Diy Co2?

[franko]

I'm on my way to setting up a 90G planted tank and was wondering if anyone could explain the finer points of a DIY CO2 unit to me. I know why its needed and understand the principles of how it works but I'm still unsure of exactly how much CO2 I will need and a method of difusion. Also, does this process affect PH or hardness in any way?

[Tempest]

A 90 gallon is really too big for DIY.. I really struggle to keep a 55 gallon supplied.

[Dabbler II]

It all depends on how far you want to go in the "DIY" A 90 gal tank is more suited for a CO2 bottle not the DIY yeast method. If you want to go with a CO2 bottle the best way to go (for Equipment)
1)find your local welding store and see if they have any used regulators for sale or you can buy a cheap New one ($69.00 Cdn)
2) find a valve shop that specializes in iinstrumention valves and get one for co2 (elecromagnetic controled so you can open and close the valve with a timmer) ($69.00CDN)
3) the CO2 bottle you could rent from the welding shop but you are better off buying one in the end it will be cheaper ($130.00CDN)
4) a bubble counter and/or CO2 REACTOR these can be built or purchased

If you go with the DIY yeast method you prob. need about 4 or 5 of them

Here is a link to a good site with some good info
http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/CO2/
I hope this helps a little.
:D

[Matak]

DIY CO2 may be acceptable for you if your water isn't too hard and you have a decent amount of Carbonate Hardness (KH) in your water. What are your values?

[djlen]

Do yourself a favor. Go with the pressurized system. You will always find yourself buying this or needing that with DIY CO2. I'm getting by in my 55 with DIY only because it's 1 1/2 watts per gallon. Very difficult to maintain the pH necessary to keep in balance with 2 1/2 to 3 watts per gallon in my 40. In fact I'm just getting over a Hair Algae problem, due mainly to inefficient CO2 that keeps fluctuating no matter how hard I try. Not to mention the stress on the fish with such fluctuations.
My question for Dabbler is, assuming I can find a "used" regulator at a local welding supply shop, how difficult is it to hook up a needle valve that I will need for fine tuning my CO2? I have no clue what's involved with adding that to the regulator.
Len

[djlen]

Assuming the answer to my above question is that it is easy to attach a needle valve to a regulator, where is the best place to buy one......needle valve that is?
Len

[Skittyfish]

I've been trying to find out the same thing...exactly what is need to set up a diy co2 system, besides the tank...

Is it cheaper to buy the whole set up, or to get it from BigAlsOnline?

[djlen]

DIY means do-it-yourself which is not a pressurized system. It involves a 2-liter soda bottle and mixing sugar, yeast and baking soda. Pressurized involves buying a CO2 tank, regulator and needle valve which feeds a precise amount of CO2(you need this) into the aquarium. DIY is initially cheaper, but much more time consuming and requires close monitoring as the amount of CO2 fluctuates, which can cause all kinds of problems. As I said earlier, it I had it all to do over, I'd go directly with the pressurized system. You can find a ton of info on this and many other subjects on www.thekrib.com.
Len

[ThirdEyE]

i'm not 100% sure but i believe the needle valve is inside the regulator.

you screw the regulator on top of the co2 tank, it usually has two guages. One for how much co2 is in the tank and another for the pressure going out.

the needle valve is just regulated by a screw, tighten it for less pressure, loosen it for more. you'd have to make sure the regulator is for lower pressures so your not shooting a ton of co2 into your tank.

then you just run a line from the regulator to your co2 reactor, or simply into the input tube of your filter.

i could be totally wrong but i've worked with welding and torching tanks and you regulate how much gas going out by turning the screw, not difficult at all.

[djlen]

My understanding is that a needle valve is an extra attached piece that is a very fine adjustment, much finer than the normal regulater would have on it. I'm talking precise here....down to a bubble every 10 seconds if you want it that fine. Anyone with feedback please help us out here.
Len

[Dabbler II]

The needle valve that I used I got at Home depot with a threaded end on one side and a hose fitting on the other for $2.50 cdn and I attached it to the electro-magnetic valve so all the "High Pressure" gas is on the thread side, so there is no possabality of leaks. :D

[Richer]

There are a couple of types of needle valves, one that hangs onto your CO2 line, and one that screws right into your regulator... get the one that screws into your regulator. My home depot didn't sell any needle valves that suited my needs, so I ended buying a needle valve (also called a metering valve) from a specialty valve store in my city.

Just FYI, needle valves are not built into your regulator. I found that regulators can only realibly regulate gas output to 15-20 psi. You need a needle valve to reduce this pressure to well below 1psi (ie. 1-2 bubbles a second). Needle valves also act as a checkvalve, prevent water from going into your tank when your gas runs out... it also prevents a CO2 dump when your tank reaches near zero. In a nutshell, needle valves are a MUST for pressuried systems.

HTH
-Richer

[djlen]

Richer, would you say that it would be best to buy a regulator with the needle valve already installed, or is it easy enough to attach to the regulator that the average person can do it? And where would be the best place to purchase either or both for the best price?
Len

[Dabbler II]

I would suggest looking in your Yellow Pages under Valves. Look for one that talks about instermation or metering in your end of the city and give them a call. Most of the people you talk to in these shop would be more than happy to help you because it is something different to look for, and if they can't help you they would most likely give you the name of someone who could.

You normaly can not buy the regulator with the needle valve on it, the guys that are welding are not worried about 1-2 lbs of gas :) .
Richer I got my valve at Revy it seems to work ok, time will tell