DIY CO2 working too well?

781 Views 4 Replies 3 Participants Last post by Wasserpest, Jan 7, 2008

alang

Discussion Starter · Jan 7, 2008

I planted my tank this weekend, added a couple of starter fish and setup a single 2l bottle DIY CO2. Mixture was 1 tsp of dry yeast, 2 cups of sugar.

The CO2 was added about 4pm Sunday. This morning (Monday), its bubbling around 1bps! I am running the bubbles through my intake tube (Fluval 305) and have an almost constant stream of micro bubbles coming out of the outflow pipe. There are bubbles stuck all over the front of my tank (output pipe is aimed towards middle of front pane).

After only half a day, I am not worried about CO2 levels yet, but this seems like a lot of activity for a DIY setup. The tank is a 65g and I am running 2wpg of lighting. Plants are dense but new, so I guess its heavly planted (click link in sig for a pic).

Questions:
Is it even possible for a single 2l DIY to create dangerous levels of CO2 in a 65g tank? If so how long would it take?

I wasn't going to get a drop checker since I didn't think the DIY could approach dangerous CO2 levels, but should I anyway?

Am I needlessly worring because I'm a newb? :icon_roll

TIA,
Alan

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Wasserpest

· #2 · Jan 7, 2008

I don't think you need to worry about overdosing a 65gal tank with a 2l bottle. That said, whenever you start to add CO2, monitoring your pH is a good idea, even to realize that you add too little.

You might want to use less yeast for a slower, more extended brewing period. With one teaspoon it might be burned out in a few days. 1/4 tsp might give you better results... with a longer startup period.

FYI I had three 3l bottles running on a 100gal tank without danger of overdosing.

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moogoo

· #3 · Jan 7, 2008

i've got an apple juice bottle going on my 10 gal. i run an airstone at night in an attempt to make sure to get O2 in there. Hopefully it's working. So far I haven't noticed the fish gasping.

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alang

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 7, 2008

Wasserpest said:
I don't think you need to worry about overdosing a 65gal tank with a 2l bottle. That said, whenever you start to add CO2, monitoring your pH is a good idea, even to realize that you add too little.

You might want to use less yeast for a slower, more extended brewing period. With one teaspoon it might be burned out in a few days. 1/4 tsp might give you better results... with a longer startup period.

FYI I had three 3l bottles running on a 100gal tank without danger of overdosing.

Interesting, every reciepe I found said to use 1tsp. I'll have to see how long this batch lasts.

I didn't think there was such a thing as too little CO2. I just wanted to add a little to help the plants along. Given that DIY CO2 is basically free, I figured it couldn't hurt.

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Wasserpest

· #5 · Jan 7, 2008

alang said:
I didn't think there was such a thing as too little CO2. I just wanted to add a little to help the plants along. Given that DIY CO2 is basically free, I figured it couldn't hurt.

Depends on your target. Some shoot for a particular level, like 20 or 30 ppm. You might think you have a lot of CO2 in your tank but it is all just air bubbles spit out by the filter. No knowing without some measuring, be it via pH kit or a drop checker.

Anywho... unlikely that a 2l bottle does much to a 65 gal tank.

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