When do I add diy co2 to my tank?

[Bristlenose Chuck]

Hello Everyone

This is my first attempt at DIY CO2. This may be a stupid question (go easy on me) :D . I just made a batch of jello CO2. How do I know when it's ready to be added to my tank so that it will produce bubbles?

Thanks,
Chuck

[Matak]

No harm in adding it right now. If CO2 doesn't come out at first, then it will be just harmless air.

[djlen]

Hook up the air line to it and dip the other end into the tank. When it starts to bubble, it's ready. Don't be discouraged if it starts a little slowly. The Jello version takes a little longer to go full steam but should last longer in the long run.
Len

[Bristlenose Chuck]

Thanks for the help.
-Chuck

[djlen]

Bristles, just curious. What are you using to disperse the CO2 into the tank? Air stone, filter, power head, reactor?
Len

[Bristlenose Chuck]

Well, currently I am going to use a powerhead. I cut an opening in the intake and inserted my air line into it. Sounds dirty ;) . That's the extent of my distribution right now. I know that I need a better one. I was thinking of making a reactor out of a gravel vac and sponge. If you have any designs that you suggest, I'd be glad to hear them. :)

[djlen]

I use that exact design with my 402 power head and couldn't be happier. It comes out in a fine mist which easily dissolves into the water table. I use an AquaClear Mini Sponge in the gravel vac to break up the bubbles further.
Len

[Bristlenose Chuck]

Well, I hooked it up today. It's been about 2 days now since I made the "brew". It's producing bubbles about once every four seconds. Is this pretty good?

[djlen]

You need to check your kH. Then knowing that, when you check your pH you'll know what the concentration of CO2 is in your water by checking the chart on Chuck's Planted Aquaria Pages.
Knowing kH(carbonate hardness) is essential to using CO2.
If you're uncertain about the chart just post your kH an ph and we'll advise you from there.
BTW, a bubble every 4 seconds is very slow, but that doesn't mean anything without the above info.
Len

[Bristlenose Chuck]

I ordered a KH test kit from BigAl's Sunday so I should be getting it soon. As for the bubble every 4 seconds, I have heard that it takes about a week before this recipe starts to get going good.
I got my recipe from here http://www.tomgriffin.com/aquasource/jello.shtml

[Bristlenose Chuck]

Update:

I received the test kit today from www.bigalsonline.com . My KH is 2.5 and I have a PH of 7.2 . By my calculations, the CO2 content of my water is about 5ppm.

BTW, My bubbles have gone down to about 1 bubble per 10 seconds. I guess I shook the container before I made the recording of 1 bubble every 4 seconds. I sure hope this recipe does take about a week to get going. :)

Thanks,
Chuck

[djlen]

I've never used the jello formula so I'm no expert on it, but I don't think it's supposed to take that long to get going. When I was doing DIY with the regular formula I was getting excellent CO2 within a half hour of making up the bottles. It doesn't last as long, but it's a lot(IMO) less involved than the whole gelatin, refrigeration thing.
You need to bring up your kH slightly. Try to get it up to 3.5-4.0 if you can. It'll make your pH more stable when you start using the CO2 more effectively. The way to do this is to go to your LFS and ask them for a couple of cups of crushed coral from one of their reef tanks. Most stores will do this for free, but they might charge you a nominal fee for it. While you're there pick up a package of filter bags. These are small, nylon bags with a draw string on them that you will put about 2 tbsp. of the crushed coral into and then place the bag into your filter. This will raise you kH SLOWLY so don't expect a dramatic rise in kH overnight. It might take a week to see it rise some. To be on the safe side I would sterilize the coral before using it as you never know what kind of crap might be living on used coral. You sterilize it by baking or boiling. I spread a bunch of it on a baking pan and pop it into the oven at 350 deg. for 15 min. It'll be so safe you can eat it if you want to.......don't eat it.:p
It's kind of important that you raise your kH some as 2.5 is on the low side.
If you're still having trouble with your CO2 mix PM me and I'll give you a recipe that will give you good steady CO2 in 30 mins. It won't last as long as the gel. version but it's, as I said, less involved.
Len

[isaac newton]

If u use a airstone on the end of the tube.. Does that defuse co2 in the water? If so how much of the gas is being defused??? I have a power filter but dont want to defuse the co2 using the motor inside because it makes a annoying sound when the bubble hits it...

[djlen]

Isaac, if you put a disposable airstone inside your up tube on your power filter you won't get that annoying noise you speak of in your thread and you'll get much better absorption. I use the disposables because regular air stone IME, tend to break down and crumble when used to disperse CO2. If you get disposables use the kind that say "fine" bubbles as opposed to "course".
Len

[isaac newton]

Hmm ok thx ill try it....


P.S. do i really need a diy CO2 system in a tank that has 3 watts per gallon and onyx sand for a substrate?

[djlen]

In my opinion......absolutely.
Len

[isaac newton]

If i use a diy co2 system, my ph dropes by usually how much??? From 7.5 for example?

[anonapersona]

The drop you get will depend on how much you put in, how well it diffuses, and how much is lost by the filtration system. Expect something like 0.8 drop, more maybe.

I use DIY CO2 using a gelatine recipe with a bubble rate of 5 to 10 bubles per minute, a DIY vortex reactor (similar to the Plant Guild design), and with a penguin 330 less the biowheels, the pH dropped from 8.2 to 7.6 with a KH of 9. That is a moderate CO2 level, yes, but with moderate lighting that's just fine, the plants bubble most of the week. I've switched to canister filter and so we'll see how the CO2 level changes.

If you are having trouble with the bubbles, you may have developed a leak, submerge the unit to check. Then, be sure you have rather a lot of water in the bottle. I use a 2:1 water to gelatine ratio. Any less and it chokes on it's own waste, though you can open it and pour off some liquid then add more fresh water. Better really to just use less gelatine in the first place, or a larger bottle, whatever.