DIY CO2 newbie support group

FishBliss said:
cobfreak, how does the inverted clear ... thing ... diffusion bell ... work?
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Basically it's an inverted bowl. the CO2 gas gets trapped there as a bubble. the CO2 then diffuses into the water due to the surface area... contact... science/chemistry-mumbo-jumbo words... basically the CO2 gets into the water instead of bubbling up to the surface where it can escape into the air.

The method of injecting the bubbles into the filter intake seems like a good one except i've read people indicating that that could damage the impeller of the filter.
 
Okay, don't quote me because I don't have time to research (iPhone slacking @ work :p:)... Perhaps I am remembering an air bubble diving bell for crabs... Anyway, when I set up an inverted suction cup to hold co2, after the cup filled, the remaining bubbles just bounced off the large co2 bubble and fled up to the surface. Therefore you will still waste co2 if you go this route...

Okay I will try to recall if I'm losing my marbles, or if I can further expound on my previous statement.
 
I have found some discussion that indicates that you might not be completely crazy. ;) But I'm still not sure how often you'd have to do it. I think it's something about as the CO2 diffuses it actually leaves behind another type of gas, maybe O2.

Also I think the size of the bell and the rate of CO2 release could determine whether or not the bubble overflows. but i'll be able to talk more clearly about it once I try it and realize exactly why I hate it.
 
I suppose the co2 could damage the impeller - but in most cases not enough co2 even contacts the impeller to do this. This is similar to co2 damaging airline tubing. I've never bought the pricier special tubing, personally. The difference is co2 is in full contact with the tubing, versus barely in contact with the impeller. Water provides the buffer.

Anyway this is the conclusion I came to after extensive online reading...
 
cobfreak said:
I have found some discussion that indicates that you might not be completely crazy. ;) But I'm still not sure how often you'd have to do it. I think it's something about as the CO2 diffuses it actually leaves behind another type of gas, maybe O2.

Also I think the size of the bell and the rate of CO2 release could determine whether or not the bubble overflows. but i'll be able to talk more clearly about it once I try it and realize exactly why I hate it.
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Yay! I'm not completely crazy (95%, tops)!

Yes, definitely a good idea to try it yourself... The best way to learn! I always forgot to empty out my co2 cup thingy. PITA!

Good on you for researching!! :thm:
 
this deserves a sticky. it would be great for first timers to have their "moments" answered.
 
cobfreak I have never laughed more at reading a post! Trust me I know your pain when It comes to diy co2. Fishycat imo is leading you on the right path. I use a 2liter bottle with tubing that leads into a clear bottle with water that is my seperator and and an amazing bubble counter. I then did as u did placed the airstone under my intake of my cannister filter and it did an amazing job. But me being never satisfied, and worried the co2 may damage my filter I just made a reactor. I worry the co2 will dry out orings in the filter. (like it always did on my paintball gun tanks) Maybe I am just being paranoid.
But the great part of this setup was that I didnt have a gazillion bubbles floating around in my tank. Now that I have built this reactor (dual venturi) I have a gazillion bubbles and I dont like that. My point and suggestion to you is, find a way to dissolve the co2 to your liking. If you like the bubbly look hey this is an amazing reactor. If you dont want a bubbly look, maybe you can help me find a better way of dissolving the co2?!
 
If you have a nicely sealed DIY setup...I would recommend using the glass nano diffusers. You will get micro bubbles from them. Also, place it right under or right beside the intake of your HOB.

Another suggestion would also be change from the 2l soda bottles to the Ocean Spray bottles. They are stronger and the lids offer a tighter seal. I started with the soda bottles but eventually switched. I'm also using the small Gatorade bottles as my gas seperator. Again, these bottles offer a tighter seal.

As for the regular airstones, I wouldn't really waste time on them even though they are a dime a dozen. They don't offer enough resistance to create the smaller bubbles for better diffusion. Just my .02 worth.

As for yeast..yes any yeast will do but brewer's yeast is better. Some have mentioned champaign yeast but I have yet to try that one.
 
Yep, ocean spray bottles are more rigid which I think helps... Plus the bottles with wider mouths have larger caps which help when you need to insert/silicone-in two lines. Vitamin Water is great for a gas separator bottle.
 
I very nearly used the much more rigid juice bottles, but I decided that the soda bottles were made to withstand changing pressures more. I kept thinking of some horror stories I thought I'd heard about peoples' DIY bottles exploding, and them needing to have pressurized anti-radiation suits to get near enough to clean up the mess.

So anyway I have plenty of those other bottles, I will try that next.

An update: about an hour ago I was going out and checked the tank, and saw that bubbles were being ejected out of the air stone. It'd release about five or so bubbles at a time, every couple of seconds I think. Conveniently they were all shooting right past the intake on my canister filter and pretty much making it all the way to the surface. So I've got to redirect things.

Also I don't have an HOB on this tank, just two canisters.
 
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