Automatic Pressurized CO2...how accurate is this?
- Thread starter Nolapete
- Start date
It will do the job, but you could peice it together for less money. The parts are not as good as the ones Rex and others sell. You really dont need the PH controller a simple drop checker does the job very well.
thats just a ph controller hooked up to the co2 tank like a timer. It goes on and off based on what ph you tell it it the min. thats based on the idea that lowering the ph with co2 is as dangerous as it dropping from anything else. You will always read that co2 and plants cause ph swings that can be harmful to fish, this is untrue. Ph swings for almost any other reason is BAD but the ph swing associated with co2 is completely safe.
So you could be losing the ability to add the amount of co2 you need.
It a lot of money for something you don't need.
If you just hook your co2 up to a timer so it comes on 30min before lights on and off 30min before lights off everything will be fine.
So you could be losing the ability to add the amount of co2 you need.
It a lot of money for something you don't need.
If you just hook your co2 up to a timer so it comes on 30min before lights on and off 30min before lights off everything will be fine.
also you don't need to set up plumbing just for co2, you don't need a reactor you just need a diffuser.
I was more asking about the diagram of how things were set up, but thanks for pointing out there are better places to get equipment from.
It's my understanding that a diffuser just distributes the bubbles in the water column more efficiently whereas a reactor supersaturates and disperses the bubbles. Is that correct?
Does the meter monitor CO2 ppm or just the pH? I realize that because CO2 doesn't changed the TDS/hardness it isn't a bad pH fluctuation. It did concern me when I saw the 1 point jump in pH people wrote about associated with CO2, but now I understand it.
Let me see if I have this now:
Need:
Cylinder
Regulator
Bubble Counter
Diffuser or Reactor
Extras:
Meter
Timer
It's my understanding that a diffuser just distributes the bubbles in the water column more efficiently whereas a reactor supersaturates and disperses the bubbles. Is that correct?
Does the meter monitor CO2 ppm or just the pH? I realize that because CO2 doesn't changed the TDS/hardness it isn't a bad pH fluctuation. It did concern me when I saw the 1 point jump in pH people wrote about associated with CO2, but now I understand it.
Let me see if I have this now:
Need:
Cylinder
Regulator
Bubble Counter
Diffuser or Reactor
Extras:
Meter
Timer
yes the reactor mixed the CO2 with the water and sends co2 water out to the tank.
if the reactor is set up correctly you get a very efficent mix result is asociated with less co2 needed to get the concentrations up to the level you desire.
the set up in the doc uses a solenoid(mixed feelings about those) but the solenoid turns the co2 off when the power is shut off(timer)
silicone tubing for co2?? usually not recommended.
the ph controller in this case acts as the shut off..you can didigally set up the ph monitor to turn the co2 off and on to keep the levels where you desire them..I prefer a time as plants tend to respire at night competing for the O2 in the water column with the live stock.
I also use a needle valve to controll the flow to the bubble counter.(maybe my system is more primitive than the one in the picture/diagram.
I do like reactors betrer than diffusors but that could be called 'personal choice'
if the reactor is set up correctly you get a very efficent mix result is asociated with less co2 needed to get the concentrations up to the level you desire.
the set up in the doc uses a solenoid(mixed feelings about those) but the solenoid turns the co2 off when the power is shut off(timer)
silicone tubing for co2?? usually not recommended.
the ph controller in this case acts as the shut off..you can didigally set up the ph monitor to turn the co2 off and on to keep the levels where you desire them..I prefer a time as plants tend to respire at night competing for the O2 in the water column with the live stock.
I also use a needle valve to controll the flow to the bubble counter.(maybe my system is more primitive than the one in the picture/diagram.
I do like reactors betrer than diffusors but that could be called 'personal choice'
most regulators built for this industry have needle valves built in. If not get one from rex unless you have the ability to order from wholesalers like McMaster. They have every thing you would ever need to build the same stuff that Dr.foster and others sell.
I don't mind the electric solenoid, I like having co2 on a timer and as long as you have a good check valve the solenoid should be fine.
I don't mind the electric solenoid, I like having co2 on a timer and as long as you have a good check valve the solenoid should be fine.
I agree. I was looking at it more for the diagram's sake for parts to figure out what's needed.
Love your site Rex. I spent nearly all day on it the past couple days.
Love your site Rex. I spent nearly all day on it the past couple days.