[Matty]

Hey everyone, new here have posted a few times, I have a quick DIY CO2 question.

I have a 20g tank set up, have a few plants already planted, and a few more on the way thanks to Amazozfish
in the swapnshop.

Any-who Ive been tinkering with my diy setup so i can kind of have it set up correctly before i get a ton of plants in.

This is my current set up:

Ocean spray juice bottle
tubbing running to a cylindrical airstone inside of the dank, which is positioned right below a small power head unit, (to chop up/diffuse the co2 bubbles)
here is a picture.

Here's my problem. There are alot of tinny bubbles everywhere. throughout the whole tank, even on top of the water etc. I have a feeling that i made the mixture too strong.

Sooo. i dumped the first batch. ( made with a full cup of sugar and 2 spoonfulls of yeast and filled the bottle mostly fully of water)

Last night i decided to cut the portions.

I used a 1/4th of a cup of sugar and maybe 3/4ths of a spoon of yeast and im essentially having the same problem.

Do you think that the bubbles are being diffused to much?

any help would be shweeet.:confused1::confused1:

 

[Wasserpest]

Using a powerhead (impeller) to break up the bubbles just leads to a lot of mist floating through the tank. Some like it, some don't, some think it's the greatest thing to make plants grow faster.

It is a very efficient and easy method, but if you don't like the 7-UP effect, you should look for a different way. Like the Hagen bubble ladder, or an external reactor. They all have their pro's and con's.

If you notice bubbles accumulating on the surface you have most likely something called scum, and need to think about ways to surface skim.

It is impossible to say whether it is too much or not without doing some measuring. Or if you have fish in there that look distressed or dead, then you know it was too much.

 

[Moody636]

Edit: Listen to that guy ^^^^^^^^^

I have the same "problem", but it doesn't really bother me so I leave it alone. I don't think your mixture is the issue, it's the diffusion method.

 

[Matty]

Perfect, so many knowledgable people on this forum.

Ive been doing some research and the simple reason i have it set up the way i do is because i already had the materials.

Ive looked at a few different ceramic diffusers. some are priced daily cheep. and im sure it would still do a great job of diffusing.

Here is just an example of what i might get into.
http://www.fish-street.com/co2_5k_diffuser?search_string=co2+diffuser&category_id=0

There are tons of different kinds and price ranges. we shall see.

But im glad to hear that its not something totally crazy.

The plants seem to be doing great and real green.

 

[leemacnyc]

generally i only use 1/4 teaspoon of yeast with 1 cup sugar....

 

[ball3r]

that diffuse will waste a lot of co2 why not get a reactor like http://cgi.ebay.com/Aquarium-CO2-Diffuser-Reactor-27-80L-401-S_W0QQitemZ180359658980QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item29fe45fde4

i got mine, its working great no escape of co2, i simply connect that co2 reactor to my outlet of my fluval 305.

 

[Matty]

that diffuse will waste a lot of co2 why not get a reactor like http://cgi.ebay.com/Aquarium-CO2-Di...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item29fe45fde4

i got mine, its working great no escape of co2, i simply connect that co2 reactor to my outlet of my fluval 305.

I've seen these before, and for the price it seems like a steal.I guess i just don't understand what that green tube does that a power head blowing the bubbles around doesn't do. The power head chops up the bubbles, the aeration balls in the link you posted claim to "chop up bubbles" or diffuse With how many tiny bubbles that the system i have produces i assume thats what is needed for complete diffusion.

is there something that im completely missing?

 

[Matty]

I guess this article explains it in different efficiencies;
Here

i guess the tube like just holds the bubbles under water longer and has more of a chance of breaking the bubbles up?

 

[ball3r]

Here is my setup, sorry for the quality. I just plug the inlet of the reactor to my fluval305, basically it acts like a water pump, you connect your co2 on the top, once water comes in then it causes the balls to spin, the balls use to dissolve the bubbles, i can tell you this reactor is very effective because i dont see any bubbles escaping to the top of the surface.

 

[daijoubu]

I just completed building my own reactor out of a small plastic juice bottle and a powerhead. The balls are not necessary for a DIY CO2 source as there is plenty of time for the water agitation from the powerhead to dissolve the CO2 bubbles in the water. Similar to this design on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xELv1lMjTw
Mine has a recirculating venturi line to pull larger bubbles out and back through the intake of the powerhead.