Hagen CO2 Modification?

[johnstires]

I am setting up a small Hagen CO2 system and I was wondering if I could bypass the bubble diffusor altogether and hook the tube into a power head.

Not sure if this is right thinking, but there is really no way to regulate CO2 ammounts with the Hagen system. It just kinda goes. Therefore it's be just easier to hook up the tube to a power head and bypass the unsightly bubble diffusor al together. Does this seem possible or does the diffusor play a larger role than I think?

[Hebdizzle]

what size tank are you using this in? If it is any smaller than a 15 gallon, I would just use the diffuser. If it is any bigger than that, then you should probably do DIY co2 w/ 2 bottles because of the increased co2 production. (even with this I would still use the diffuser provided!) The powerhead would be too big and wouldn't get the co2 absorption that you get with the diffuser.

I use the co2 system on a 10 gallon and EASILY maintain a 20ppm co2 level in the tank, using a whisper 20 power filter. It is very unobtrusive too, being pressed up against the glass and only going 1/2 inch into the water. (once again, that is pressed up against the glass so swimming space/aquascaping is barely if any affected)

This is a very good product ! I reccomend it!

[johnstires]

I'm using it on a 10G. What exactly does the diffusor do? Does it hold the bubbles in the tank longer so that they can be diffused into the water? If that's the case I guess I understand why it'd be good. But then again, if CO2 was being pumped into the power head, then maybe the CO2 would be agitated enough to diffuse into the water. Anyone else have thoughts or experiences to share?

As for the unsightliness of it, I know it's not that obtrusive, but I'd like to avoid it if possible. The less I can have in the tank the better.

[Hebdizzle]

no, the diffuser is a path that the bubbles follow on a slight incline towards the surface. I heard the bubble has to travel 60 inches just to get to the top of the diffuser! (and it does move rather slowly for even more diffusion)

I have tried to run this through a powerhead and it was just too strong for my fish, and agitated the surface of the water too much.

I hope this helps,
Aaron

[anonapersona]

The Hagen diffuser ramp packs something like 55 inches of travel path into those little ramps. Contact time for an individual bubble is very near one minute.

Diffusion is well past 99%, if you work past the volume of a sphere calcs, you'll see that if diameter is reduced to 25% or less of the original, you have over 98% dissolution. The Hagen does better than that.

You can adjust it to 100% of the ramp or less, the other spots being something like 60% and 40%, but I'm not too sure of the exact numbers. You probably won't need that unless your tank is smaller than 10 gallons, or your water is soft or acidic to begin with maybe.

Best to begin near the middle point and adjust to the maximum after you see how the tank responds. You'll know by measuring the pH and KH or directly testing CO2 with a test kit. I've only seen one case that I can recall of someone having way too much CO2 using the Hagen, but it can happen.

I have 2, in a 10 and in a 20. The one that is hanging on the side wall of a tank is less noticable than the one hanging on the back of a tank.

When you begin with it, be sure to give the top of the bottle an extra 1/4 turn after you think it is tight. For the first couple of days, some units are "sticky" and the bubbles don't roll up easily. Somehow that goes away. I don't know if rinsing it first makes any difference.

It really is perfect for a 10 and very good for a 20. I have DIY with a vortex-style reactor on the 29 gallon.

[TKOS]

I was thinking of buying the Hagen setup. Do you have to keep buying the little refill packets or can you mix your own?

[Madame X]

TKOS, you can mix your own. The little packets are just yeast and baking soda.

I bought one to use on my new planted tank, as I'm not much good at DIY stuff. :)

[Hebdizzle]

3 packets come with it.... if you're stretching your limits you can probably get 10 weeks total from them. After that, you can either buy the extras that they sell (usually around 6 dollars for 3) or make your own mix. There are plenty of articles on this board and on the net of peoples personal mix.

Aaron