:confused: Help for first time DIY CO2 reactor.

How about diffiusing the CO2 into the aquarium.

I heard of the method where you put a bell shaped thing into the aquarium and let the gas collect under there, where it will eventually diffuse into the aquarium.

I don't have the option of putting the tube into a canister filter because I use a power filter.

What other ways are effective and easy to set up?

BTW, do fish stores have good CO2 dffusers like those ladders and cups, or will I have to order online for those?
 
If your using a power filter you can cut your tubing at an angle and insert it into the intake of your power filter. I did it with an aquaclear 200 and it worked great. You can hear a bit of pinging and popping when the bubles hit the impeller, but that's how I knew the co2 was oozing.

Or you can use an overturned shot glass (whiskey glass) and just slip the tubing under the glass. The co2 will pool at the top of the glass creating an air pocket, and this will dissolve into the water. A glass is good because you can see the co2 pocket at the top of it.

It works very well and you'll be surprised how simple it is and how inexpensive because all you really need to buy is the tubing, check valve, sugar yeast and baking soda. Save your money for plants :)
 
How should I use the glass?

Should I set it on the gravel and just slip the tube underneath?

What do you guys do it? Is there some way to suspend it in the water by using the side of the aquarium?
 
I made a bell diffuser out of a smaller pop bottle. I believe it was a 20 oz. Minute Maid Fruit Punch bottle. I drilled it just like the reactor bottle, put the tubing through, siliconed it in place and used a suction cup from an old heater that I clipped on the neck of the bottle to place it in the aquarium.

A bell diffuser look sort of like a bell. You cut the top part of a small pop bottle off a little downward of where the curve starts. And, bippity-bobbity-boo it's all done.
 
Tis a good system Harlock. There are many ways, just look around and see what you have on hand. It has to stay on the bottom or be fixed in place. Obviously plastic floats. You can use a pill bottle, the clear ones like drug stores put pills in. Just put a few rocks or pebbles in the bottom (really the top of the bottle, which is updside down)add pebbles
to hold it down, cut a hole at the bottom , insert the your airline tubing, and there ya go. Or fix it a la Harlock, so it stays put.

With the whiskey glass, just put it upside down on the gravel and slip the tube under it...thats it! The weight of the glass should be enough to hold it down, if not, you can put a rock on top and hide it in the back near the side where yu can peek at it from time to time.
 
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Thanks for the help.

I think I will use the bottom of a water bottle to use as a bell diffuser. Hopefully, I can find some kind of suction cup to hold it up so that it doesn't take up room on the bottom.

Well, now that I have all this stuff cleared up, I'm going to start getting the supplies and putting this thing together.

I still have some questions though. How long does a yeast mixture last? How often do I replace it? I have a ten gallon aquarium, btw. If I do replace it, do I just open the bottle and pour it out, give it a rinse and replace the yeast solution? How will I know it is safe to open the bottle, since there is so much pressure?
 
WinterWind said:
Thanks for the help.

I think I will use the bottom of a water bottle to use as a bell diffuser. Hopefully, I can find some kind of suction cup to hold it up so that it doesn't take up room on the bottom.

Well, now that I have all this stuff cleared up, I'm going to start getting the supplies and putting this thing together.

I still have some questions though. How long does a yeast mixture last? How often do I replace it? I have a ten gallon aquarium, btw. If I do replace it, do I just open the bottle and pour it out, give it a rinse and replace the yeast solution? How will I know it is safe to open the bottle, since there is so much pressure?
Click to expand...

I change mine every week to keep it up as much as possible, my tank is big and takes more co2 and more yeast to keep levels up which burns out faster of course.

You will probably get by with 2 weks before a change. If you use the jello method, it may last a month or so.

Make jello as you would, using half the water. Let it gel in your co2 bottle.
Add your sugar on top of the set jello, then your yeast mix, some baking soda to buffer, and then fill 3/4 full with water. :) The idea is to slow the yeast down so it doesn't consume the sugar so fast and will live longer.
 
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