powerhead co2 diffuser question.

[Jadis]

i normally use limewood diffusers for my co2.

i just tried switching to a powerhead, just to try something new.

anyways. long story short. the airline created a siphon and sprayed water everywhere. (this was before i could add the check valve/bubble counter)

not once, but twice. i have since switched back to good ol limewood.

my question, are you supposed to use an airpump too when using a powerhead as a co2 diffuser? am i just stupid?

 

[TipStylez]

How are you hooking up the airline to the powerhead?

 

[Mgamer20o0]

did you use the air intake. mine has a way to hook it up on the top.

 

[TipStylez]

^

Where that hose is connected.

 

[Jadis]

i used a marineland 400....i just hooked the tubing to the air intake (like the picture above) and then just directly in to my co2 bottle.

my only guess is that there wasnt enough pressure from the co2 (since it was a new batch and not yet reacting) to stop the force of suction created by the water surging past the intake (like the way a python works)
so im just wondering if adding air through the aid of a T valve would have stopped this from happening. or if im way off somehow.

 

[TipStylez]

A better way is to hook a airstone connected to your CO2 right under the inlet.

So before it gets blown out, it gets beaten up into small bubbles and even pop a few.

Cause i have a ladder set up right under my powerhead.

The bubbles climb up the ladder building up, and hits the powerhead intake and gets sucked out. Works soo good you dont even see bubbles shooting out.

 

[Jadis]

i forgot to add that there was a diffuser on the end of the powerhead, but that doesnt really matter since i obviously failed getting it to start in the first place

 

[TipStylez]

Takes about 1-2hours for the pressure to build up.

 

[ngochuynh]

you could try something like this: http://www.qsl.net/w2wdx/aquaria/diyco2.html

Scroll down the article and you should se a detail picture

 

[GirlieGirl8521]

I just inserted my DIY CO2 airline into the intake of my powerhead. Works like a charm. It breaks the big bubbles up and diffuses them across the tank. There is a little noise, but not enough to bother me.