off.

[Jur4ik]

and what about the break ?

[Hannes85]

why do you want a break?

[Jur4ik]

because there is a break in the photo period - it is good against algae. ok actually i have any algae but i allways have done this photoperiod break..

imo a co2 break isnt needed - because the co2 lvl only must drop at night and over the day there can be a peak.

[Tsunami35]

Im running mine 24/7 right now at around 1bps. I have HOBs at the moment so I want to keep the CO2 levels up, and theres enough surface agitation to keep adequate O2 in the water.

[Jur4ik]

equse me, but what are HOBs ?

[Tsunami35]

Hang on back filters

[crstn_savu]

I think it's very important to use the CO2 24/7 because when you're not using the CO2, the pH grows and when you'll start it again, the pH will go down. This fluctuating pH level affects the plants and I prefer the first option.

[Jur4ik]

But if i let the Co2 run 24/7 i will have a huge peak over night - ph drops down.
i have a 30kg co2 bottle. this will be enough to run 24/7 for some years so i´m not thinking about to save some money on it. i just want the optimum for fish and plant

actually i managed it like #1
it starts 1/2 hour before the light goes on and it goes off 1/2 hour before the light. no break when the light is off fpr 2 hours between 1pm - 3pm.

i´doing a 50% wc every second day dose daily my ferts and today i saw an awsome amount of bubbles everywhere on the plats

[Tsunami35]

I havnt seen any problems with my fish or plants using 24/7 yet.. Both methods have their drawbacks and advantages

[Jur4ik]

using a HOB - pushs a lot of of Co2 again outside in to the air - so you have to dose 24/7.
same as a bubble stone. some people didnt have solenoid valve use bubble stones over night to prevet too low ph.

[Tsunami35]

Yeah thats why I dont worry about Co2 levels getting too high.. I have a solenoid but dont use it right now. I need to get a canister eventually...

[Jur4ik]

imo they are much better, i´m using canister filters already since 8 years

[epicfish]

Originally Posted by Tsunami35

I havnt seen any problems with my fish or plants using 24/7 yet.. Both methods have their drawbacks and advantages

What's the advantage of using CO2 24/7?

[Jur4ik]

Originally Posted by epicfish

What's the advantage of using CO2 24/7?

there is no advantage. but Tsunami35 has an HOB filter (filter hanging on the back of tank and the inflow of those filter push co2 out of the tank - so if you dont want your ph to increase over night too strong - he has to run his co2 24/7.

[tinkerman]

I have a 125 gal tank and run co2 24/7 and no problem with no air stone or hob. The only problem I have seen with running 24/7 is at first start up when plants arn't doing the best and not producing enough o2. If plants are doing good producing o2 then no problems, co2 does not stress fish that I have seen. I have seen it make my black neons breed when shutting it off for a week. I would say runn co2 24/7 or 1/2 hr on before light and 1/2 off before lights go out.

[Jur4ik]

thanks everyone,
i decided to run 1/2 hr on before light and 1/2 off before lights go out.

[aaronnorth]

a break doesnt help with algae IME, i had 2 tanks and did an experiment for 1 month, one with 5on 2off 5on - and the other 10hr straight. I got no algae in both tanks but the 10hr straight plants grew better. siesta periods are only usually used in fermentation CO2 to let the CO2 build up.

just my view.

[Jur4ik]

ok . the break is good to prevent algae and nothing more - maybe i will try it without - dont think i will get immideately some algae in my tank lol..
will report how it works