CO2 Diffusion Question

James0816

James0816

AC Members
Feb 14, 2007
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Two test tanks set up with DIY CO2. One is using the Hagan ladder the other just an ordinary air stone.

My question is on the use of the air stone. I am getting short bursts of micro bubbles from just as it should. I have it positioned just to the left of the output from the HOB. The bubbles go up to the top and are either going into the atmosphere or maybe being pushed around by the current. I'm trying something here and wondering if it is worth it or not. I made a small bell and attached it just above the stone to collect the bubbles. After day 2 of running it, I have a nice collection of CO2 trapped in the bell. Not all the bubbles from the air stone get collected as some bypass it which is fine.

Ok..so finally the question. Is it beneficial to use the bell to collect the bubbles or not? Just curious. My thinking was/is that it will give the CO2 more time in contact with the water.

Thanks
 
Try to place the air stone under the intake of your filter. That way the CO2 bubbles get dissolved inside the filter from the impeller's action.
 
Try to use a limewood airstone which gives extra tiny bubbles, similar to ones produced by the glass diffusers. And do what Slappy suggested, place it under the filter intake. Though this application would work better with Canister filters not HOB. Since with HOB filters the bubbles enter and get spit back out by the impeller.
 
hmmmm...would the filter media bother the dispersal of the bubbles back into the tank?
 
No. The idea is to fully dissolve or absorb the bubbles in the water. If properly dissolved, you shouldn't see any bubbles leaving the filter.
 
James0816 said:
Is it beneficial to use the bell to collect the bubbles or not? Just curious. My thinking was/is that it will give the CO2 more time in contact with the water.
Click to expand...

Yes and yes. However this is really old technology.
Why the ongoing tests?
What are you trying to achieve?
 
Thx...I'm doing all this testing as I am still a noob in the plant world. It is fun and aggrevating at the same time. I've had a few plants melt on me already and others are doing rather well.

Just recently I moved a few stems of one plant that I thought was on its way out. Two days later now and it looks really well.

And of course I have been test the DIY CO2 as well. That took me a few tries but I think I finally got it.
 
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