Diy: Co2.. Yes Another One...

[KrayzieVanh]

Just wanted to show everyone my setup. I guess if no one has seen one before it would be useful to them.

It is a 2 liter setup. 2 cups sugar, 1/4 tps of yeast, and warm water up to where the label would stop. The line runs into a "bubble counter". I call it the separater since it seperates any yeast mix that end up in the tubing. The 2 lit is in a 1 gal wal-mart aquarium with water that has a heater set in it. The yeast loves to be warm. It's cold down here!

Now you ask... "How do you diffuse your CO2?".. well I run the tubing up my AquaClear 50 Power Filter. The CO2 is diffused using the impellers of the filter. Heres what it looks like:

I'll be getting a KH tester soon to see how much CO2 I have in the water. It seems to be working great though!

Hope this helps anyone when it comes to setting up their own CO2. The ones at my LFS cost $30! Good luck if you decide to try this!

 

[love_fish]

Quick question. I'm diffusing my CO2 the same way into my aqua clear 70 filter, but im getting weird noises. Like popping noises whenever a bubble goes into the filter. Is that normal?

 

[KrayzieVanh]

Quick question. I'm diffusing my CO2 the same way into my aqua clear 70 filter, but im getting weird noises. Like popping noises whenever a bubble goes into the filter. Is that normal?

I get the same thing. It's the CO2 bubbles getting mixed with the water by the impellers of the filter. It's annoying but its a cheap alternative.

 

[love_fish]

OK just wanted to make sure it was normal.

 

[IovaykInD]

Be careful though, it's possible that too much c02 can break your filter. Heard of cases where this has happened, but not too often. But just to be safe, if you have another way of diffusing, try it first.

 

[love_fish]

The other ways arent that good. What other ways are there?

 

[KrayzieVanh]

I checked my CO2 and its at about 28 PPM right now. Looking at this page:

http/www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_co2chart.htm

Seems like 25 is the level to be at (I have fishes).

The setup has been on for close to 48 hours, 28 PPM isn't bad. I'll just have to disconnect the tubing at night when I turn off the lights!

I'm really suprised this method works so well! I tried the bell method- it didn't do much. I don't think a airstone would do much either. I haven't tried the reactor yet. Would have to purchase a few items which I don't have the money for at the moment.

I only have a few bubles going up the tube per minute so I'm not worried much about breaking it. ::knocks on wood::

 

[IovaykInD]

I would assume your pH is either 7.2 or 6.2 and your KH is either 15 or 1.5 since those are the only ones that give you 28ppm of c02. Did you try checking the pH at different times during the day? The pH swing might be really big, and that is bad for your fishes. When starting out with c02 it's best to check the pH a lot, so as to see if you need to make any changes. If the fish don't look stressed then I would think your c02 is really good, 28ppm is a great level for a heavily planted tank, but any planted tank will make use of it. Just make sure it doesn't go overboard, and remember to check the pH once in a while to make sure everything is fine. Good luck!

 

[love_fish]

IDK if im doing this right, but i dont even get a KH reading. I fill the vial up to 5ml, add one drop and it goes right to yellow. The directions say count the drops until it goes from yellow to blue. Am I doing something wrong?

 

[KrayzieVanh]

IDK if im doing this right, but i dont even get a KH reading. I fill the vial up to 5ml, add one drop and it goes right to yellow. The directions say count the drops until it goes from yellow to blue. Am I doing something wrong?

Weird.. mine goes the opposite. I'm using Aquarium Pharmaceutical KH Test. Each drop = 1 degree or 17.9 ppm. It goes from blue to yellow. It took me 15 drops before it turned yellow. 15*17.9= 268 (or KH of 15 degree). My PH is 7.2.

What's your PH?

IovaykInD thanks for the tip, I'll have to check my PH often just to make sure.


Does anyone know how to "recharge" the CO2 when everything is completed?

 

[love_fish]

IDK if im doing this right, but i dont even get a KH reading. I fill the vial up to 5ml, add one drop and it goes right to yellow. The directions say count the drops until it goes from yellow to blue. Am I doing something wrong?

Weird.. mine goes the opposite. I'm using Aquarium Pharmaceutical KH Test. Each drop = 1 degree or 17.9 ppm. It goes from blue to yellow. It took me 15 drops before it turned yellow. 15*17.9= 268 (or KH of 15 degree). My PH is 7.2.

What's your PH?

IovaykInD thanks for the tip, I'll have to check my PH often just to make sure.


Does anyone know how to "recharge" the CO2 when everything is completed?

I'm using a test kit made my tetra something something IDK lol. I know it says tetra on it. I just re-read the directions and it says to add drops from blue to yellow, sorry about that. Problem is my solution goes right to yellow??Maybe they made an error on it, or i have a very very low KH??

 

[KrayzieVanh]

I'm using a test kit made my tetra something something IDK lol. I know it says tetra on it. I just re-read the directions and it says to add drops from blue to yellow, sorry about that. Problem is my solution goes right to yellow??Maybe they made an error on it, or i have a very very low KH??

Whats your PH? It says with a low KH your tank my have frequent PH changes which could stress the fishes. I guess if your PH stays the same you should be fine. If you can get your PH you can find out where you at with the CO2.

 

[love_fish]

Actually, i screwed up before, and figured it out. It only took 3 drops to turn to yellow, and i have a 6.4 pH. Whats my CO2 level at? Is it at 36?

 

[KrayzieVanh]

Actually, i screwed up before, and figured it out. It only took 3 drops to turn to yellow, and i have a 6.4 pH. Whats my CO2 level at? Is it at 36?

Yea thats pretty high for fishes.

 

[love_fish]

Well, my tank is heavily planted, but i understand thats still very high. My fish dont show any signs of stress, no gasping or anything. I have a rock in my tank now that adds something to the water and buffers up the pH. If pH goes up, then my CO2 will go down right.