Thinking about trying the DIY Yeast Co2 Injection Again but...

kH kits are not all that expensive. I've been using the Tetra Test kit and find it relatively accurate.
With the numbers you give, you should have no problem with injecting CO2, especially DIY which is generally not as potent as compressed CO2. Much of the potency depends on the type of yeast used, as well as the amount per 2 liter bottle.
Crushed coral is notoriously slow acting. You will not see much reaction to it with regard to kH, for probably a week or so.
For a 29 gallon tank, one tsp. sounds about right. Just keep an eye on your kH and adjust the amount from there.
But if your kH is 5 it is unnecessary to add the coral, IMO.

Len
 
DJLEN,

Thanks for the info, very helpful!!!

AS40,

I bought the Tetra Brand KH Test Kit which normally are 7.99, but they had it for 50% off at my local fish store, because they are not popular sellers with the superficial, goofball, ghetto fabulous, Oscar buying, betta fish buying to fight another betta fish type of people (I dont think they even test most of them) that shop at my fish store.
 
DJLEN,

I was wondering what is the best sugar/yeast brand to use for this? I am going to be running it out of a 2 liter bottle, you wouldnt happen to have the link to the formula would you, it has been a long time since I have used DIY Co2. Also I was planning on running flexible tubing from the 2 liter bottle up into the aquarium where it would be diffused by a hagen airstone. Is this also okay/or the best method? Thanks for your help!
 
Here's a link I just sent somebody else:

http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/aqfm/1997/oct/aquatic/default.asp

Pretty decent explanation on how to set it up. Also a recipe for mixing the stuff up. The only argument I have with this article is that she says it lasts "up to 4 weeks". My yeast is pretty wimpy, but I never even came close to 4 weeks on a bottle of CO2. One of the most important factors when you are injecting CO2 is to try to maintain a continuous pH. This insures that you
have the required rate of absorption. As the CO2 conks out, the pH rises. This can be nerve-wracking when you consider the stress it can produce in fish. I remedied this problem, to some degree by using two bottles and alternating changing one of them each week.
In the case of my 55s, when I was running 4-2liter bottles on each I would change two of them on each tank weekly.
As to your air-stone idea. It will work, but it is not the best way to inject. She uses a HOB filter in the article. You can also pick up a power head at Big Al's for less than $15 that will do a great job for you.

Len
 
DJlen,

First thanks for your continued help. I have a Hang on Filter, its one of those Tetratech Filters, where do I run the line on the filter?

Also when you say you have another bottle waiting to go, is it pre-mixed and capped and then when your ready, you just plug it in? So you run Co2 continuosly and your ph seems to stay relatively level? How often do you do water changes and at what percentage? Do you Adjust the ph of the change water to match the ph in the tank? Thanks.
 
DJLEN,

Lol! I should have looked at the article before asking one of my questions. I see you have to run the line into the pump inlet. I see this will also make my filter very noisy too unfortunately. :( Oh well guess you have to give a little to get something for nothing.

Also what yeast sugar brand do you use? I noticed in a previous post that you mentioned that results very with dif. Yeast/sugar blends.
 
After using the 2liter bottle for a while you will get a feel for how long it will maintain itself before losing it's potency by monitoring your pH. Let's say it goes for 12 days and then you start to see a rise in pH. Don't wait for a further drop....mix up another bottle and replace the old one to try and maintain the desired pH. Don't make up a fresh bottle more than an hour or two ahead of time and let it sit. You risk explosion or a possible overflow when you uncap it.
This process can also work when daisy chaining 2 or 3 bottles. You see a rise in pH.....replace a bottle......see a rise.....replace another bottle. Just keep track of which ones you've replaced in order to keep the system fresh.
I change water EVERY sat. or sun. I change approx. 33-50% of each tank and don't mess with the pH going into the tank. Like I've said many times; clean water is everything....keep it clean and the fish will adjust to minor pH changes. Test your water before water change and again right afterward. IME, there should be practically no fluctuation in pH. I keep my tanks at 6.4 and the tap water comes out at 7.4. I see very little fluctuation within the tank after water change and only good reaction from the fish to the water-changes.
Your HOB will gas off a bunch of CO2, but it will also break up the gas and disperse it to some degree. Try to keep the flow of the HOB at a minimal level to lessen surface agitation. Also, try to keep the tank's water level as high as possible, again to lessen the agitation of the return water.
Noise level is in the eye of the beholder. Never bothered me much. You will hear the impeller smashing up the bubbles very faintly. This was always a good sound to me. Also, I have not experienced any damage to any of my AquaClears in all the time I used them, from CO2 injection. I use pressurized now, and different filters, but if I ever need the AC's again they will run fine for me.
I have always used Fleishmann's yeast from the supermarket. Some people use Champagne Yeast and claim better results. I think the yeast I use is not as potent because of age more than anything else. Buy small quantities of yeast to keep it fresh.

Len
 
Yes.....24/7.
With DIY DO2 you are better off not messing with connecting and disconnecting. Once you get a decent flow, let it go.
If, by some small chance you feel like you're getting too much saturation at night and you have a HOB filter, just adjust it to a higher flow rate at night and it will gas off some of the extra CO2.
If you can't control the flow rate of the filter you can insert an air-stone to gas off excess CO2.
Personally, I think that messing around with it is just looking for trouble. In all of my tanks, the increase in CO2ppm is so small that I'd never start adjusting at night and playing with the pH. That would be tougher on the fish, atleast in my case, than trying to adjust for a night-time rise in ppm.

Len
 
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