Anyone use a powerhead to inject DIY CO2

[maverick2402]

I have an extra aquaclear 201 power head and was wondering if I can use it to inject the CO2 by hooking the CO2 line into where the air adjustment tube would normally be installed which is on the outlet nozzle of the head.Or is there a better powerhead that can be used.

 

[iovaykind]

That's not a good idea to put the airline tube into the input area. There is actually suction on it, which will suck up your mixture if strong enough. Otherwise, it will put a lot of stress onto the powerhead. What you could do though, is put the airline under the other input. What's cool is that it will cut up the bubbles into really tiny ones, so they will diffuse into the water better.

Isaac

 

[PurpleSmurf]

Don't put the CO2 line into the intake. But if the line is left near by the CO2 should be pulled through the power head and pushed into the tank. Keep the powerhead away from the water surface to reduce CO2 loss from surface movement and undissolved bubbles reaching the surface.

 

[stcyrwm]

I use a powerhead to inject CO2 into my 37g tank. Mine points straight out so I put a 90 on the outlet to face it down. I then attached a syphon gravel vac to the 90, hacked a hole a couple inches down for the CO2 tube to come in and it works great. I'm getting 30ppm plus CO2 all day. I have it on a timer so it stops diffusing when the lights go out and comes on a couple hours before the lights to get the CO2 levels back up to 30ppm before the lights come on.

Good Luck, Bill

 

[Mooch28]

I use one as well in a 72 gallon, and have been able to mantain 30+ ppm for over 6 months now at just 3 bubbles per second with absolutely no problems. The key, keep the unit clean inside!

Now you do loose some bubbles, but ive got a 15 pound tank, and it hasent moved a single bit in the gauge. The tank should be good for atleast a year and a half. I consider that pretty good efficiency for a powerhead.

Edit: One thing, place it near you filter intake, and point it down. Also place it as low as possible in your tank. This way, some bubbles that do escape dissolve as they goto the top, while the other go into the filter intake and come out dissolved!