View Full Version : My glass diffuser doesn't seem to be working...
I just got a new glass diffuser (cheap, off of ebay) for my tank. I connected it yesterday afternoon, and when I got home last night I saw not bubbles emanating from it.
I then made a new Yeast-Co2 brew thinking that maybe the old brew was spent, then went to bed hoping to see bubbles by morning.
This morning? No bubbles. Needless to say I'm annoyed. Is there any way I can tell if this thing is going to work? I'm sure I connected the airline tube to it correctly...just jammed it onto the glass nozzle. There are no bubbles coming out of the airline tubing, so it's not a faulty seal.
I did not really clean the glass diffuser before I put it in the tank, but this shouldn't be an issue, should it?
Any insights? Just patience? I read that it should only take 3-4 hours for the pressure to start forcing the Co2 through the ceramic disc.
steveywinet
02-20-2009, 7:12 AM
Hopefully you have check valves on your lines. When I changed my solution, I would often get water in the line about halfway to the check valve. It could take 12 to 24 hours to build enough pressure to force the water out of the lines. Check the seal at your CO2 source. Proof your yeast to make sure it's viable. Check for any pinched or bent lines. You could go back to your old setup and see if things work as before. I've never used a glass diffuser myself -- always used a bubble ladder, but after a few days I would think you'd see some gas buildup. HTH and good luck.
rsanz
02-20-2009, 10:33 AM
I don't have a check valve...
But I never had an issue when I used the bubble ladder (which worked fine for 6 months until I installed the glass diffuser yesterday).
So I will need to get a check valve to use with the glass diffuser?
Bubbles2112
02-20-2009, 10:34 AM
I don't know for sure--but aren't the glass diffusers for pressurized CO2? Anybody?
rsanz
02-20-2009, 12:12 PM
I don't know for sure--but aren't the glass diffusers for pressurized CO2? Anybody?
I'm fairly certain that glass diffusers can be used for DIY yeast units as well. They create pressure too...
zzyzx85
02-20-2009, 12:15 PM
^ true but it's often the case that DIY just can't put out the pressure required for a glass diffuser to work.
spunjin
02-20-2009, 12:24 PM
^^ agreed. Use a wood diffuser for DIY CO2 diffusion.
Ozymandias
02-20-2009, 12:54 PM
it depends on the specific glass diffuser if it will work for DIY. i know that when i was running DIY CO2 i had a glass diffuser that worked just fine, when i bought it though i made sure that it was advertised as working for DIY CO2
Slappy*McFish
02-20-2009, 3:55 PM
I use a glass diffuser with DIY CO2 without issue. http://www.greenleafaquariums.com/co2-diffusers/diffuser-nano.html
I use a glass diffuser with DIY CO2 without issue. http://www.greenleafaquariums.com/co2-diffusers/diffuser-nano.html
I have essentially the same exact diffuser, but I got mine on eBay from Hong Kong. It looks exactly the same.
I am not using a 2-Liter bottle for my DIY system, though. I'm using this (http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754083) container, and was using the bubble ladder that came with that system without fail until I tried installing the glass diffuser yesterday.
Perhaps the container just doesn't have enough brew to create the pressure necessary for the glass diffuser?
I've gone back to the bubble ladder for now until I got some more feedback on here. Thanks for all your help so far! I hope we can figure this thing out, because the bubble ladder just wastes too much Co2. I've been starting to see some hair algae growing, which is bad news!
Star_Rider
02-20-2009, 5:09 PM
don't many of the bell type glass diffusers work similar to our drop checkers?
contact with water.
pull it out and see if anything is passing thru the diffuser(air/water etc)
zzyzx85
02-20-2009, 5:18 PM
don't many of the bell type glass diffusers work similar to our drop checkers?
contact with water.
pull it out and see if anything is passing thru the diffuser(air/water etc)
I don't understand what you are trying to get at.
In a glass diffuser, the gas (CO2) needs to be passed through the sintered glass diffuser disk. This requires pressure.
In a drop checker (the ones I've seen), the drop checker fluid is not in direct contact with the aquarium water. Dissolved CO2 gas is caught in the "bell" of the drop checker, which changes the pH of the drop checker fluid inside.
^ true but it's often the case that DIY just can't put out the pressure required for a glass diffuser to work.
bingo!!
You really need alot of pressure to get past the ceramic disk.
Also if its new it may be clogged and in order to clear it you can soak it in a bleach solution for a few hours.
mellowvision
02-20-2009, 7:15 PM
I've tried several glass diffusers with diy co2 and never generated enough pressure to make it work longer than a day or two. they work great with pressurized co2
Babillba
02-20-2009, 7:21 PM
I had trouble with my glass and diy CO2 - bought the $32 simple paintball canister from thatfishplace.com a $20 24oz paintball canister at sham- I mean-Wal-Mart and get it filled evry six weeks for $4. Has been worth the $$, it has been a whole lot easier to regulate, important since it's in my Discus tank