Would DIY CO2 be overkill for a 7 gallon tank?

FishyPlants · 04-13-2004, 11:30 AM

Would the typical DIY CO2 2 liter bottle and yeast recipe produce too much CO2 for a 7 gallon tank? If so, can I just scale it down? For example, use less yeast or less sugar?
My water has a PH of 7.6 and KH 6.
Thanks

anonapersona · 04-13-2004, 12:29 PM

Yes, it would be too much. If you have a HOB filter you can increase the offgasing by lowering the water level a bit, increasing surface agitation and lowering the CO2 of the water. If you include a bubble counter, you could then increase the water level as the bubble production slowed. You would want to keep good records of pH all through this until you got a feel for it. You could also just use a smaller container, or less sugar and yeast.

In any case, be sure to monitor CO2 in the tank and know what you target pH is and what the pH limit is so you can take action before fish are damaged.

ninoboy · 04-13-2004, 12:39 PM

Fishy, you can use a small coke bottle with 3/4 cup of sugar and 1/4 tsp of yeast. It will produce 1 bubble every 5 to 6 seconds. This may suit your 7gl. I use this for my 5 gl and the solution last close to 2 weeks.

Aquaman · 04-13-2004, 03:17 PM

For a tank that size just use Flourish Excel. Much easier than constantly hassling with mixes and PH tests etc.

FishyPlants · 04-13-2004, 07:15 PM

thanks for the responses. I like the idea of producing the DIY CO2 as opposed to using the Excel. I will try decreasing the amounts of yeast and sugar as suggested and see how it work.
thanks again

mario · 04-13-2004, 07:31 PM

I was running 2x2l DIY yeast on my 10 gallon tanks before I switched to pressurized CO2. In my experience, 1x2l of DIY will be just fine for a 7 gallon.

NFish · 04-13-2004, 08:25 PM

Buy a Hagen natural co2 plant gro system. the size would be perfect for a 7 gallon.

04-13-2004, 07:31 PM	#6
mario Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 287	I was running 2x2l DIY yeast on my 10 gallon tanks before I switched to pressurized CO2. In my experience, 1x2l of DIY will be just fine for a 7 gallon. __________________ "Save me Jebus! And I don't even believe in Jebus!!!" Homer Simpson

04-13-2004, 08:25 PM	#7
NFish Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Colorado, USA, North America, Planet Earth, Milky Way Galaxy Posts: 235	Buy a Hagen natural co2 plant gro system. the size would be perfect for a 7 gallon. __________________ LIFE IS GOOD, ETERNAL LIFE IS BETTER John 3:16 Romans 10:9

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04-13-2004, 11:30 AM	#1
FishyPlants Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Southern, NJ Posts: 35	Would the typical DIY CO2 2 liter bottle and yeast recipe produce too much CO2 for a 7 gallon tank? If so, can I just scale it down? For example, use less yeast or less sugar? My water has a PH of 7.6 and KH 6. Thanks

04-13-2004, 12:29 PM	#2
anonapersona Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,614	Yes, it would be too much. If you have a HOB filter you can increase the offgasing by lowering the water level a bit, increasing surface agitation and lowering the CO2 of the water. If you include a bubble counter, you could then increase the water level as the bubble production slowed. You would want to keep good records of pH all through this until you got a feel for it. You could also just use a smaller container, or less sugar and yeast. In any case, be sure to monitor CO2 in the tank and know what you target pH is and what the pH limit is so you can take action before fish are damaged.

04-13-2004, 12:39 PM	#3
ninoboy Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Las Vegas , Nevada Posts: 1,261	Fishy, you can use a small coke bottle with 3/4 cup of sugar and 1/4 tsp of yeast. It will produce 1 bubble every 5 to 6 seconds. This may suit your 7gl. I use this for my 5 gl and the solution last close to 2 weeks.

04-13-2004, 03:17 PM	#4
Aquaman Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: No. VA. Posts: 247	For a tank that size just use Flourish Excel. Much easier than constantly hassling with mixes and PH tests etc.

04-13-2004, 07:15 PM	#5
FishyPlants Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Southern, NJ Posts: 35	thanks for the responses. I like the idea of producing the DIY CO2 as opposed to using the Excel. I will try decreasing the amounts of yeast and sugar as suggested and see how it work. thanks again