ANOTHER co2 thread

Sakuras · 03-13-2013, 11:35 AM

Hey ive been lurking around this site for a long time and ive experimented various types of diffusion for my diy co2 ( yeast and sugar )
S far, the best diffusion is from my HOB filter ( just insert into the intake ) it get very fine bubbles but the problem is i think the co2 damaged the impeller and i am not keen on using this method again. Ive tried the the bell, chop stick and air stone and it has very very low efficiency.

Any ideas i could diffuse it?
im not gonna buy another glass diffuser as it did not work on my diy co2. a bubble ladder too cant be used as my tank it looks too bulky

Cyanider · 03-13-2013, 12:51 PM

If you have a powerhead (any cheap one will do) and a siphon hose, then see this article:

http://www.qsl.net/w2wdx/aquaria/diyco2.html#2

This is probably the best method for DIY co2 diffusion.

Sakuras · 03-13-2013, 02:01 PM

a reactor looks complicated and $$ is a factor man. i just spend $10 on a glass diffuser that didnt work. so im abit cautious now

gSTiTcH · 03-13-2013, 03:17 PM

Got a canister filter?

puopg · 03-13-2013, 03:59 PM

If you do not want to invest in a canister filter/ sump, and are afraid of damaging ur HOB, you can use a powerhead and feed the gas into that. You can look into venturi pumps.

Indychus · 03-13-2013, 04:37 PM

The glass diffusers on ebay work fine, if you can't get them to work then you have a leak somewhere. Make sure everything is sealed up tight. It takes about 30 mins to an hour to build enough pressure to start diffusing.

james0816 · 03-13-2013, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indychus

The glass diffusers on ebay work fine, if you can't get them to work then you have a leak somewhere. Make sure everything is sealed up tight. It takes about 30 mins to an hour to build enough pressure to start diffusing.

+1

I have them on all my set ups.

gSTiTcH · 03-13-2013, 06:52 PM

I guess before we go any further... what kind of diffuser did you get? If you got one of the "bell" diffusers that simply traps a giant bubble of CO2, then no, those suck. A diffuser with a ceramic micro-porous disk in it will work much better.

Indychus · 03-13-2013, 07:08 PM

This is what I have on DIY setups in 3 different tanks:

It works very well and is only $10 on fleabay. It's a cheap chinese deal, and I got one that the ceramic disc was cracked, but the seller took it back with no issues.

Cyanider · 03-14-2013, 03:00 PM

The reactor is actually really cheap. Just use any old siphon head you have laying around, and you can find a really cheap powerhead (or you may have one on hand).

I bought a powerhead for $4 at Unleashed (owned by Petco) on clearance and got a siphon head for free. So total cost for my reactor was $4.

Your other option is the glass co2 diffuser linked above. Those require low pressure to diffuse.

Bandit1200 · 03-14-2013, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyanider

The reactor is actually really cheap. Just use any old siphon head you have laying around, and you can find a really cheap powerhead (or you may have one on hand).

I bought a powerhead for $4 at Unleashed (owned by Petco) on clearance and got a siphon head for free. So total cost for my reactor was $4.

Your other option is the glass co2 diffuser linked above. Those require low pressure to diffuse.

What is a "siphon head"?

Cyanider · 03-15-2013, 01:25 PM

A part of a siphone hose that goes in the water (the thing you use for water changes)

Sakuras · 03-16-2013, 03:05 AM

There is definitely no leaks in my diy co2. I think the glass diffuser i bought was only to be used for pressurized. Im gonna look into the co2 reactors and i'll try building one.

newms · 03-16-2013, 07:11 AM

I use a Hagen "Elite Underwater Mini Filter" (~$10 on amazon) with a hole bored into the side of it before the impeller for the co2 line. It's a powerful little pump that's adjustable and moves a lot of water.

Pros: Cheap and effective. Draws water to the co2, chops up the co2 into little bubbles, and shoots those bubbles down along the substrate and all the way to the other side of the tank. I've found good substrate level circulation key for growing dense plant carpets. The bubbles are very small and spend a very long time in the lower levels of the tank.

