holiday

Tener ds

Tener ds

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Mar 22, 2010
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hi, will be going away for a long weekend in 3 weeks time.
now with this hot weather and lots of sun at the mo i was thinking
of leaving my lights off for the 3 days im away.(both tanks get some light form the back windows)
the fish dont get fed over the weekend so i won,t need any one to feed them,thank god!The 2 tanks will get a large water change and filter spundge clean before i leave and fish will be feed too.
will the lights off harm the fish/plants?
 
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Tener ds

Tener ds

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Mar 22, 2010
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D-MAC said:
I would put the lights on a timer for the plants...As you said the fish will be fine without food for 3 days. :thumbup:
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the lights are on timers D,just didnt wont the tanks getting hot if the weather gets silly hot when im away.if it does get hot the no lights on would help keep the temp down.i hope..
 
D-MAC

D-MAC

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Tener ds said:
the lights are on timers D,just didnt wont the tanks getting hot if the weather gets silly hot when im away.if it does get hot the no lights on would help keep the temp down.i hope..
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If that's the case, I'm sure leaving them off for 3 days will not harm the plants in any way...Mine travel to me for 3 days in total darkness from Tropica Denmark, and I find no problems at all with them.
 
Tener ds

Tener ds

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dw1305 said:
Hi all,
This is absolutely fine, particularly as they get some ambient light as well.

cheers Darrel
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Cool, should I also turn off my co2?
Not to sure if it will be worth leaving on or not.
Would it upset the balance off the tank if I turn it off for 3 days?
 
D

dw1305

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May 5, 2009
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Hi all,
should I also turn off my co2?
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Yes, definitely turn the CO2 off, and leave the air pump on 24/7 during the black out.

The plants will be respiring (oxygen (O2) in and CO2 out) all the time, what normally happens is that as the light brightens after lights on or at dawn the plant will start to photosynthesise and, assuming the light is intense enough, it will reach compensation point where the O2 use and CO2 production from respiration matchs the CO2 use and O2 production. Any increase in photosynthesis after this level will lead to O2 production and CO2 depletion. Adding CO2 stops this depletion happening and causes more photosynthesis, often leading to "pearling", where the water is 100% saturated with oxygen and it out gases as bubbles.

No light = no photosynthesis = no CO2 uptake and no O2 production.

Light drives both photosynthesis and nutrient up-take by the plant, so no light means not only no oxygen production but much less uptake of NO3 etc. the plants are then adding to the bioload, with the nitrogen cycle in the biofilter having both less O2 and more NH3 to deal with. This is why the tank may become oxygen depleted while the lights are off and you need additional filtration & aeration.

Have a look here: <http://plecoplanet.com/?page_id=829>

cheers Darrel
 
Tener ds

Tener ds

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Mar 22, 2010
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dw1305 said:
Hi all,

Yes, definitely turn the CO2 off, and leave the air pump on 24/7 during the black out.

The plants will be respiring (oxygen (O2) in and CO2 out) all the time, what normally happens is that as the light brightens after lights on or at dawn the plant will start to photosynthesise and, assuming the light is intense enough, it will reach compensation point where the O2 use and CO2 production from respiration matchs the CO2 use and O2 production. Any increase in photosynthesis after this level will lead to O2 production and CO2 depletion. Adding CO2 stops this depletion happening and causes more photosynthesis, often leading to "pearling", where the water is 100% saturated with oxygen and it out gases as bubbles.

No light = no photosynthesis = no CO2 uptake and no O2 production.

Light drives both photosynthesis and nutrient up-take by the plant, so no light means not only no oxygen production but much less uptake of NO3 etc. the plants are then adding to the bioload, with the nitrogen cycle in the biofilter having both less O2 and more NH3 to deal with. This is why the tank may become oxygen depleted while the lights are off and you need additional filtration & aeration.

Have a look here: <http://plecoplanet.com/?page_id=829>

cheers Darrel
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wow...cheers Darrel.will make a note so i don,t forget.
u should run a fish shop....u know more about fish/water/plants etc than all the LFS staff that i know put together....fact!!
 
bigbird

bigbird

Pleco Profiles Moderator - RIP FRIEND
Sep 9, 2010
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Very true, he is a wise person indeed :D.

Agree with all, make sure airstone is running, no lights needed and co2 off. No feeding either. If you have a friend who can check up on them then this is also a plus. cheers jk :thumbup:
 
Tener ds

Tener ds

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Mar 22, 2010
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Crawley (uk)
bigbird said:
Very true, he is a wise person indeed :D.

Agree with all, make sure airstone is running, no lights needed and co2 off. No feeding either. If you have a friend who can check up on them then this is also a plus. cheers jk :thumbup:
Click to expand...
lol..ive got loads off friends that can pop in and look at them but they
wouldnt know wot there looking at lol.
 
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