DIY CO2 diffusor question

[Biotoper]

Hi all,

I've just planted my first tank and I had a question about setting up a [acronym:542d493e19="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:542d493e19] [acronym:542d493e19="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:542d493e19] system.

Pertinent info: The tank is a 75 [acronym:542d493e19="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:542d493e19] SeaClear System II (I got a good deal on a used one), so it's got the filter stuff sectioned off in the back (essentially overflow goes through a prefilter which overflows onto a trickle tray over bioballs, which then gets pumped from a 350 [acronym:542d493e19="Gallons per hour"]gph[/acronym:542d493e19] pump out a manifold with several holes to the main tank). So really it's a ~60 [acronym:542d493e19="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:542d493e19] main tank with ~15 [acronym:542d493e19="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:542d493e19] in the back compartment. I've got 2x40W Chroma50 and 2x40W 6500K Daylight bulbs, and I just planted it today with Vallisneria spiralis, Rotala indica, Hygrophila difformis, and Cryptocoryne wendtii, and started fishless cycling it with ammonia.

So, back to the question, I'm planning on setting up 2 2L bottles of yeast culture. The tank came with an airline tube connected into the filter system near the base of the bioball compartment. It's called the Air Injection Nozzle in the instructions, to connect to an air pump to increase aeration to the bioballs if you want. However, I think I read on-line that some people inject their [acronym:542d493e19="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:542d493e19] [acronym:542d493e19="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:542d493e19] into a bioball compartment in their their cannister to diffuse the [acronym:542d493e19="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:542d493e19], so I thought maybe I could do something similar and connect my yeast bottles to the Air Injection Nozzle. Does this sound like a good idea or 1) the bioballs won't really diffuse the [acronym:542d493e19="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:542d493e19] much, or 2) the [acronym:542d493e19="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:542d493e19] may actually hurt my bacterial filter? If it did work, it would be great because there would be no need for an eyesore of a diffusor in the main tank (currently there's no equipment in the main tank) and the [acronym:542d493e19="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:542d493e19]-enriched water would being getting pumped throughout the tank.

I guess I can try it and see how much [acronym:542d493e19="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:542d493e19] is dissolving. I have very soft water (I was planning on adding limestone to increase [acronym:542d493e19="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:542d493e19]), so I should be able to tell pretty easily from the pH drop if it's working. If not, what type of diffusor do you recommend?

Sorry for such a long message. Thanks for your help.

[vega]

A 60gal need a presurise Co2 if financially permit. Inject [acronym:375f0dc0ad="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:375f0dc0ad] into canister may increase the wear n tear as [acronym:375f0dc0ad="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:375f0dc0ad] cause the internal of the canister more acidic. But depend on the material as well.

[acronym:375f0dc0ad="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:375f0dc0ad]

[TankGirl]

In your case, with this particular tank setup, it should work great to diffuse your [acronym:0b7cc101eb="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:0b7cc101eb] into your bioball compartment. There is some risk of damaging a canister filter with [acronym:0b7cc101eb="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:0b7cc101eb] diffusion, but plenty of people do it anyway, but for you that is not an issue. I would imagine if the gas does not destroy the biofilter in a canister then it would not in your bioball compartment.

I will agree that pressurized is going to be a much more desirable option, as you might require 3 2-liter bottles, and maintaining a steady [acronym:0b7cc101eb="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:0b7cc101eb] concentration is going to be a chore with [acronym:0b7cc101eb="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:0b7cc101eb] for that size tank. It can be done (I've been doing it in my 55 for a year but finally got pressurized from Santa).

[acronym:0b7cc101eb="By the way"]BTW[/acronym:0b7cc101eb], Welcome To AA, Biotoper!!

[vega]

yeah, welcome to AA.

[Biotoper]

That's good news! Thanks for the advice, TankGirl and Vega, and thanks for the welcome.

I understand a pressurized system is the way to go, but I'm trying to stay cheap, low-tech right now. Originally I was planning on getting a new 30 long glass tank which would have been easier to go low-tech with, but my used 75 SeaClear tank was such a good deal I had to grab it. All my friends/family that have aquaria have 20 or 30 [acronym:b6c1550893="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:b6c1550893] max, so I have been getting a lot of oh ahs by its size when they come by.

