Great Looking CO2 System(Inexpensive)

[djlen]

For anyone thinking of starting a pressurized CO2 system, this is a must see. I couldn't believe how inexpensive it is, and how easy it is to put together.
Looking for feedback from anyone who has any knowledge about it or experience with it.
Check it out: www.dlink.org/aqua/CO2.html
Len

[nblancha]

I followed his instructions and built the same system. It works great. Never having used a "real" expensive system I'm not sure what I am missing, but I can say that it does its job. I can regulate the bubles from almost off to steady stream of air. I've been using it for maybe 3 weeks now and no problems so far.

[Mrditty]

Len I think you would still like to have a solenoid on the system.
The system I just got came with the regulator, solenoid, needle valve for 120.00 and a bubble counter 15.00 tank at a welding shop 10 gal 60.00 all together 195.00 If you can find a solenoid for under 50.00 It should be fine.
some thing else to consider is when you get the tank refilled do you have some one to refill your tank? I just exchange one tank for a full one 10.00.

If you can't find any one to fill your tank you still may have to buy one of there's.

[nblancha]

Getting the tank filled cost me about $8. As for a solenoid, I just manually turn the system off at night when the timer turns the lights off and on again when I wake up in the morning.

[djlen]

For those that turn their CO2 off at night, I can see where a solenoid would come in handy, but I've been using DIY for a while with no way to shut it off at night, with no problems at all. My pH drops about .2 overnight and no ill affects to the fish.
As to the tank.....I don't intend to buy the tank. Just the regulator with some hose. I already have a tank and the welding shop near me trades them off for a full one when you bring it in. If I did have a brand new one I'd be more picky and try to find a place that would fill it on the spot though. Wow, you guys are lucky. It's 12.00 around here to fill a 5lb. tank.
Len

[Skittyfish]

MrDitty, where did you get your kit?

[plantbrain]

I think I email this link's owner about the needle valve from Clippard being 10.10$(shipping is 6-8$ or something though) being a much better contyrol device than the cheapy brass fitting valves. But that's my onl;y reservation about the entire system.

It rocks for the $.
Add a 7$ extra nice needle valve and you are set.

FIY:
DIY and Gas systems do NOT need a solenoid to be throttled on/off etc although both can be hooked to do this on either type of CO2 source.

A better way is to use the reactor pump itself.
When it's turned off, then the gas bubbled up and out to the air above. When the pump is on, the suction pulls the bubbles in and atomizes the gas into solution.

Since only positive suction is applied, there's not need for a check vlave which also can fail. If the power head fail, no big deal, no CO2 is being added. If a solenoid fails, more CO2 will be added than you want.

Powerheads run 8-20$, solenoids run 40-80$. Both use about the same electric, CO2 gas is cheap and it'd take many years to make the $ back on gas savings to pay for the solenoid and that's if the solenoid last that long.
Same could be said for the powerhead I suppose but I've gotten a few years out every one I have.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[Mrditty]

local fish shop Called exotic aquatics. They don't have a web presence.

[plantbrain]

I think I email this link's owner about the needle valve from Clippard being 10.10$(shipping is 6-8$ or something though) being a much better contyrol device than the cheapy brass fitting valves. But that's my onl;y reservation about the entire system.

It rocks for the $.
Add a 7$ extra nice needle valve and you are set.

FIY:
DIY and Gas systems do NOT need a solenoid to be throttled on/off etc although both can be hooked to do this on either type of CO2 source.

A better way is to use the reactor pump itself.
When it's turned off, then the gas bubbled up and out to the air above. When the pump is on, the suction pulls the bubbles in and atomizes the gas into solution.

Since only positive suction is applied, there's not need for a check vlave which also can fail. If the power head fail, no big deal, no CO2 is being added. If a solenoid fails, more CO2 will be added than you want.

