bradisfun

I'm wondering if I could use a 2L glass jug with an airlock/bung for the CO2 generator? Does too much pressure build up for an airlock (used to ferment wine or beer in carboys)?

Also, any simple plans for diffusers?

i saw this thread but it was colsed but i was interested in it
as i have been looking at co2 recently

any thoughts

djbrist

Hi Bradisfun, I am trying an easy DIY diffuser idea I read about on TPT forum. It consists of a section (6") of uplift tubing, with two uplift tube heads (empty), my diy CO2 incoming from airtube to end(top) of one head and into rigid peice of airtube (4") which runs inside the uplift tube. Positioned horizontally and rotated in a heater holder suction cup at 45 degrees from staight down in tank so as to trap the CO2 in the uplift tube and still allow H2O to circulate mildly through the tube. A large surface area of gas is exposed, and when the "bubble gets too big it burples out through one of the heads
The CO2 coming through the rigid tube is still below the waterline created in the tube so I can count the bubbles being generated. I don't have a drop checker yet, but I think it is working, as my plants are responding to the increased lighting and the daily dosing of Flourish.

As to the generator, not sure, but I am using the Red Sea jug that came with the set up I got as a present. It has check valve in line, and feels like a water bottle, but designed to hold the pressure. I went 6 weeks on one batch of diy mixture w/ 1-2 bubbles/ min.



Too long of post, sorry. Will try to post a picture to make it easier to see.

Dave

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mjordan

mines one 2 liter bottle for my 30g tank....
i have the mix in the 2 liter....
i then carry it out of the 2 liter via SILICONE tubing to atter bottle(standard size.... doesnt really matter though)
from the water bottle (no liquid in water bottle) i got to my tank....


the idea is that its generated in the pop bottle goes to the water bottle which the water bottle will catch any drips so they dont go into the tank and then it goes into the tank....

now this is key:
when exiting the bottles to the next location you have to know that presure is key....

that means an air tight seal is nessicary.

so however you make the hole doesnt matter but the facts are that the tube should have to be pulled through by some twizers or plyers ect.




now moving on.... the diffuser i use is the old version (used to be sold on this sight) of this one....

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...5&pcatid=9915#



now something to know is that mine does not have a bubble counter. this is the new feature/change compared to the old one. the bubbles spiral up the counter and you can see them and count them....

this also added 5 bucks to the cost....

now i know what your thinking...
hold on let me guess....
your either thinking i prob use to many periods. ex: ................
or mabey that this is 15 bucks plus the 10 shipping when going through there site.

well my solution is that if you typre in drfodtersmith cupons in google....
it comes up with a 5 dollar of any order cuppon.
now a little diclaimer is that you prob will have to try mult. cuppons as they expire but there all over the inernet.

again you want the 5 dolar cupon as this is the only good cupon they will have.... also look to see if its on sale. ive seen this one go on sale twice in the last 3 months for at least 2 weeks at a time....

sorry for the long post and hope it helps
mjordan29


EDIT: sorry about my spelling

bradisfun

thanks mjordan

Nutter

I don't know that I would trust glass to stand up to the pressure. It might work but it might also go bang!! I use old 5lt bleach bottles, (similar to oil containers), for my diy co2 reactors. The larger surface area means more bubbles coming to the surface at the same time wich means more co2 being driven into the tank. The mixture still runs for much the same time as using 2lt coke bottles, about 3-4weeks. For a diffuser I just run my airline into the bottom of an internal filter or into the pick-up of my canister. Don't do the canister pick-up with a 5lt reactor though as it will probably produce more co2 than the filter can deal with & cause an airlock.

ATP

When mine was setted up,

I had 2 soda bottles. 1 was the the mixture and was connected to the side of the cap of the empty bottle. The other side of the empty bottle is the airline pipe that goes to my tank.

Bubble counter:
I based mine out of a counter I saw on a calcium reactor (reef tank stuff) and It uses a siphon (small). I cut part of the flexible pipe that connects to the head and I shorten the head to like about 6-7 inches. I than connected the remaining of the flexible pipe to a small pump. I inserted layers of sponge until it fills up about 1 inch of space (the sponge is squeezed into the tube so it covers every space) . I then put some silicone to hold the sponge for extra protection. I drilled a whole into the top of the siphon where the pipe from the bottle comes up.

I disassembled it because I didn't seal my bottle correctly and my rooms smelled like yeast for a week.

(I would do this in different order because I just put down what I remember and it's not in order)

hope this helps

mjordan

np