Hey guys,
Just wanted to update some people on the success of the DIY co2 project I completed for my 29 gallon planted tank. I really was skeptical about this but informed myself with as much information as I could find.
I settled on 2 (2 liter) bottles with 1 small water bottle bubble counter so a 3 bottle setup.
The first bottle is mixed with the usual co2 mixture but Maple syrup added for smell as well as a color indicator of how far along the mixture is, easy to tell when its time to replace.
The second bottle is mixed and started exactly 1 week after the 1st bottle and connected through a Tee, so both bottles should be hooked up on the 2nd week. The 3rd week the 1st bottle is now about run its course unless your using Champagne yeast, which most are not using.
Looking at the bottle if it has a pale yellow color it means the yeast has almost died off due to the alcohol in the solution, remove the first bottle and re-mix and connect it back up.
The reason for the 2 bottles and alternating the replacement times allows for a more constant production of co2 without it fluctuating. The main cause of algae problems with DIY systems comes from co2 fluctuation, as the co2 mixture gets started than peaks than falls, the second bottle will even out this issue, prevent algae and lead to good results.
The Diffuser :::
I looked through so many different papers and websites and articles about diffusers, between ladders and glass diffusers as well as home made reactors and finally I settled on the simple but amazingly effective Medical Cotton.
I have the air tubing going into the tank and secured near the bottom of the tank, the deeper the better. You take a little cotton and stretch it out than roll it up and stick it in the end of the airline tubing ( not to much since DIY pressure doesn't reach great amounts ).
Place the diffuser bellow the output of whatever type of a filter system you are using so as the bubbles rise the water agitation pushes the bubbles back down into the water column.
The cotton diffuses great, the bubbles are so tiny and by the time they reach the surface they are almost invisible, than the water output slams them back into the water.
I am right at 30 ppm Co2 and the plants are thriving, using a calculator online I have around 97.5 % diffusion which is amazing for a diy setup with only medical sterile cotton as the diffusing method.
------------------------------------- Conclusion
I just wanted to inform you guys on the progress and inspire some other people to go ahead and inject some diy co2 into your systems. It really does help even in low lighting.
One tip/suggestion I do have however is that if you are adding co2 to a tank with low lighting, and yes from all the research adding co2 to a low light environment still does help, make sure you fertilize as well.
I know many people with low lighting just let the fish waste and food fertilize the plants but with low lighting the plants need something else to be able to consume and make use of the co2 injections and since the light is not an option add some fertilizer tabs or liquid if you are inclined to go that way.
The plants in the 29 gallon are growing so fast it is amazing, you can almost watch it grow there are new growths being formed daily and growing larger by the hour.
At night I suggest keeping the co2 in, but adding an air stone. Just turn the air stone on when you turn your lights off and in the morning when the lights come on air stone goes off. The airstone will counter act the co2 at night so your fish don't suffocate and it will keep a more stable ph environment than just removing the co2 at night.
--- All information here is of course my opinion, but it is given with faith since I researched and studied many different sources, good luck with your tanks guys! I would love to hear some more co2 results.
Just wanted to update some people on the success of the DIY co2 project I completed for my 29 gallon planted tank. I really was skeptical about this but informed myself with as much information as I could find.
I settled on 2 (2 liter) bottles with 1 small water bottle bubble counter so a 3 bottle setup.
The first bottle is mixed with the usual co2 mixture but Maple syrup added for smell as well as a color indicator of how far along the mixture is, easy to tell when its time to replace.
The second bottle is mixed and started exactly 1 week after the 1st bottle and connected through a Tee, so both bottles should be hooked up on the 2nd week. The 3rd week the 1st bottle is now about run its course unless your using Champagne yeast, which most are not using.
Looking at the bottle if it has a pale yellow color it means the yeast has almost died off due to the alcohol in the solution, remove the first bottle and re-mix and connect it back up.
The reason for the 2 bottles and alternating the replacement times allows for a more constant production of co2 without it fluctuating. The main cause of algae problems with DIY systems comes from co2 fluctuation, as the co2 mixture gets started than peaks than falls, the second bottle will even out this issue, prevent algae and lead to good results.
The Diffuser :::
I looked through so many different papers and websites and articles about diffusers, between ladders and glass diffusers as well as home made reactors and finally I settled on the simple but amazingly effective Medical Cotton.
I have the air tubing going into the tank and secured near the bottom of the tank, the deeper the better. You take a little cotton and stretch it out than roll it up and stick it in the end of the airline tubing ( not to much since DIY pressure doesn't reach great amounts ).
Place the diffuser bellow the output of whatever type of a filter system you are using so as the bubbles rise the water agitation pushes the bubbles back down into the water column.
The cotton diffuses great, the bubbles are so tiny and by the time they reach the surface they are almost invisible, than the water output slams them back into the water.
I am right at 30 ppm Co2 and the plants are thriving, using a calculator online I have around 97.5 % diffusion which is amazing for a diy setup with only medical sterile cotton as the diffusing method.
------------------------------------- Conclusion
I just wanted to inform you guys on the progress and inspire some other people to go ahead and inject some diy co2 into your systems. It really does help even in low lighting.
One tip/suggestion I do have however is that if you are adding co2 to a tank with low lighting, and yes from all the research adding co2 to a low light environment still does help, make sure you fertilize as well.
I know many people with low lighting just let the fish waste and food fertilize the plants but with low lighting the plants need something else to be able to consume and make use of the co2 injections and since the light is not an option add some fertilizer tabs or liquid if you are inclined to go that way.
The plants in the 29 gallon are growing so fast it is amazing, you can almost watch it grow there are new growths being formed daily and growing larger by the hour.
At night I suggest keeping the co2 in, but adding an air stone. Just turn the air stone on when you turn your lights off and in the morning when the lights come on air stone goes off. The airstone will counter act the co2 at night so your fish don't suffocate and it will keep a more stable ph environment than just removing the co2 at night.
--- All information here is of course my opinion, but it is given with faith since I researched and studied many different sources, good luck with your tanks guys! I would love to hear some more co2 results.