Powerheads run 8-20$, solenoids run 40-80$. Both use about the same electric, CO2 gas is cheap and it'd take many years to make the $ back on gas savings to pay for the solenoid and that's if the solenoid last that long.
Same could be said for the powerhead I suppose but I've gotten a few years out every one I have.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[Skittyfish]

djlen, I just ordered the kit from Rapids, I'll let you know how it goes. Wish me luck.

[djlen]

Skittyfish, I went to Home Depot and picked up the small connector parts with no problem. I will be ordering as soon as I can get through to the place by phone. They have a funky answering system, but after the weekend I shouldn't have any problem. Let me know how it works out for you.
Len

[Skittyfish]

Len, I got my tank and regulator and the big air line today, ordered the needle valve from Clippard, now I have to find some smaller air line, BigAls has 250 ft for 29.99 but I don't need that much, any ideas on where to pick this up at?

I am planning on making my reactor out of my old python gravel vac (I ordered a new longer one) and sticking it to my Aquaclear 402 powerhead.

Now, what else do I need?

[djlen]

They have the air line that he talks about at Home Depot, but it's really stiff(inflexible), so I'm going to use that soft green air line that you can pick up at PetSmart. It's much more impervious to CO2 than regular, clear airline. Don't use the clear stuff.
From what you say, you're all set except you don't mention a disposable airstone(also at PetSmart). It's optional because it does chop up the bubbles even before they enter the power head, but with an airstone you can't count bubbles/per/minute. I'm going to go without the airstone until I get a setting on my needle valve that gives me the steady pH I want. Then I can add the airstone back. Another option is a bubble counter. I plan on starting slow, maybe 1 bubble every 2 seconds and monitoring the pH to see what that gives me. Adjust from there.......
Len

[Skittyfish]

We don't have a Petsmart or Petco or Pet anything. Only two LFS's and they neither one have any silicone air line. So I may have to look around.

Also, the needle valve has a 1/8" barb, the airline is 3/16" and the hose that comes with the kit is 1/4"....how many adapters do you think Lowe's carries:rolleyes: . Wish me luck, I am gonna need it.

[djlen]

Take the air line with you and try some test fits.
Len

[hatton3]

Well Tom Barr, you said I'd eventually do it - so I have. I'm out of the DIY business - too much hassle and not consistent enough. I bought a new aluminum 5lb tank and a regulator for $100 here locally in Lexington area. I'm looking for needle valves now.

Specifically, what is the purpose of a needle valve? Is it a finer adjustment than what the regulator can give?

Where do you all turn your gas off at night - the tank valve or the regulator?
Thanks!

[Skittyfish]

In case you need to know, Clippard is out of stock on the Needle Valve MNV-4K2. But you can get MNV-4K and order the barb adapter and it's the same thing.

[djlen]

The needle valve is a fine adjustment that is the last piece on the line before it goes to the power head or whatever you're using as a reactor. With a needle valve you can fine tune your bubble count down as low as 10 bubbles per minute or less if you desire.
Tom will recommend that you go to www.clippard.com for a needle valve. I know because he has recommended that valve to me on many occasions.
Tom has also told me that a person doesn't need to turn your gas off at night. Some people do, some don't. I've only experienced a drop of .2 pH at most when leaving it on at night. Some people add solenoids to their regulators that will automatically turn off the gas at night, or turn it off manually. Some people run an air stone at night to gas off the CO2 while leaving it run. Your choice......
Len

[Skittyfish]

I am so excited. I got my needle valve. It is MUCH smaller than I thought it would be.

Now, will someone tell me how to put this stuff together?

Tank, regulator, needle valve, bubble counter(diy), reactor(diy w/gravel cleaner and powerhead)? Is that right?

[djlen]

Hook the regulator to the tank. Read the instructions that came with the regulator carefully and follow them. Keep everything shut off until the system is all set up to the tank. I left the little air line tubing unattached from the power head so I could test the bubbles coming out to make sure everything was working ok.
The large hose clamps onto the bottom of the regulator, then the parts from home depot(if you got them) to decrease your size down to the small tubing. Then the needle valve and then the tubing into the powerhead.
I got my stuff the other day and it works great!!!!!!
Len

[hatton3]

Hey SkittyFish. I'm glad you are getting your system together. You are going to be amazed at the growth you are going to see. You will not believe me, but my swords have grown 5 inches since last Thursday. I posted my tank pics before I got the pressurized system - the tank looks different now. :) The second sword from the left in the pictures is now at the top of the tank.

