hop2jr

Ok guys and gals just run into alittle money and for my Xmas gift I'm buying a complete pressurized co2 system. Anyone out there have any advise on what brand I should go with? Need all of the advice I can get don't want to buy junk for big bucks.

soldieroffortune1974

I would save your money and go woth a DIY system.It's cheap and easy.If you want to pressurise the bottles on a DIY system,but a cheap air pump.Save your money,best advise I can give you.

Peterpiper

Now this is just a thought I had once
So if you want to shot me down in flames be my guest..
With the CO2, could you use one of the cheap protein skimmers and hook the CO2 to the air stone for better exchange?
Its just a thought that I had once...

soldieroffortune1974

That's what I had in mind with the air pump.I have my CO2 set up that way. The air pump is connected to the 2nd smaller overflow bottle then goes to the air stone.(if you have a system with 3,4 or more bottles linked,you need to have a 1 way check valve preventing from pressurising all the bottles)

The CO2 goes into the overflow bottle where the air pump forces it into the air stone.Works like a charm.

Peterpiper

Sorry for the hijack hop2jr
SOF, you have this set up and running?
If you do , could you post a pic please
I was looking at getting a planted tank one day, but the CO2 had me worried

soldieroffortune1974

I can't post pics until I get a new camera (I only have a 35mm)
I have it running right now.It's the exact same setup as the DIY posted.Except in the 2nd smaller bottle has an extra tube running into it from the air pump,set at 1/2 flow (controlled by gang valve). The outlet is connected to a 5 inch round airstone.

hop2jr

Ya I have a single bottle co2 on it now with a powerhead as a make shift reactor its just to bulky in the tank. how would you control the pressure build up in a DYI grenerator if I added more 2 liters, and how many would you use on a 75gal fully planted tank? Just thought I would have more control and less hassle with pressurized CO2. The last thing I want is to crash my pH.

pepetj

If you don't want your pH to crash, then make sure your water have adequate buffering capacities. Be careful with very soft acidic water.

I run three two-litter bottles in my 45gal (plus 10gal sump: 55gal system) Rainbowfish tank, where my pH went down from 7.7 to 7.2 once the CO2 injection was efficient and I only use one reactor; KH in that tank (I use water straight from my source in that tank, no peat, no Indian Almond Tree Leaves) remains within the 5.5-6.5 range now, previously it was close to 9. Only if my water source hardness goes crazy (when the City system fails, my building mix it with water from a well) I mix with R/O processed drinking water in careful proportions.

In my Angelfish tank, I use two two-liters bottles; here I mix source water with R/O processed drinking water. pH in this tank is steady at 6.8, kH remains within the 3.0-4.5 DKH range. If for whatever reason, dKH hits 2 or 2.5 mark, I remove the CO2 until I reach my target (I don't add chemicals, just mix tap water with R/O); however, just for emergency use, I keep baking soda at hand but with no intention of using it (I use it in my DIY recipe for CO2 generation).

It is very easy to mess things up when your water, prior to CO2 injection, is soft/acidic. Be careful if that's your case.

Going pressurized is something I dream about. Make sure you end with a cylinder easy to refill; other than that, there are good suppliers out there, some with very good reputation.

I haven't purchased nor used pressurized CO2, however I contacted one US supplier at rexgrigg.com who sales what seems to be a great regulator.

Pepe
Santo Domingo