Help setting up CO2 System

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Jan 1, 2008
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Hi guys - I've got my 16 gallon set up finally with a bunch of live plants, a Whisper 10 air pump that goes on at night, a brand new 28 watt light from coralife with a 6700K bulb that goes on in the day and my fluval 205 filter that runs all the time. I just bought a new Red Sea CO2 bio system from Big Al's that has a reactor (bottle) and a diffuser that apparently goes into the tank. I'd like to set it up correctly so I don't kill the fish and the plants will appreciate me.

http://www.bigalsonline.com/StoreCa...def-USD-18477##1##e&query=red+sea+co2&offset=

Here is a picture of my tank:

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=139861

I figure that in the bottom left area near the intake of the filter I can put in the diffuser, probably just north of the intake so the CO2 won't be too close to the suction. This will probably be about 1/3 up the aquarium and hidden on the side wall behind the tall anubias plant. I'm planning on connecting the CO2 to the light strip which goes on every morning at 9 and off every night at 8:15 or so. The air pump goes on around that time and off around 9 am. Are there any tips from people who have set these things up that you'd be able to provide me before I set it up tomorrow? I need to give it 24 hours for the reaction to occur so I don't know whether I can just put the bottle on the floor or it needs to be clipped to the back of the tank or same level as the diffuser, confirming that the check valve should be outside the tank near the bottle opening as opposed to under water inside and near the diffuser, etc. any tips you can provide. Thank you!
 
I wouldn't worry too much about the co2 going in the intake of your fluval it should get absorbed while going through it. Personally i would ditch the air pump as it will just drive the co2 off. As long as there is a check valve it doesn't much matter where you put the bottle. I don't use that system but its prob the same as most diy systems.

Best of luck and enjoy the gas er co2 lol
 
I agree with ausername about the bottle location. I kept mine under the tank in the stand and it worked just fine. I've used that Red Sea CO2 system--it was my first. In fact I just upgraded to a pressurized system (Hydor Green CO2 NRG Exclusive).

Running the CO2 system on the same timer with the lights is a good idea. I've also read that people put their CO2 systems on it's own timer, so that it turns on about 1 hour before the lights do. That way, there will be a high enough concentration of CO2 by the time the lights turn on that your plants won't be starving for it...at least that's how the thinking goes.

The diffuser for that Red Sea system is a bit finicky from my experience. Sometimes after starting a new reaction, no CO2 flows because the diffuser seems to 'airlock'. A couple of taps to the diffuser (while turned on and in the water) seem to fix it. I also sometimes give the hose a few gentle tugs.

Provided that the check valve isn't oriented the wrong way (it happens) and the diffuser is working, your reaction should start within 4 to 8 hours.

Will you be refilling this with your own yeast/sugar mix once the stuff that came with system run out? DIY is the way to go. I managed to buy the official Red Sea packs in bulk for real cheap. The mix that first came with the system lasted about 3 weeks. The first refill lasted about 6 and the next lasted only 2. So just keep an eye out. :)
 
Thanks so much for the tips. I figured that it would be a real pain to do my own mix and the refills cost me $4 each so I bought 6. :) It was a small investment of about $45 for a system that should last several months and I could ditch if it really didn't work. It also saved me the worry of screwing things up. It looks like you can dump your own stuff in there when the refills expire. The plants are still "melting" and I'm somewhat skeptical if I'll ever be able to grow them other than moss balls but I figure it's the first 10 days so keep it together and hope these supposed enhancements work (more light and CO2.) With all this stuff it makes me wonder if saltwater was that much more difficult, lol.

I'll keep a lookout on the diffuser and the amount of CO2 in the container. Really great tips regarding this Red Sea system, thanks. To ausername, regarding the airpump, it's on the opposite side of the tank so I think it will only increase water flow and not interfere with the CO2, perhaps even disperse it better at night so the fish won't starve from lack of O2.
 
a timer will not conserve co2 with diy... it will simply turn the pump on and off which will diffuse it better. co2 will still be being produced and traveling up the line into the tank. personally, I'd make the most of it and just leave the pump on. the closer to the bottom the better, when it comes for the pump placement. I would also use a gas seperator in between the bottle and the pump... a check valve will stop back flow but not yeast flowing into the tank.
 
The instructions said the timer will help so that there will be less diffusion of CO2 at night even though the reactor is still producing CO2. They say it's highly recommended.

Regardless, does it make a difference where I place the diffuser? I have plants on the left and on the right side of the aquarium. Can I put the diffuser in a corner? Do I need to put it smack in the middle in the back in order to "equally" diffuse to both sides or will the CO2 eventually make it's way throughout the aquarium water? Thanks for the help.
 
your fine with it on the side. Also what kind of hood did you get with the coralife bulb. I got the same bulb on my 10gallon and same co2 system except I use a limewood airstone instead of the diffuser.
 
nh5 said:
your fine with it on the side. Also what kind of hood did you get with the coralife bulb. I got the same bulb on my 10gallon and same co2 system except I use a limewood airstone instead of the diffuser.
Click to expand...

What is the benefit of an airstone over a diffuser? I'm wondering what you can do to turn off the flow at night since the plants will also take intake of O2 and may cause the fish to suffocate a little. This is one reason I turn on the pump at night to increase the air flow at the top of the tank.

I have the All-Glass canopy on top and the lighting fixture was separate in its own hood. I ended up buying this one, which is actually very nice for $35, probably better made too. Doesn't match perfectly but nice enough to do the job:

http://www.bigalsonline.com/StoreCa...#g##cz~~nc3684-def-USD-18369##0##1c&offset=30
 
I assume your reaction has already started by now. :)

I think the rationale behind using an airstone is that it can produce finer bubbles. With finer bubbles you have more surface area and therefore a higher rate of CO2 absorption into the water.

I don't think you have to worry about the flow at night. I'm sure you know by now that the Red Sea system just gives you a few small squirts of gas at fairly regular intervals. At night, with the diffuser off, you just get one or two giant bubbles that go straight to the surface every now and then -- not enough time for much absorption at all.
 
Thanks for the help guys. I put the diffuser in the tank and boy is it NOISY. I'm not sure it works properly either as I just get a burst of small bubbles every minute or so. I was thinking I'd probably get a stream of tiny bubbles with something that is at least as quiet as my air pump but no such luck. For now I've connected an airstone to it and I don't see much happening. Not sure it is and was hoping some of you guys can give me an insight as to what is going on or, rather, what isn't going on. Ugh... hopefully not more money expended for nothing.
 
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