[AntmanMike]

Unfortunately, for a teenager like me whos parents have no income and I cant get a job, a Pressurized CO2 system is a bit out of my league... :(

[Skittyfish]

Antammike- I put my nickels dimes and quarters into a jar for almost a year before I had enough to buy it. O.k., so I don't get to buy me something new for our vacation this year, but hey, so what. I can wear plant leaves a'la Adam and Eve. (think anyone will notice:confused: )

[hatton3]

Hey AntMan! Hope things are going okay with your lights.
You can do the DIY thing. It does work. I used it for a while. And I did see tremendous growth with DIY. The nice thing about the pressurized is that is gives more consistency to the dosage. But it is by no means a mandatory thing. Besides, no one sees the bottle anyway, all they see is your PLANTS! I'd spend money on plants and get your tank looking nice first. That is what I did. Check out my pics in this forum.

I'd bet 1/2 of the people here use DIY co2. (according to the recent poll)

[AntmanMike]

I am not going to set my tank up until i have everything ready. What I need right now is Laterite (I cant use online purchasing since i am a minor, and stores around here dont have it in stock ever), more gravel, plants, a better CO2 system (i have had bad luck with DIY in the past.... shot out everywhere ), Aquarium Sealant (I can get, but i dont have a dime to my name.), and the lighting system. I am trudging between getting an AH Supply Ballast (and saving up for a year), or setting up these ballasts (though with the hood system i have planned i dunno how im gonna fit two tubes in each one.)

[Woozledad]

Hey, does anyone know how big a 20lb tank is?? I was casually talking to the owner of my LFS and he told me that he had a 20lb tank with no regulator that he would let me have for next to nothing.... No, I didn't ask what next to nothing actually was since I just spent all I had on lights, but now I'm wishing I had...If it's too big, I figure I might be able to trade it in at the welding store for a smaller tank, but exactly how big is a 20lb tank???

[djlen]

Wooz, I'm estimating that a 20# tube is about 4ft. high. Somewhere in that area. Get it if you can. It doesn't cost that much more to fill, and will last longer. Then all you need is the regulator and needle valve and you're set.
Antman, I don't know what your lighting situation is, but CO2 is more important than lighting, IMO. I've had more problems after getting the lighting with inadequate ferts and CO2 than I would have had if I'd gotten the CO2 first. If you have 1-2 watts per gallon you'll see an immediate improvement in your plants by adding CO2. If you up the wattage and don't take care of the ferts and CO2 you could end up with a tank full of algae.
I've been there.
Len

[Woozledad]

Thanks, I'm going to try to go by there asap and buy that tank if I can. That's about the size I was thinking, we used to use the same size tank to run a beer keg, which was used VERY regularly and the tank lasted for nearly a year, so that would last seemingly forever on a 29g tank, LOL....

[RockysDad]

I like the idea of using the Duetto. I think I might try that. Cost the same as a powerhead and looks even better.

[AntmanMike]

Technically i have around... 2/3 Watts per Gallon. That is why I consider lighting more important. If you add extra CO2 but not Light, plants wont grow, especially in such low light conditions as me.

[djlen]

Antman, what size is your tank? You can pick up a shop light at Home Depot for $10-12 which will give you 80 watts.
All I'm saying is getting too much light before you're ready to dose your Micros, Macros, and CO2 can cause more problems in the long run. Tell us more about your set up and what kind of plants you want to grow.
Len

[Skittyfish]

IME, too much light-not enough CO2 and Ferts= lots of algae.

One of my part broke, now I am back to no CO2. Got to wait for it to be delivered. sigh, so close yet so far away.