Cons: The impeller makes an audible noise when a Co2 bubble hits it which some people don't like. I actually enjoy it because I've come to associate that sound with my co2 working and my plants growing.

03-13-2013, 11:35 AM	#1
Sakuras Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Singapore Posts: 48	ANOTHER co2 thread Hey ive been lurking around this site for a long time and ive experimented various types of diffusion for my diy co2 ( yeast and sugar ) S far, the best diffusion is from my HOB filter ( just insert into the intake ) it get very fine bubbles but the problem is i think the co2 damaged the impeller and i am not keen on using this method again. Ive tried the the bell, chop stick and air stone and it has very very low efficiency. Any ideas i could diffuse it? im not gonna buy another glass diffuser as it did not work on my diy co2. a bubble ladder too cant be used as my tank it looks too bulky

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03-13-2013, 12:51 PM	#2
Cyanider Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Maryland Posts: 247	If you have a powerhead (any cheap one will do) and a siphon hose, then see this article: http://www.qsl.net/w2wdx/aquaria/diyco2.html#2 This is probably the best method for DIY co2 diffusion.

03-13-2013, 02:01 PM	#3
Sakuras Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Singapore Posts: 48	a reactor looks complicated and $$ is a factor man. i just spend $10 on a glass diffuser that didnt work. so im abit cautious now

03-13-2013, 03:17 PM	#4
gSTiTcH Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 332	Got a canister filter?

03-13-2013, 03:59 PM	#5
puopg Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 518	If you do not want to invest in a canister filter/ sump, and are afraid of damaging ur HOB, you can use a powerhead and feed the gas into that. You can look into venturi pumps.

03-13-2013, 04:37 PM	#6
Indychus Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Irmo, SC Posts: 291	The glass diffusers on ebay work fine, if you can't get them to work then you have a leak somewhere. Make sure everything is sealed up tight. It takes about 30 mins to an hour to build enough pressure to start diffusing.

03-13-2013, 06:52 PM	#8
gSTiTcH Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 332	I guess before we go any further... what kind of diffuser did you get? If you got one of the "bell" diffusers that simply traps a giant bubble of CO2, then no, those suck. A diffuser with a ceramic micro-porous disk in it will work much better.

03-13-2013, 07:08 PM	#9
Indychus Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Irmo, SC Posts: 291	This is what I have on DIY setups in 3 different tanks: It works very well and is only $10 on fleabay. It's a cheap chinese deal, and I got one that the ceramic disc was cracked, but the seller took it back with no issues.

03-14-2013, 03:00 PM	#10
Cyanider Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Maryland Posts: 247	The reactor is actually really cheap. Just use any old siphon head you have laying around, and you can find a really cheap powerhead (or you may have one on hand). I bought a powerhead for $4 at Unleashed (owned by Petco) on clearance and got a siphon head for free. So total cost for my reactor was $4. Your other option is the glass co2 diffuser linked above. Those require low pressure to diffuse.

03-15-2013, 01:25 PM	#12
Cyanider Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Maryland Posts: 247	A part of a siphone hose that goes in the water (the thing you use for water changes)

03-16-2013, 03:05 AM	#13
Sakuras Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Singapore Posts: 48	There is definitely no leaks in my diy co2. I think the glass diffuser i bought was only to be used for pressurized. Im gonna look into the co2 reactors and i'll try building one.

03-16-2013, 07:11 AM	#14
newms Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Florida Posts: 56	I use a Hagen "Elite Underwater Mini Filter" (~$10 on amazon) with a hole bored into the side of it before the impeller for the co2 line. It's a powerful little pump that's adjustable and moves a lot of water. Pros: Cheap and effective. Draws water to the co2, chops up the co2 into little bubbles, and shoots those bubbles down along the substrate and all the way to the other side of the tank. I've found good substrate level circulation key for growing dense plant carpets. The bubbles are very small and spend a very long time in the lower levels of the tank. Cons: The impeller makes an audible noise when a Co2 bubble hits it which some people don't like. I actually enjoy it because I've come to associate that sound with my co2 working and my plants growing.