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@
AguaScape
I am positive I proof read my post and it sounded right at that moment. I am reading this now after a nice long sleep with coffee and I am positive I mistaken DIY CO2 for DIY CO2 Regulator lol. I am skimming through advanceplantedtank in their Plantedtank 101. I saw a CO2 reactor is a tool hobbyist can use that can inject CO2 efficiently. They have a higher efficiency compared to the other two options which are fine CO2 bubblers and inline atomizers. I will look into how to build a CO2 reactor or just purchase one online if it is durable and affordable when the time comes. My overall plan is to get the planted tank fine tune so no tinkering and accidents happen while fish are present. The plants and decor will be there of course so I can observe the effects of fine tuning my system. I am not sure if I can add a clean up crew while I fine tune CO2. I have concerns about bringing contaminants via snail or shrimps before the discus get released in the display tank.
Haha. Yeah, there is a big difference between DIY Regulators and DIY CO2. I believe that a person with moderate skills can put together a regulator assembly that is far superior to anything that can be bought on the open market. DIY Regulators are my kind of thing.
If you read this article you will see what I mean. The first half is my learning process. Many members here helped me understand the concepts. The second half is just me showing off what I have learned. There are several side tracks along the way. Go to the last page if you just want to see my latest build. I am really proud of how that one came out.
There are a lot of people here who have built some great reactors. I am going to be building a couple Variable Velocity Reactors similar to the one that @
Ken Keating1 created.
His amazing tank journal is here. His reactor design is covered in the first few pages.
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I wasn't aware of the fact that pH probes could be a safeguard for CO2 injections. I am liking the cheaper one only because I see that it has what I consider a safeguard. It controls the on and off switch for CO2 injection should it go out of parameter set by the owner. The other two do not look like it does the same thing and alerts by changing an LED light or something. The concern I have is if the 70$ is a quality product. No point in going with the cheaper one if the pH measuring system craps out then the safeguard feature is useless. Another option I can think of is if I tinker with an arduino system to get the same feature as a 70$ but with a quality probe. I would want to weigh the cost + time versus just buying the 70$ one. I'm not sure if the parts for arduino are there to make a pH probe like the 70$. I might be complicating this but its a fun thought and it would make me sleep easier.
All the ones I linked are PH controllers. Don't mistake PH controllers for PH probes or monitors since the probes and monitors cannot control your CO2 system. I have not seen anyone post up about the cheap one here. The other two I linked have been used by members for years with glowing recommendations. There is one member who has used the American Marine Pinpoint for 10 years with no problems.
I personally have not dived into Arduinos yet as I know I myself and I don't need another rabbit hole at this time.
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If I do get BBA i'll be sad however it'll be an opportunity to get a sample while I destroy the rest. I'd like to see what makes them appear or see if I can kill them by adjusting a parameter. An alternative would be to see if there are any articles on them that answer my questions. I'll just wait and see if I get them. There is no need to jump the gun and go down a rabbit hole.
BBA happens. I did not have it until my CO2 ran out and I was not aware of it. Another good thing about a controller is that it is easier to notice that you are out of CO2. I just happened to look at my controller today and noticed that my PH was close to 7 and it is set at 6.8. I immediately checked my tank and it was empty. If I did not have the controller right there where I can easily see what is going on, I may have not noticed. Crisis narrowly averted. I do not want to have to fight that battle again so soon. On the bright side it gave me a chance to put my new reg through it's paces. It was already hooked up to my second tank.