DIY CO2 newbie support group

[fastlight81]

first, for your issue: What's your room temperature? Mine was like that (lotsa bubbles when bumped, shaken, no bubbles for a while after) for a while. Maybe you need to wait an extra day.

I certainly won't complain if I suddenly am in possession of a pressurized system, also.

But back to ME! So is it actually true that the LOCATION of the CO2 infusion is relevant? As in right now only the right side of my tank (where the output of the canister with the CO2 is directed) is really benefiting? because I think judging the way things look in the tank that that could be the case.

How big is your tank? 55 right?(by your journal) I certainly believe you could just have one diffusion point and if you have enough current it will disperse. But having 2 points will definatly help with the dispersion of co2 . Certainly can't help. How do you diffuse your co2?

back to me :nutkick: my room temp 72 degrees. It producing co2 is not the issue as I do have 2-3 bubbles per second between the too. I now have taken the new pepsi bottle an have it directly diffusing into the tank. Bubbles ... so my problem lies somewhere and most likely in the seperator bottle. Ill have to work on it another day, just happy to have co2 back in tank.

 

[cobfreak]

The air separator is an extra area where pressure would have to build up from the CO2. It seems to me that might extend the time it takes to get full bubbles coming out into the tank?

 

[fastlight81]

I would agree except it has worked for 2 months prior to me adding the second bottle of co2... I wonder if its more of the way I ran the airline. I ran two bottles of co2, both tubes extending in to the water of my seperater/bubble counter and thats how i see my 2-3 bps. Then have a third tube in the seperator that is in the air pocket that send the co2 to the tank. worked like a charm with the one bottle. I wonder if maybe I should have done like I see everyone else do and used a t barb and have only 1 airline in the water of the seperator and 1 coming out from the air pocket. Though I can't see how I ran it making any bit of difference....

 

[cobfreak]

Do you have check valves on both tubes before the separator? Maybe pressure is going backwards for a while, if one bottle is not producing yet.

 

[fastlight81]

nope no check valve on each bottle, so that could be the problem with pressure as u suggested, but I will argue, since each bottle goes in to the water first in the seperator... it shouldnt find its way in to each others bottle if that makes any sense. I dont think co2 can pressure itself to go back thru water then into another bottle... what do you think? time for a paint drawing!

 

[cobfreak]

nope no check valve on each bottle, so that could be the problem with pressure as u suggested, but I will argue, since each bottle goes in to the water first in the seperator... it shouldnt find its way in to each others bottle if that makes any sense. I dont think co2 can pressure itself to go back thru water then into another bottle... what do you think? time for a paint drawing!

Oh no you're absolutely right, I get it. I agree that wouldn't be the problem.


* throws a few more quarters in the "saving for pressurized CO2" jar *

 

[fastlight81]

lol, yea I cant wait for mine, yes diy co2 works and helps for those who want co2 and want to see the benifit, but next month pressurized fully automatic co2 for me! watch i have a gazillion problems with that too! haha

here is my crude drawing

 

[Chrisinator]

Phew! Thanks guys. This thread reminded me that my CO2 was actually unhooked since my gang valves aren't working like they should be. s

 

[DJDrZ]

sounds about right. Mine drops from 7ish to 6.6-6.4ish so it is certainly helping.

As far as dissolving it, I may go back to what you are doing, place the co2 into the cannister filter. NO bubbles. I will place my dual venturi reactor inline with my intake of my cannister filter. I have it might as well use it!

This is exactly what I was thinking. I have a Filstar XP3 and was thinking of cutting the tube going into the filter and valving it up with the output from the reactor. Of course I am loathe to cut up my tube, plus that tubing is so wide...

 

[DJDrZ]

I started out with this as well. Thought it was pretty kewl watching the bubbles work their magic through the ladder. Then you would get the "snot" build up at the ladder. Have to recharge it often. Have to clean it often. All the while reading up on CO2 and learning more and more.

Then I decided the DIY method was a much easier, cheaper and longer lasting solution.

What about using the ladder as your reactor? Anygood? I am thinking of purchasing this and then building a 3-bottle DIY