Cheap C02 desolving meathod

[Joetee]

I needed a cheap way to get C02 in my tank. Problem is, it has HOB filters and I can't afford another canister filter for a while.

I was at Walmart and came up with a idea. I bought their Aqua-Tech power head. I put the C02 hose on the aerator connector and it only blew out large bubbles that just went up and popped at the surface. No Good.

So I took a 1 liter pop bottle and cut the top off at about 3 or 4 inches from the top. This made a bell looking thing. It didn't fit on the inlet of the power head. So I placed the threaded part in boiling water. It expanded enough to slide over the inlet barb on the power head and when it cooled it was tight enough to stay put.
I then took a needle and heated it up with a lighter and bored a hole in the side of the bottle about half way down just big enough to put the C02 hose in tightly.

Now I have a bubble counter and diffuser all in one. It works great. Tinny bubbles that desolve very quickly and I also get some tinny bubbles that float around the tank that also seems to help growth. Not to much. Just right.

With HOB's, you need to crank up the C02 a bit more that you would with canister filters.

Joetee

[Sponsors]

[honor]

just take off the bio wheel. that degasses the co2 outa the water. and for the splashing comming from teh HOB, i just make sure the waterlevel is constantly at the level of the return or i place some kind of obstruction so the water comes down less.

i have a similar setup.

[isu712]

Check out this thread over at APC

http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...2-reactor.html

[mistergreen]

^^^^ yeah, misting the tank with CO2 is the way to go... You can also build a cyclone reactor thingy... I've been thinking about building one for fun.

[Joetee]

That is what I do too. It does lesson the degassing.
Joe

Originally Posted by honor

just take off the bio wheel. that degasses the co2 outa the water. and for the splashing comming from teh HOB, i just make sure the waterlevel is constantly at the level of the return or i place some kind of obstruction so the water comes down less.

i have a similar setup.

[josh1604]

honor that sounds like a really good idea i think it would cut my need for a glass co2 differs which is good because i have to take it out about once every three weeks and clean the algae off of the disc so it works properly

[fishsandwitch]

Why do you need a pop bottle? You can just stick the tubing into the inlet of the powerhead.

[Joetee]

It has a screen to keep it from sucking up things.

[josh1604]

do yall think this will work with a DIY CO2 or will it suck the yeast into the tank

[youngsai]

gonna run one of these misters though im a lil worried about whether it will overload my 10 glln...will research for a small well controlled filter and let you guys know how it works out...if anybody has any tips or has run one on a 10 glln please give me some tips!

[Joetee]

Originally Posted by fishsandwitch

Why do you need a pop bottle? You can just stick the tubing into the inlet of the powerhead.

Well the power head likes to suck my plants up against the inlet screen. With the pop bottle, it is big around at the base so it doesn't suck to hard right up close and it leaves the plants alone. It works like a python gravel vac. I can place the bottom about an inch from the substrate and it also will not suck up the sand but still able to blow a lot of water. The bottle is only about 3 inches from top to bottom and is clear so its easier to hide. It also works as a bubble counter and lets me see real clearly the C02 bubbles to make it easier to count them.
Joetee

[Joetee]

Originally Posted by josh1604

do yall think this will work with a DIY CO2 or will it suck the yeast into the tank

It should be just fine. You can add another bottle, leaving it empty, so if any liquid froths up it will fill the empty bottle instead of your tank. This is good with or without a power head.
Joetee