DIY CO2

mattrmiller · 09-08-2003, 03:33 PM

I saw a blue print for a DIY pop bottle method on these forums a while back, but now I can't seem to find it. Does anyone know where that or a similar one might be.

Also are Pop bottle methods better then say a Hagen plant gro system. Which one is more efficient? I am worried about overdosing.

Wasserpest · 09-08-2003, 04:33 PM

Here is a great and complete article about that, including wonderful blueprints:

http://www.corydorasworld.com/jlv.htm

The efficiency of CO2 depends a lot on how the CO2 is dissolved in the tank water, and how much additional surface agitation you have.

mattrmiller · 09-08-2003, 07:33 PM

Thank you very much.

anonapersona · 09-08-2003, 11:44 PM

Hagen is adjustable for the small tank, DIY you have to remix or redesign.

Rex Grigg · 09-10-2003, 12:52 PM

A juice bottle works much better than a pop bottle. Juice bottles have a wider base and are less likely to turn over.

29gallonsteve · 09-10-2003, 01:43 PM

Rex,

I was always concerned about the fact that it would tip over, but now I keep mine in a small bucket with water and a small heater (to keep relatively stable temp/co2 production).

Besides, I think the logic is that soda bottles are designed to hold high pressure CO2, where juice jars may not be.

Thanks,
Steve

anonapersona · 09-10-2003, 01:54 PM

If you are using an airstone that can clog, you do need to worry about high pressure. My input line is open ended and the only pressure it sees is the pressure of the waterpump powering the DIY Vortex reactor, not much, maybe 6inches of head, whatever pressure that calculates out to be.

Rex Grigg · 09-12-2003, 02:16 AM

If you get high enough pressure in a DIY system to worry about a plastic bottle then you have other worries as well. Something along the lines of "I forgot to drill a hole in the cap and insert the tubing" problem. Or the old "I put a large weight on the tubing problem", as long as the system has somewhere for the CO2 to go then the pressures are going to be very low.

mattrmiller · 09-12-2003, 03:27 AM

Does the reactor size (gravel vac) matter with tank size. For example should the reactor and pump be the same size for my 20 gallon as my 29 gallon?

09-08-2003, 04:33 PM	#2
Wasserpest Are these real? (View User Tanks) PTrader: (140/100%) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 14,646	Here is a great and complete article about that, including wonderful blueprints: http://www.corydorasworld.com/jlv.htm The efficiency of CO2 depends a lot on how the CO2 is dissolved in the tank water, and how much additional surface agitation you have. __________________ All my tanks Autodosing Water Change Temperature Monitoring Cheap Filter The Wasser-Controller

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09-08-2003, 03:33 PM	#1
mattrmiller Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 152	I saw a blue print for a DIY pop bottle method on these forums a while back, but now I can't seem to find it. Does anyone know where that or a similar one might be. Also are Pop bottle methods better then say a Hagen plant gro system. Which one is more efficient? I am worried about overdosing.

09-08-2003, 07:33 PM	#3
mattrmiller Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 152	Thank you very much.

09-08-2003, 11:44 PM	#4
anonapersona Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,614	Hagen is adjustable for the small tank, DIY you have to remix or redesign.

09-10-2003, 12:52 PM	#5
Rex Grigg Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (65/100%) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland Orygun Posts: 9,600	A juice bottle works much better than a pop bottle. Juice bottles have a wider base and are less likely to turn over.

09-10-2003, 01:43 PM	#6
29gallonsteve Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Wilmington, DE, USA/Philly, PA Posts: 218	Rex, I was always concerned about the fact that it would tip over, but now I keep mine in a small bucket with water and a small heater (to keep relatively stable temp/co2 production). Besides, I think the logic is that soda bottles are designed to hold high pressure CO2, where juice jars may not be. Thanks, Steve

09-10-2003, 01:54 PM	#7
anonapersona Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,614	If you are using an airstone that can clog, you do need to worry about high pressure. My input line is open ended and the only pressure it sees is the pressure of the waterpump powering the DIY Vortex reactor, not much, maybe 6inches of head, whatever pressure that calculates out to be.

09-12-2003, 02:16 AM	#8
Rex Grigg Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (65/100%) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland Orygun Posts: 9,600	If you get high enough pressure in a DIY system to worry about a plastic bottle then you have other worries as well. Something along the lines of "I forgot to drill a hole in the cap and insert the tubing" problem. Or the old "I put a large weight on the tubing problem", as long as the system has somewhere for the CO2 to go then the pressures are going to be very low.

09-12-2003, 03:27 AM	#9
mattrmiller Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 152	Does the reactor size (gravel vac) matter with tank size. For example should the reactor and pump be the same size for my 20 gallon as my 29 gallon?