DIY CO2 for larger tanks?

HI all! I currently have a 29gal moderately planted (I consider it moderately planted, others consider it heavily planted) tank running a 2x24W T5 HO light on it that I'm working on setting up CO2 for since I'm getting algae up the wazoo (was going to order a nice CO2 system, but ran out of money). My next project (to be started Wednesday at the latest) is to set up my 55gal tank again since it went Chernobyl on me a few weeks back. I am going to be running a Current NOVA T5 light (not sure of the wattage or if it's HO or not, but I'll look and put that up when I get a chance) and it will be moderately to heavily planted as well (depending on your definition of "moderate" and "heavy" planting). I will be needing to run CO2 on the 55gal as well, but can't afford to buy a system for it. This is the DIY CO2 I am going to be attempting for the 29gal (still need to figure out a way to suspend it from the back of the tank since my stand doesn't have a place to put it unless I set it on the floor):

So, my question is this: would a DIY system like that work on my 55gal, if I upped the number of bottles containing the mixture to two?

In the 29gal the CO2 will be diffused through the filter intake (have an AquaClear 50 running on that tank). On the 55gal, it would be diffused through the canister filter (running a Cascade 1000 on that tank).

 

I would imagine it would work, not an expert though! I can't remember who, but one member was telling me that they run 6 bottles at once, switching 2 or three out at a time... I'm sure the mystery member will come forward

 

I ran DIY CO2 in a 40gal set up with three 2 litre bottles as generators. It worked pretty well. I used one of those "easy DIY Hagen Elite MinI filter reactor" as diffuser.

That tank had a sump so the total volume was more like 45gals. I figure the same arrangement would work in a 55gal.

Pepetj
Santo Domingo

 

I use a DIY CO2 setup on my 55 gal. tank and I have to be sure to turn it off at night, other wise the CO2 levels get to high. The setup that I have is 2 Nestle Quick bottles, much sturdier and larger mouth for pouring in the ingredients. If you would like I can post pics of my set up with my recipe. I get more than 2 weeks of production out of each bottle, but I change one out every week so as to keep the production at a constant level.

 

I would love it if you put up pics of your set up, HitchHiker! How do you "turn it off" at night?

 

I take some tonight an post them, I use a little fountain pump as a diffuser, so at night I just unplug it and let the bubble quickly rise to the top, work out pretty good. Then I plug it in in the morning, I hope to be getting some timers here soon that will take care of the turning it on and off.

 

I have three 55 gallons that each have two 2-liter CO2 bottles on them. Plants are doing just fine. I do battle hair algae on occasion but nothing terrible.

 

Sue, how do you have your bottles stowed or attached to your tank? My stand is a metal stand with no storage. I'm making a skirt to go around the stand so that you can't see my canister filter and all the cords from everything.

 

On the 75 I have three 2-liters in my wood stand. On the 55s the bottles are behind the lower tanks. A skirt sounds like a great idea!

 

I might be able to build some sort of stand to set the bottles on so they'd be as high as possible under the stand. Sue, you get enough pressure on your bottles to get the CO2 all the way from under the tank into the tank? (wow, that's probably horrid grammar, but at the moment, I'm beyond caring lol)

The material I have for the skirt matches the decor of my living room perfectly. My living room is done in an antique ships theme (I have models of ships, pictures of ships...it all started with a picture I loved at Walmart that a friend bought me as a surprise).


It'll be backed by brown muslin.

 

The top of the top tank really tall and the bottles sit on a ledge about a foot high. I never really thought about that. The co2 comes out just like the other tanks so I guess it works

 

Because of a lack of funds, I run DIY CO2 on my 90G. I know it isn't recommended; however, I am using 6 2-liter bottles. And, I switch them out in sets.....2 each week. Each bottle runs a total of 3 weeks before being replaced.

Instead of attempting to "turn off" the DIY CO2, which isn't possible, I run an air stone over night while the lights are off. It works great for me. Been doing this for almost 6 months now and it had worked out great for me.

I believe Nutter runs his DIY CO2 through 5 gallon containers on his tanks, so his yeast solution goes much longer between changes.

 

This is probably a really dumb question, but could I use a 1 gallon bottle instead of two 2-litres? I have a 1 gallon apple juice bottle that is just begging to be used for something. lol

 

This is probably a really dumb question, but could I use a 1 gallon bottle instead of two 2-litres? I have a 1 gallon apple juice bottle that is just begging to be used for something. lol

If it can hold the pressure I don't see why not. One gal container holds approximately 3.8 L so if I were you I would prepare the mixture as if for two 2 L bottles.

Remember to use a 20 oz bottle as gas separator (if you place some water in it in a way the input hose from the CO2 generator is below water but the output hose remains way above it you have a bubble counter too).

Pepetj
Santo Domingo

 

Where can I find a good recipe for the yeast solution?

 

2 cups of sugar

1/2 tsp yeast

Some people add a pinch of baking soda

then fill the 2-liter up to about 3 inches from the top