Question About Co2 Diffusers

fatheadminnow said:

Thanks WD!

Yes, the bubbles do seem a bit smaller after I turned it down a bit.

I ordered a larger diffuser, a lot larger lol, so hopefully that will solve my problem!

Thanks again, WD!

-FHM

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it seems ok mate, i'd turn the pressure up on the reg, to get smaller bubbles, and also, your check valve should be below your bubblecounter.

thanks

fatheadminnow said:

I have the standard glass CO2 Diffuser, and to me it seems very inefficient? I mean, the CO2 goes right to the surface and gasses off; how is the CO2 diffusing into the water?

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You may notice the bubbles getting smaller, indicating that they are dissolving in to the water. The amount that dissolves in to the water is largely governed by surface area between the CO2 gas and water, and residence time. By using a ceramic diffuser to produce thousands of tiny bubbles, the surface area for gaseous exchange is greatly increased.

Your current problem, if there is one, is the lack of residence time of the gaseous CO2 in the water. You can increase this by either diffusing the CO2 in to your filter inlet, or directing the filter outlet at the diffuser to blow the CO2 mist around the tank.

fatheadminnow said:

Is there a more efficient way to diffuse CO2 into a tank?

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It depends on what you mean by efficient. Your plants preferred method of sequestering carbon will be from CO2 in its gaseous form, as opposed to dissolved CO2 in its aqueous form. Using a diffuser with CO2 mist being blown around the plants is the plants` preferred method.

If you mean efficient in terms of percentage of CO2 that dissolves in to the water, then a reactor will be nigh on 100% efficient at doing this.

fatheadminnow said:

Would trapping some of the CO2 bubbles and keeping them under water longer; would that help at all?

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Yes, because you are increasing the residence time of gaseous CO2 in contact with water.

fatheadminnow said:

Right now I have the bubbles being sucked up into a power head, then be shot out across the tank; and it does not look pretty have thousands of tiny little CO2 bubbles dance all over the tank. Lol

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I feel the same, too. That is why I use a reactor. Reactors can be expensive, but there are the plans for a few DIY examples floating around planted tank web sites.

Dave.

Wow, thanks guys for your responses!

I tried turning the knob on the reactor to adjust metered pressure, but I could not get it to turn using a pretty big wrench,lol.

This is the regulator I have:


-FHM

Yup I found out, after doing a little research, that the pressure going to the needle valve is fixed! Darn! This thing was not cheap, I would of thought that you could do this! Oh well, I guess I just need to keep the needle valve open a bit more?

-FHM

This is what the company said back to me:

"Hi Trent,

Thank you for your inquiry. The AQUATEK regulator solenoid is manufactured with a fixed output pressure at maximum of 54.39 CFH (cubic feet per hour). You can use the needle valve to adjust the output flow rate.

Sincerely,
Aqua eWorld"

Oh well, just as long as I get enough CO2 in the tank.

-FHM

They are usually fixed to stop you turning the pressure up to high and possibly causing an accident.

it should be between 1.5-2BAR and 50-60PSI (or thereabouts)

The CO2 collection on the surface is pretty bad lol, not seen that before. The bigger diffuser will/ should help to even out the pressure on the disc, creating smaller bubbles.

One reactor method I remember being interested in after I read about George Farmer using it was where you put several plastic bioballs in a clear cylinder, inject CO2 from the side and splice the whole thing in to your cannister filter input line.

There must be downsides to it because I don't see many here doing it. Perhaps the CO2 can build into larger gas bubbles in the cannister filter and eventually stop the impeller from turning, just as when you need to reprime after a filter clean. Maybe Aaron can enlighten us.

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There aren't many people on here that are seriously interested in planted tanks to spend £50 on a reactor, most are fine with a simple diffuser. If you go onto dedicated plant forums/ websites you will see more use one, although the exteral diffuser is becoming more popular now as it is cheap and gets equipment out of the tank.

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/CO2-Carbon-Dioxide-Diffuser-Dispenser-Aquarium-fish-F_W0QQitemZ110493111952QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Pet_Supplies_Fish?hash=item19b9e71690

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aquarium-Co2-Atomizer-System-Diffuser-16-22mm-D508-16_W0QQitemZ160377832421QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Pet_Supplies_Fish?hash=item25574383e5

thanks

I though 1.5bar=22 psi and 2 bar =29.4 psi?

Thanks! The bigger diffuser is on its way. When I moved the diffuser to the back of the tank; the move eliminated the collection of bubbles on the surface.

-FHM

fatheadminnow said:

When I moved the diffuser to the back of the tank; the move eliminated the collection of bubbles on the surface.

-FHM

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ive only just this second found that out, i nudged my diffuser with my tweezers and it stopped for about 5 seconds.

Weird? Well, the new location is in a more "water movement enriched" lol place. The bubbles, by the time they get half way up the tank, are already moving about the tank.

-FHM

fatheadminnow said:

I though 1.5bar=22 psi and 2 bar =29.4 psi?

Thanks! The bigger diffuser is on its way. When I moved the diffuser to the back of the tank; the move eliminated the collection of bubbles on the surface.

-FHM

Click to expand...

That is what mine, and many other people's regulators say anyway


http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=136857&st=0&p=1144072&fromsearch=1&#entry1144072
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=212550

What does yours read?

But I have just searched it and you are right.
Perhaps the reg can somehow change this but I dont know.

Not sure at the moment as I am not home. Argh! I hate not being home! I won't be home until this weekend; currently at college.

-FHM