so i have looked at some websites on how to set it up. i have seen some as simple as just a 2 liter bottle with a tube going into the tank and other way more complex with a gas seperator and reactor. i guess my question is how much is really necessary? does it work to simply run the tube straight from the bottle into the tank?
a little confused on diy co2
- Thread starter jujubee
- Start date
I think what ever you do outside the tank should be kept as simple as possible.. No special mixes no special caps or connections or tubing.. Just a plain bottle with sugar/water/yeast and a sealed tubing by the cap. Inside the tank is where it can be a bit complex since you want to maximize the diffusion of co2 in the tank. You can do airstone/wooden airstone/ ceramic diffuser/powerhead/filter intake/internal filter/ladder/reactor theres just so many ways to diffuse it. You have to choose which one would work in your tank.
Just be careful injecting into the intake of the filter..some filters really can't handle to much and you can end up with a "airlock" and kill the motor.
i agree with tiffanyfink.
To protect ur filter i would put it on the outtake of ur filter. if you really want it on the intake just stick it in or under the intake.
the gas seperator doesnt have to be complex, it just protection against tank water going into the solution or solution getting into your tank. if you get one of those mini soda/water bottles they work perfect.
To protect ur filter i would put it on the outtake of ur filter. if you really want it on the intake just stick it in or under the intake.
the gas seperator doesnt have to be complex, it just protection against tank water going into the solution or solution getting into your tank. if you get one of those mini soda/water bottles they work perfect.
i have a fluval 304 cannister filter. will that be able to handle running the co2 in the intake? also couldn't i just put some kind of like check valve in the line to stop water from getting into the tank or solution?
Fluval 304 will be fine. You can add a limewood airstone under the intake so the bubbles that come out are very tiny.
Check valve will prevent water from going into the mix but wont prevent the mix from entering the tank.
Check valve will prevent water from going into the mix but wont prevent the mix from entering the tank.
Why do you want to add them in the filtering system? Why not put just put air stones at the base of your cluster of plants? so that it will directly go to your plants? If you put it in a canister filter the water will have an even density of co2 - I am guessing if this is the case most of it is just going to evaporate from the surface of the water.
when you introduce the co2 to the canister it tends to stay there for longer, diffusing into the tank water. That way the plants can actually use it. If you add an airstone by the plants then all the bubbles are going to do is rise to the top and escape the tank = waste of co2.
So you are saying that an airstone won't do much good when it comes to diffusing? I got a 4" bar airstone that I was planning to use with my DIY CO2. Was that a waste (of $2)?