lyndatu

Hello

I just started my DIY CO2 injector and connected it to the powerhead in the tank to diffuse it into tiny bubbles and scatter it in the tank. The powerhead is doing a great job, but I'm worried about one thing - where should I aim the powerhead outtake tube? I tried to place it at the bottom 1/3 part of the tank to make the CO2 stay longer with the plants, but the gravel got messed up and the plants were uprooted. I place it at the 1/2(middle level) part of the tank and the plants weren't uprooted, but I'm worried that the CO2 might not be reaching the whole body of the plants. The bubbles were flowing all throughout the tank well for a very long time, as my wet/dry trickle filter pushes the bubbles down with some water, but the bubbles do not reach the bottom part of the plants - only the middle and upper parts of the plant. Where should I aim the powerhead for full efficiency? Or should I not be worried because as long as the bubbles stay in the water long enough, it will dissolve throughout the tank?

Thanks in advance!

soldieroffortune1974

as long as the bubbles stay in the water long enough, it will dissolve throughout the tank?


That's the general idea.The longer the bubbles remain in the water,the more CO2 is absorbed into the water.

but I'm worried that the CO2 might not be reaching the whole body of the plants. The bubbles were flowing all throughout the tank well for a very long time, as my wet/dry trickle filter pushes the bubbles down with some water, but the bubbles do not reach the bottom part of the plants - only the middle and upper parts of the plant.

The plants absorb the oxygen and the CO2 through the leaves,not the roots or stem.So as long as the CO2 is in the water,it will get to the plants.(through the leaves) Keep in mind,the plants produce CO2 at night and absorb oxygen,so at night,you want the CO2 to leave the water faster so it's not as concentrated.

What type of filter do you use? My CO2 goes into my DIY canister filter. At night I remove the hose from the filter and allow the CO2 to escape into the air,during the day I plug it back into the filter.The filter acts as a reactor to diffuse the CO2 into the water before it enters the aquarium.

lyndatu

Thank you very much, soldieroffortune1974! Your reply relaxed me a bit(I got OCD about my tank!)

It's good to hear that the CO2 dissolves in the tank and the plants absorb it through the leaves. I use an overhead/wet and dry filter. It uses a powerhead to pump the water to a box sitting on top of the tank. The box contains filter media and after the water has passed through the media, the clean water drops to the tank like rain. I positioned the CO2 hose near the intake of the powerhead and the bubbles get sucked in, shredded and blown out to the tank with a current that goes around the tank.


Oh, and I don't think removing the CO2 from the water every night is good for the tank. Adding CO2 to the tank makes the water more slightly acidic, while removing the CO2 from the tank causes the pH to return to original - this causes rapid PH swings which can kill your fish, so it's best to keep the CO2 running in the tank all the time rather than switching it on and off. CO2 and oxygen do not compete with each other so no need to worry.

Thanks again!