Just finished DIY C02...

Yeup I just finished doing my DIY C02 set up... Basically a 2 liter with hose running into the top of my aquaclear 70 into an airstone.. The idea is simple...

1) Create C02 using yeast and sugar...
2) Pressurized C02 will go through the hose and into the air stone which is located inside the inlet side of the aqua clear 70
3) When the air stone releases the small bubbles of C02 the inlet impeller will grab them and mash them into bits
4) The smaller C02 bubbles will travel through the mechanical, chemical, and biological filter beds and be dissolved into the outgoing water stream

So that is the idea... Now I need to figure out how to see if it is working or not.. LOL!!

Sorry if I had posted this in the wrong section. I did post it here because I did it for my plants.. ;D

Anyway update on the home made C02 and how it is working. I started it about 24 hours ago and have unhooked it about 3 times during that period to make adjustments, modifcations, etc...

My PH reading when I started this was at a solid 8.0 -- After about 24 hours of the C02 running it is now down to 7.4!!! So I guess it is working. Now does anyone have an idea of how well it is working ? If not what do I need to do to find out ??

The fish seems normal except they are moving a bit slower than normal.. I am guessing it is because of the rapid PH change and they will adjust to it over time and be happy. They are eating well and swimming normally. Just not as spunky as normal for them.

Thanks!!

 

I did this also. You can buy a bubble counter or make one to see when you need to change it and you can buy a gh and kh test kit and use a chart online or in the box to figure out what levels it's at. Works pretty well actually. Should see a rapid growth of some plants.

 

What is this Bubble counter you speak of ??

If it is what I think it is I think I have one already in a manner of speaking... But I dunno...

 

assuming you have a kh test kit, here's a few charts that will help determine level of co2 in your water

the thing with those charts is that you have to be sure you're only using carbonate buffering. usually that's not the case in a tank, but the charts will still give you an estimate

good luck

 

Wanna see what C02 does to your plants ??

First pic is one day AFTER adding the C02 to the tank...

Second pic is 4 days AFTER adding the C02 to the tank...

Check out the growth of the horn wort!! Freaked me right out today when I looked at it!!

 

that's some quick growth there!

seems like you got your co2 figured out

 

You should see it today!! It's amazing!!

I have a video on youtube of the changes with a video that I took today.

I wonder if I should start a new topic in the fish tank section with links to all my videos... LOL!!!

 

what kind of powerhead is that?

 

gargoyle - I was just looking at your vids and wanted to make a quick comment. your quick growth might be because hornwort is just a quick grower. I don't think your co2 is doing too much since you also have (what I am presuming) is air bubbling through your tank. if the stuff bubbling at the back of your tank is co2, then I take it back, but if it's air, you might be off gassing a lot of your co2

 

what kind of powerhead is that?

AquaClear 201... I believe the 20 has replaced it... ;D

gargoyle - I was just looking at your vids and wanted to make a quick comment. your quick growth might be because hornwort is just a quick grower. I don't think your co2 is doing too much since you also have (what I am presuming) is air bubbling through your tank. if the stuff bubbling at the back of your tank is co2, then I take it back, but if it's air, you might be off gassing a lot of your co2

You are correct that is air bubbling.. I took both videos near lights out time. About 30 to 45 minutes before lights out I turn up the air output to displace the C02 so the plants get extra 02 at night and extra C02 during the day. So typically the bubbles are not there during the day. Hope that explains it some. ;D

 

Looks nice but I do agree. Hornwort is one of those plants that grows extra fast, especially with co2 though you will see a larger/smaller difference in different plants. I speak from expierence.

 

What kind of growth is normal from HornWort ?? I an getting about 1.5 to 2 inches a day of growth. The MoneyWort has grown a quarter inch since it's final placement in the tank which was 3 days ago.

I'll attach a pic from today... I agree that HortWort is a fast grower. So if my DIY C02 isn't working I'll just get rid of it. So I guess the MoneyWort would be best used for a guide ??

Thanks!!

 

No I'm sure it's working. It's definitely working, leave it in. Hornwort naturally grows fast but faster with co2, that's probably how much mine grew with co2 too. What type of light do you have for your moneywort. Mine all died because I didn't have enough light.

 

Currently I have only one 20 watt fluorescent tube for it. I am expecting my shipment from Dr's Foster and Smith on Tuesday. Then I will have up to 3 20 watt fluorescent T8's for it... I am going to try 2 at first then if I need it I will add the third.

If you think the C02 is helping that's great.. The moneywort has bubbles on and under it's leaves all day today... Any idea what that is all about ?? Is it melting ??

 

sorry for the slow response, been pretty busy with exams and such lately.

the bubbles on it's leaves is pearling. a sign you're doing well it means your oxygen levels are saturated in the water, so the oxygen being produced by the plants can't dissolve like they usually do.

for the co2, I had assumed you had it bubbling all the time. that would offgas your co2, making it pointless. however, since you're running a diy, the bubbles aren't really necessary.

good job!

 

Agreed, good sign. Which tank is this on again?

 

It's on the 29.. I do all of my playing with that tank since it is the most stable of the 3.

Alright a little more time has passed and a little more growth has occurred. The good news is that everything seems to be back to normal after my C02 leak.. The fish are super cozy, the plants are looking good, and the water params are excellent!

I still haven't decided about small water changes and how often as of yet. But here are a couple of pics showing progress of the plants. ;D

First pic is from the 19th of this month.. (May)

Second pic is from today the 28th of May..

 

Looks great. I'm also thinking of going the Co2 route. How long do you leave the airstone in the filter? 24/7 or just a few hours a day?

 

Just to give you a heads up c02 into a impeller will slowly kill the impeller, the carbonic acid will slowly weaken the fins and they will eventually break. I would strongly suggest a reactor, a diffuser or a ladder.

And as far as gassing, on a DIY system, it pushes c02 24/7 so at night its good to run a airstone or increase your surface agitation buy increasing the flow of your filter, or moving your spray bar up to the surface. As the plants give of c02 at night while they grow, upping the c02 load in your tank.

With a pressurized system, just use a solenoid on the reg that is hooked up to your lights timer and it shuts of with your lights. I also no people that run there c02 pressurized 24/7 and just up there surface agitation at night to expel the excess gas from the water.