Re: [APD] Solenoids & Needle Valves

["S. Hieber" <shieber at yahoo_com>]

CO2 is not costly in most places unless you are using tons
of it on a large tank that sheds lots of CO2 or have other
CO2 rentetnion issues (e.g., lots of surface turbulence).

You could turn the CO2 off each night by hand, or jsut
install a good quality yet cheap airline valve after the
more precise needle valve, and turn the flow off that way.


The variation in pH is due solely to the diffence in the
level of CO2 while the CO2 is turned off or, while it is on
and the plants are "sucking" it out of the water. With 24-7
you run at a constant rate that builds a little over the
evenining and depletes as the late afternoon approaches.
Peak to peak can easily be only about 0./2 pH. 

With timer and solenoid, you will probalby run the CO2 a 
tad faster so that it it doesn't take hours to catch up,
and after the plants have used a lot of CO2 over the course
of the day, yo do no rpelenish the supply until the next
moring. But again, many folks have reported a peak to peak
of only about 0.2 pH. 

With a controller such as the milwaukee, the turn-on and
turn-off points are 0.2 units apart, so the pH swings that
much unless you have it set at such a low rate that you
have essentially a 24-7 operation -- there's room for lots
of inbetween settings, of course.


sh


--- urville <urville at peoplepc_com> wrote:

> couple things here. without co2 my water is 7.6 with it
> it's more like 6.6 is the rate so low that it wouldnt
> change by more than .2?
> 
> This is waht I dont get about a solenoid. if id ont have
> one and want to save co2 by having it off at night. until
> i can get a solenoid why dont i just turn the vavle on
> top to shut off the gas?
> is this not possible once hooked up or something?
> Ian
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "S. Hieber" <shieber at yahoo_com>
> Sent: Sep 28, 2005 3:50 PM
> To: aquatic plants digest <aquatic-plants at actwin_com>
> Subject: Re: [APD] Solenoids & Needle Valves
> 
> I would recommend a needle valve for any compressed gas
> set-up where you don't want the flow to exceed a certain
> for whatever reason, such as, killing all your fish.
> 
> A solenoid is optional. You can run without one and
> you'll
> use up CO2 more quickly than if you had a solenoid
> connected to the lights timer. If you can find
> inexpensive
> but reliable solenoids, the savings in CO2 can offset the
> cost of the solenoid over time. With a solenoid on a
> timer
> but no controller, you rely on relatively stable pressure
> and the needle valve to maintain your CO2 levels ()which,
> of course will dip at night when the solenoid is off, but
> be relatviely stable oduring lights-on. With no solenoid,
> you rely on the neeedle valve setting and the pH goes up
> a
> bit at night and declines during the day.
> 
> A controller is the most expensive and least useful,
> though
> some of us will use them on a tank or two if for no other
> reason than to see what happens ;-) .
> 
> With any of these methods, the pH swing needn't be more
> than about 0.2 units, which is an insiginificant amount
> for
> most aquaria. It doesn't hurt the fish or plants forthe
> CO2
> to run 24-7; it doesn't hurt for the CO2 to turn off at
> night; it doesn't hurt for the CO2 to go off an on
> several
> times as the controller trip points are it.
> 
> So it's really a question of your own convenience and up
> front versus long costs.
> 
> have plants, have fun,
> sh
> 
> --- urville <urville at peoplepc_com> wrote:
> 
> > I notice alot of Co2 systems dont come with a needle
> > valve. And i mean even when they are called complete
> > deluxe systems. Why is this? Are they not as important
> as
> > I had been led to believe? And wil any needle valve do?
> I
> > see alot of different kinds some for different gases.
> > 
> > Last but not least. is there a definitve answer as to
> > whether you need a solenoid. I see that ph controllers
> > are optional. and in my tank with a constant bubble
> rate
> > I cant ever see needing one, but the solenoid issue, I
> > cant seem to find an argument for or against them that
> > gives any real world proof either way.
> > Anyone, Anyone? Bueller, Bueller, Bueller.
> > 
> > hehe sorry
> > Ian
> > 
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