Hagen Ladder CO2 Diffuser - 2 into 1?

[Andyos]

I'm running a yeast based CO2 with a 2 litre pop bottle using the Hagen Ladder diffuser and I'm really pleased with the way the ladder works. I was planning to get another one so I can add a second bottle but wondered if it would work if I simply connected two 2 Litre bottles to one ladder using a T splitter? I'm using a check valve, so would add another for the second bottle and join them above so neither bottle could siphon back.

Is anyone doing this or has tried it?

Thanks in advance, Andy

[Wasserpest]

Hi Andy, welcome to the Planted Tank. The setup you describe is very common for DIY CO2, it allows to refresh the bottles in an alternating way, while one is at full production, the next one is ramping up or peters out, which reduces the fluctuations that you have with a single bottle.

In short - go for it! Works very well.

[retoid]

Yupp, I use it for two of my tanks, works like a charm.

[Andyos]

Thanks guys, just saved me shelling out for another ladder I'll get to work on another pop bottle, will two 2 litre bottles be enough for a 40 gallon tank, I have 4 x 30W T8 tubes?

[retoid]

im sure it will.

Get it started and then read your pH and kh to see how much co2 is being pumped into your tank.
co2 chart

[Wasserpest]

Depends on many things, hard to say remotely. You need to measure kH and pH and figure out how much CO2 you end up getting into the water.

I had a 3l bottle on a 10 gal tank... go figure. But my kH is high, and the HOB filter wouldn't allow high CO2 levels.

Thing with the ladders is that the dissolved CO2 needs to be distributed through the tank. A 40gal tank is kinda borderline for the ladder, you might need to look in a better diffusing method. But it all depends.