another diy co2 thread

[timme278]

well, im currently setting up my 20 gallon & just waiting for the lighting unit to arrive and then im going to plant hc cuba and leave it for a few weeks to streagthen its roots up and maybe spread a little

whats the BEST diy co2 method and i would use glass pollon counters

the only thing is, i dont want my ph to drop (how to stop this) :confused:
and for their to be toooo much co2 in the tank when the lights are turned off that my shrimp and fish are gasping for air at the top of my tank :(

so any ideas would be great
thankyou
tim

[SMinNC]

Here are a couple of links that will help get you going...

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31965 (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31965)

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136668

[SMinNC]

...i dont want my ph to drop (how to stop this) :confused:
and for their to be toooo much co2 in the tank when the lights are turned off that my shrimp and fish are gasping for air at the top of my tank :(


pH will drop with the addition of CO2. No if or buts about it.
KH is the main concern. If yours is over 4kh, you'll be ok.

You can run an air pump at night, if your worried about CO2 lvls getting too high.
If your running your lights on a timer. Just set up an air pump to run opposite of the lights. You'll want the air to turn off, at least a couple of hrs before the lights come on, so the CO2 has built up before the lights come on.

I'm still new to plants n co2 myself. But it gets said alot, that you won't need to worry about DIY CO2 causing high enough lvls to harm the fish.
I run DIY, and haven't worried about too high of lvls yet.

One of these can help you keep an eye on your co2 lvl.
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18478/si1380875/cl0/redseaco2indicator

You'll want to use some 4dkh water in it.
I made my own, but you can find bottled stuff on ebay.

[timme278]

:/ still a bit iffy but without adding co2 could i just fert...
seachem flourish
seachem flourish nitrogen
seachem flourish phosphorus
seachem flourish postassium

i just dont want the hassle of coming home hoping it hasnt exploded or lost £50 off crystal shrimp

[SMinNC]

As I mentioned, I'm still new to plants. Someone will come around with lots of experience.

Until then...
From what I understand, CO2 will be the first limiting factor in plant growth. As in, you probably won't need ferts until your using CO2.

My way of avoiding explosions, is to Not Use anything that could clog and cause the explosion. As in, No diffusers.
So far I've ran mine through power heads.

I'm still a wanna be, shrimp owner. But I'm pretty sure there are alot of shrimp in planted/CO2 tanks around here.

[customdrum]

glass pollon counters? you mean a diffuser i guess? they dont work that good with diy, sometime they do and sometimes they dont.

i use diy on 10 and 29g tanks and use a wooden chopstick as diffuser.
only way to keep the co2 level from droping is to use 2 bottles. mix 1 on starting day and next 2 day later. this way you always have 1 running on the tank.
i find that 1.5 cup sugar and 3/4 teaspoon yeast and hot water works best for me. i fill a 2liter about 3/4 full of hot water and add yeast and sugar and shake it for 10 seconds, works so good in the 29g the tank pearls for days, looks like a snow storm sometimes.

diy is really easy, usually if theres any problems with it not bubbling its a leak in the cap,check valve or hose somewhere.

[DSR]

Mine keeps running a lot longer than two days. I usually mix a new batch every two weeks. But I use two cups sugar and one teaspoon of yeast. So that might account for the added time. I run mine directly into the intake for my cannister and it works great. No bubbles are seen in the tank at all.