question regarding diy co2.

thanks len...

i've got a small powerhead in my tank...

will it be ok to put the output from the co2 tank to where the powerhead sucks in water??
or will there be danger of yeast mixture being sucked into the tank...



Originally posted by djlen
I'll never understand why people make things more complicated than they need to be.

When I was using DIY CO2, I just mixed up a bottle of sugar and yeast as explained previously in this thread, ran an airline out of it and into the bottom of the siphon tube of my filter. The gas was sucked up the tube and through the filter where it was chopped up and dispersed into the water table. No back pressure at all. Just make sure the liquid in the 2ltr. bottle is 3" to 4" below the cap. I never got much foaming or any over flow into the tank, but if you're nervous about that, use the small bottle in the middle of the line(the bubble counter) as a safety valve against yeast mixture in the tank.
A better option for a reactor, than the filter is a small power head.
Most are submersible and can be placed way down low in the tank. You run the tube into the intake of the power head(on the bottom) and it smashes up the bubbles and distributes them into the water. Much better absorption this way.
BTW, I agree with Robert with regard to using air stones or anything similar....not a good idea.

Len
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p4150277edited.jpg
 
connected...

finally connected my diy bottle to my piowerhead..
i'm a little worried. won't my fish lack o2?
since the powerhead is the 1 which provides surface agitation...
right now i have it connected to my co2, so the air that comes out from it would be co2??
should i add in airstones?
my plants are 3 pcs anubias...
 
You 'can' connect it there, but then you'll just be blowing the big bubble from the generator around. The idea is to run it to the intake of the powerhead so that the impeller munches the bubble into a bunch of small ones, more surface area = faster diffusion.

Looks like you need more plants...

No, your fish will not lack O2, at least not from adding CO2. Adding CO2, or any other gas, will not decrease the amount of O2 in your water. Technically the concentration will decrease, but even so, typical CO2 concentrations are still much much lower than oxygen, and that's before the plants produce any. If your fish are lacking O2, something else is to blame.

While there is a potential for too much CO2, you're not going to reach that level with DIY.
 
I attached the bottom half of a siphon tube from an old Aqua Clear 200 HOB filter, to the bottom(or intake) of the power head.
Then I ran the tubing into the bottom hole of the siphon tube.
I push it about 1/3 of the way up the tube.
The bubbles go up, through the tube and into the bottom of the power head and come out as a mist for, as Happy says, better absorption.
This tube serves another purpose as well. When you turn off the power head you can count bubbles per min. through it because it's clear. Then simply turn the PH back on and commence chopping.
I have, in the past used an attachment on the out flow of the power head to further bubble dispersement through a sponge, but I've found that my pH remains the same with or without the extra attachment so I've gone with just the power head an am happy with the results.

Len
 
thanks!

thanks happy, Len :)
i'll try to insert the hose into the intake of my powerhead:)
i'll also try to add some more anubias plants...


would you know why my anubias still hasn't cling on to the wood??
i tied it down with a piece of rubber band...
its been a month or 2 now..
my java moss also hasn't cling on yet... what could be the cause??
 
Instead of more anubia, pick up some stem plants. They're generally pretty cheap, they're fast growing (hence the cheap) so they'll help to 'distract you' while the java moss and anubius gradually take hold and they'll help control nutrients better than the slow growers.
 
thanks happy..

Originally posted by happychem
Instead of more anubia, pick up some stem plants. They're generally pretty cheap, they're fast growing (hence the cheap) so they'll help to 'distract you' while the java moss and anubius gradually take hold and they'll help control nutrients better than the slow growers.
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my problem is i don't have any substrate in my tank.. its a barebuttom tank, so that its easier to maintain..
any other fast growing plant that can be placed on a driftwood?
 
Try some floating plants then. But something tells me that the whole barebottom planted tank approach isn't going to work in the long run. It really won't be that much different in terms of maintenance. You'll still need to do water changes weekly. If anything, I can imagine a bare bottom planted tank being harder to maintain since you'll have to clear out every scrap of waste instead of having some become ferts for rooted plants.
 
thanks..

Originally posted by happychem
Try some floating plants then. But something tells me that the whole barebottom planted tank approach isn't going to work in the long run. It really won't be that much different in terms of maintenance. You'll still need to do water changes weekly. If anything, I can imagine a bare bottom planted tank being harder to maintain since you'll have to clear out every scrap of waste instead of having some become ferts for rooted plants.
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I prefer bare buttom since i like to be able to clean up all the fish waste..
i have anothertank that has gravel.. and its really hard to siphon the sand well:)

maybe i'll try to add a pot.. :)
 
I'm the odd man on this I know, but over 90% of my Anubias (literally hundreds of plants) are substrate rooted. It does so much better for me that way. But it is not ever fast growing while submerse.

I also do not use sand. Fine gravel is great, Flourite is better.

My only bare tanks are fry hatch tanks, and even those tend to a minimum covering of gravel.

Anacharis and water sprite will both be perfectly happy floating. Both are widely adaptable to light and water.

All JMHO & IME.
 
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