Low levels of CO2 even using a pressurized system

[For100]

Hi,

for the past few months I have struggled to maintain the proper CO2 balance. I have several CO2 readers in my tank and these barely turn green despite a large dose of CO2 (3+ bubbles per sec). My plants are doing OK, but not great. I see BBA growth in some areas (corners and driftwood). Anything that requires CO2 fertilization is doing poorly.

I wonder what might be the factor for this change in the balance in the last 6 months.
Here are the details of my tank:

1.- 180 gallons with 2 overflows.
2.- Sump/Refugium with 1200GPH pond master pump, net flow of ~500GPH.
3.- Pressurized CO2 cilinder and regulator.
4.- pH controller, CO2 in-line reactor using a pond master 700GPH pump, inlet and outlet inside sump tank.
5.- Parameter are set at GH 5, KH 4 and pH of 6 to 6.1.

CO2 is consumed at a faster rate than before, but I cannot find to get the right balance.
the tank consumes about a 10lb CO2 cilinder in about 6 weeks. I found this rate extremely high compared to past experiences.

Should I restrict the flow of the sump pumps to avoid surface gas exchange?
Is the carbonate hardness to low? How do I increase the dissolved CO2 without having to decrease pH further down?
Is the rate of consumption too high?

Any ideas are welcome.

Freddy

[Gerryd]

Hi,

I will post more later, but 3 bps for a 180 with twin overflow is NOT enough.....I would NOT consider that a 'large dose' of c02. For a 20 gal tank, perhaps

It is also a balance between c02 and 02 that is required....

[sandeepraghuvanshi]

Although I do not have much experience, but isnt overflow and sump considered bad for planted tank.
They might be causing loss of Co2.
Also one of my friend used a splitter in Co2 setp and introduced co2 from 2 sides to ensure co2 reaches all parts of tank

[Snivi]

10lb CO2 cilinder in about 6 weeks at 3 bps ?
you must have a leak somewhere in your co2 tubing befor your counter

[Htomassini]

Do you get many bubbles out of the co2 reactor? I think you may be pushing too much 700gph. Try running it half using a ball valve. Also 3 bps is too low for. 180 like Gerry said. Check for leaks though.



Henry tomassini
www.theplantedaquariumstore.com
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Matt F.]

If you want to measure by BPS, I'm running between 5-6 bps in my 17 gallon. ;P
BPS is not an accurate measure of CO2 levels in an aquarium.
I don't consider drop checkers to be either.
30-40 ppm CO2 is an arbitrary number. 4dkh and 5 dkh fluid mixed with bromothymol blue only assures us that there is 30 (4dkh) or 40 (5dkh) in our tank an hour or two before.
The only time I've used a drop checker was to make sure I was hitting a minimum of 30ppm co2 in a tank, and then I removed teh drop checker and slowly increased CO2 till the plants responded well. You have to do this carefully b/c if you adjust too fast the fish will have problems and hang out towards the surface gasping...

As Tom has shown us, many tanks are fine with quite a bit more CO2 (60-80+ ppm).

I agree with Gerryd. Def not enough CO2.

DEF a leak somewhere. A 10# co2 tank should last you 5-6 months at twice what you are injecting.

Hi,

I will post more later, but 3 bps for a 180 with twin overflow is NOT enough.....I would NOT consider that a 'large dose' of c02. For a 20 gal tank, perhaps

It is also a balance between c02 and 02 that is required....