i have a planted aquarium that i need to inject CO2 into. i don't really have a big budget and need to keep this system down to below 60 dollars but lower would be nice. this will rule out any tank/cylinder systems (unless you can get all the stuff for that price) i've looked at the hagen natural co2 system but i have a 75 gallon tank so i would have to get 3-4 units for that to work to it's full advantage. or can i add a few more yeast packets to that reactor or will it expload.? is there a product i'm missing?
Easy CO2 Injection
- Thread starter aquaguy1331
- Start date
if you want the ultimate in simplicity, just fill a 2-liter soda bottle half way with sugar-water mixture, a pinch or two of baking soda, and 1/4 tsp yeast, insert a piece of aquarium tubing into the lid and silicone it to seal, put the lid on and run the tubing so it bubbles into the intake of your filter. make sure there isn't any suction on the end of the tubing though.
What Chico said is a very good very basic set up, but if you don't think you want to DIY, you can buy this system from Hagen, most all good fish stores will sell it....
go to www.hagen.com to find out more.
go to www.hagen.com to find out more.
hmm for a 75 gallon with co2 injection and stay cheap?
in the long run a co2 cylinder setup would be cheaper but upfront cost is in the hundreds for complete setup.
cheapest initial cost for you would be to purchase the hagen system ladder/bubble counter ONLY from big al's online. Then hooking up 2 DIY CO2 coke bottles and join them with a T-connector then to the ladder/counter. IF more CO2 needed add another 2 liter bottle and maybe a second ladder/counter
(the ladder/counter is $9.99 each, 2Liter bottle 99 cents to whaterever coke 2Liter costs, yeast 3pk is $1)
or if you dont like DIY use Seachem's Flourish Excel (liquid C02 dosing)
in the long run a co2 cylinder setup would be cheaper but upfront cost is in the hundreds for complete setup.
cheapest initial cost for you would be to purchase the hagen system ladder/bubble counter ONLY from big al's online. Then hooking up 2 DIY CO2 coke bottles and join them with a T-connector then to the ladder/counter. IF more CO2 needed add another 2 liter bottle and maybe a second ladder/counter
(the ladder/counter is $9.99 each, 2Liter bottle 99 cents to whaterever coke 2Liter costs, yeast 3pk is $1)
or if you dont like DIY use Seachem's Flourish Excel (liquid C02 dosing)
If you use two coke bottle of DIY on one hagen ladder, it is too much Co2 for the ladder to handle. The bubbles are so frequent they smush into each other, creating bigger bubbles that pop out of the ladder, defeating the purpose altogether.
One Coke bottle on a ladder is ok.
Gook Luck,
One Coke bottle on a ladder is ok.
Gook Luck,
aquaguy -
What type of filtration do you have on your 75?
For a tank that size, if you intend to use DIY CO2, IMO the Hagen system and it's accompanying ladder will not be effective enough for you to get the kind of absorption needed to maintain good levels.
Ergo, a waste of money.
Depending on your filtration, you can get much better absorption in a more cost effective way, with a couple of 1liter soda/pop bottles which are free, and some air line running into the intake of your filter.
The Hagen system is effective in tanks up to 20 - 30 gallons.
Len
What type of filtration do you have on your 75?
For a tank that size, if you intend to use DIY CO2, IMO the Hagen system and it's accompanying ladder will not be effective enough for you to get the kind of absorption needed to maintain good levels.
Ergo, a waste of money.
Depending on your filtration, you can get much better absorption in a more cost effective way, with a couple of 1liter soda/pop bottles which are free, and some air line running into the intake of your filter.
The Hagen system is effective in tanks up to 20 - 30 gallons.
Len
My powerhead stopped working!
Oh man, I've come across a problem!
1. I mixed the sugar with hot water FIRST (to dissolve the sugar) and then I let it sit to cool down.
2. To fake the C02 in the powerhead theory, I took a spare piece of tubing and placed it directly beneath the powerhead inlet. Then I gently blew into it to simulate C02 bubbles. (The reason I did this was so that I knew exactly where to place the tubing.)
3. What happened was that my powerhead stopped working! I think the bubbles choked the powerhead causing it to lose suction. Once I stopped blowing the powerhead started working again after awhile.
4. I slapped my forehead, gave out a HUGE sigh, swore into my pillow and logged on to AC and am currently typing this.
I've just planted some Glossos and Java Moss in there so I want to get the C02 up and running before they rot and die. Please help...
I've got 2.4WPG on my 15 gallon right now and would really like to start on my plants.
Oh man, I've come across a problem!
1. I mixed the sugar with hot water FIRST (to dissolve the sugar) and then I let it sit to cool down.
2. To fake the C02 in the powerhead theory, I took a spare piece of tubing and placed it directly beneath the powerhead inlet. Then I gently blew into it to simulate C02 bubbles. (The reason I did this was so that I knew exactly where to place the tubing.)
3. What happened was that my powerhead stopped working! I think the bubbles choked the powerhead causing it to lose suction. Once I stopped blowing the powerhead started working again after awhile.
4. I slapped my forehead, gave out a HUGE sigh, swore into my pillow and logged on to AC and am currently typing this.
I've just planted some Glossos and Java Moss in there so I want to get the C02 up and running before they rot and die. Please help...
I've got 2.4WPG on my 15 gallon right now and would really like to start on my plants.
Well, then you better forget about the powerhead for diffusion. You havent said what kind of filter you have. If its a cannister, you can feed the Co2 into the intake of that. I'm not sure what effect this would have on a hang on type filter, but you could try it.
Another way to do it is to attach the Co2 line to a simple air stone. Wooden air stones work best. The finer the bubbles the better it works.
To get a decent amount of Co2 for your 75 gallon you will probably need 2 or 3 bottles of mix, but you could feed them into the same air stone, or use separate air stones, and have one on each end of the tank and one in the middle. This would give you a more uniform dispersion around the tank.
Another way to do it is to attach the Co2 line to a simple air stone. Wooden air stones work best. The finer the bubbles the better it works.
To get a decent amount of Co2 for your 75 gallon you will probably need 2 or 3 bottles of mix, but you could feed them into the same air stone, or use separate air stones, and have one on each end of the tank and one in the middle. This would give you a more uniform dispersion around the tank.
It's going to take a lot of 2 liter bottles of DIY to bring your CO2 to decent levels.
Take your $60, put it in the bank and put $5 a week into that account until you have enough to buy a pressurized CO2 system.
Mine cost:
Milwuakee regulator, solenoid, bubble counter & needle valve $75
5# CO2 tank filled $30
misc parts (silicon tubing etc) ~$20
So save yourself up another $50-60 and do it right the first time. Listen to Len. He's usually right and when he's not right, you're wrong.
Take your $60, put it in the bank and put $5 a week into that account until you have enough to buy a pressurized CO2 system.
Mine cost:
Milwuakee regulator, solenoid, bubble counter & needle valve $75
5# CO2 tank filled $30
misc parts (silicon tubing etc) ~$20
So save yourself up another $50-60 and do it right the first time. Listen to Len. He's usually right and when he's not right, you're wrong.
okay, i would feel more confortable about doing the tanks but,
my wife thinks that there dangurus and that i'm crazy for trying to put them in my aquarium. what are the side effects to them? whats the psi in them? also, whats the smallest size i can get. i don't have alot of space.
my wife thinks that there dangurus and that i'm crazy for trying to put them in my aquarium. what are the side effects to them? whats the psi in them? also, whats the smallest size i can get. i don't have alot of space.