DIY CO2 Plan

[mitche8359]

I'm thinking of designing a yeast co2 system out of an old canister filter that I have. The filter doesn't work, but might be able to be fixed if I get another tank, so I don't want to do any irrepairable damage.

Reading articles I've found and posts here, I thought I could kill two birds with one stone and build a reactor inside the canister as well.

My thoughts:
Build a seperate container in the canister to generate the co2.
Run a pipe with checkvalve to the top of the canister where a little resevoir will contain the co2.
Connect the co2 canister inline with the filtering canister so it fills with water.
The pump of the co2 filter will not be used. The filtering canister will pull the water from the co2 canister which will be fed with the tank output hose.

Does anyone see a hole in this plan?

[Buck]

I like to employ the " KISS " theory...

All I do is stick my tubing under the intake on my XP2 canister and let it suck up the bubble... :hehe: Nice bubble counter too cuz I can look at it and go... Aha , thats one...Aha , thats 2...and adjust to my needs... LOL
Works like a charm
KISS= Keep It Simple Stupid ...this works for me because I am the second S in KISS

But if you are up for a project by all means have at it... you never know til ya try.

Although...
I think that before you get involved with CO2 you should concentrate on 1 more wpg Mitch...Your plants could use that more. I would be leary of pumping CO2 into 2wpg tank. Also go longer on your photoperiod...should be 10 hours minimum , I do 11 hours and many do 12 hour pp.

[mitche8359]

Ah ok. That's the input that I need. Instead of the co2 add more light. I read that a balance between light, co2, nutrients, needed to be achived. Sounds like at that light level I don't need the added co2.

[Buck]

If your plants are doing fine then I wouldnt mess with anything. However, If you feel you want more out of them or they are not doing so well then you need to "start" with more light but ONLY if are prepared to do CO2.
At 2wpg you really dont need the CO2 but at 3wpg it is just about a MUST.

So think carefully before you proceed. Once you hit the higher lighting/CO2 then the tank balance will change and you need to adjust accordingly.

[anonapersona]

First, I disagree, CO2 first, lights second.

DIY CO2 is easy, cheap, and simple. KISS is right.

Do the cheap, easy, and simple stuff first. It won't hurt (unless you have soft, unbuffered water). It will help, even at low light levels. It will not stimulate algae. It will stimulate plants at the expense of algae.

Do that now, then put your effort to getting the lights later. The lights can, maybe even will, stimulate algae.

Are you considering putting the yeast generator *inside* the canister? Under water? Out of sight? What a hassle. You need it out where you can get to it, monitor it, change it. You do not want to risk getting yeast and sugar into your tank. KISS is right.