TankGirl, by a chore, do you mean that the bottles will just be a lot of work to keep replacing the culture to keep [acronym:b6c1550893="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:b6c1550893] production up, or will I run into problems with pH jumping up and down? I still need to go get a [acronym:b6c1550893="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:b6c1550893] test kit, but my local water supply's water quality report says the [acronym:b6c1550893="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:b6c1550893] is 40.2 [acronym:b6c1550893="milligrams or magnesium, depending on context"]mg[/acronym:b6c1550893]/L or 2.2 dH. So I'm planning on upping it with baking soda to start off with and then using limestone in the filter tray onwards. I've read that a [acronym:b6c1550893="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:b6c1550893] of 4 is ideal for a planted aquarium, but maybe I might want a higher target given my [acronym:b6c1550893="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:b6c1550893] [acronym:b6c1550893="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:b6c1550893] system. Any tips?

Also, I should say that my tap water, although being very soft, has a pH of 9.3 (again this is from the report - I haven't directly tested my tap yet), so I'm hoping the pH will drop quite a bit with from natural [acronym:b6c1550893="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:b6c1550893] uptake and [acronym:b6c1550893="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:b6c1550893] injection.

Anyway, thanks again.

[TankGirl]

I'd go ahead and get some crushed coral in your filter and raise your [acronym:3707e113e0="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:3707e113e0] before you inject the [acronym:3707e113e0="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:3707e113e0], and you may be planning to do it that way but I like to clarify for others reading this. I find this method is by far simpler and steadier than using baking soda with each water change. I replace mine about once every 3-4 months or so.

The [acronym:3707e113e0="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:3707e113e0] is a chore for me because it is indeed hard to maintain a steady concentration, and hard to get the concentration up to decent levels. I keep multiple bottles and rotate the mixture so they all don't run out at the same time, and I have to keep track of which bottle is next in line to be replaced. Getting out the sugar, starting the yeast culture, testing the temp of the water, etc. is kind of a pain after a year, but if I skip it one week or delay I get a drop in [acronym:3707e113e0="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:3707e113e0] and almost instant algae!

It is certainly cheaper than running pressurized, no question, and since you do not have high light over the tank the [acronym:3707e113e0="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:3707e113e0] will not be so crucial as it is for me, with over 4wpg, so it is likely the simplest option for you.

[vega]

You must constantly ensure the bottle [acronym:0224cc50ff="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:0224cc50ff] is fully active and you cannot delay to do maintainance to weekend as mention by TK any relax in maintaining the co2 bottle will cause [acronym:0224cc50ff="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:0224cc50ff] to raise and algea.

Been there done that

I just install a presurise Co2 2 months ago after 1.5 years of using using bottle. Now i almost forget about producing co2 chore but simply concerntrate in taking care of the tank and of course enjoy the tank.



Its good to try out the bottle type as you really want to explore whether you really want the [acronym:0224cc50ff="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:0224cc50ff] planted tank as invesment into presurise co2 and additional lighting is quite $$$ initially but once the presurise co2 and and lighting is been purchase there is not really other important $$$ item that can to be purchase.

[acronym:0224cc50ff="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:0224cc50ff]

[Biotoper]

Thanks. I've read suggested dosage rates for baking soda, but nothing for coral. Any idea how much crushed coral I should use for an X [acronym:6ee1ce83b2="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:6ee1ce83b2] increase?

[vega]

if i am not wrong there is no dosage rate, just add [acronym:79fd07637a="Crushed Coral (if substrate) or Counter Current (if referring to a Protien skimmer) or cubic centimeter (if referring to a measure of volume)."]CC[/acronym:79fd07637a] into the filter as this method slowly increase the dKH when water wash through the [acronym:79fd07637a="Crushed Coral (if substrate) or Counter Current (if referring to a Protien skimmer) or cubic centimeter (if referring to a measure of volume)."]CC[/acronym:79fd07637a] (it may take few days to 1 week long).

[TankGirl]

I don't think there is a prescribed dosage rate, either, and I use about a cup and a half of it in my filter for my 44gal - it is an extremely gentle way to achieve the result, as the coral is literaly dissolved over time into the tank. It would be very hard to "overdo it" so put in as much as is feasible in the space you have to work with. I am sure there is a formula out there, but I have never found it necessary.

Vega, I have my new pressurized system sitting there until after this weekend (am going out of town) and because I got this for Christmas I skipped my regular yeast/sugar mixing chore and I can already see the algae forming! It is such a pain for my high light tank, and I can't wait to finally get my pressurized set up.