DIY CO2 setup

[CompMage]

Ok, I've got an idea for a passive reactor.

Ok people correct me if you see anything wrong here.

Most passive "latter" reactors / diffusers work by making the co2 bubble take a long time to go up. But for the most part leave the bubble in one largish bubble.. I was thinking of making one and putting an air stone at the base where the [acronym:3368a0fc9a="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:3368a0fc9a] will enter the latter or try and make more small bubbles, with longer contact with the water would be good right???

So here is my plan.

Taking a length of silicon tubing and making a spiral out of it fairly tight together. Going to be using 3/4 " tubing. That will just fit SNUGGLY over a small air stone I found in my box of fish stuff. (Funny how you find things you never remember buying) I was going to attach it to the opening, and then cap it with silicon tank sealer so none of the [acronym:3368a0fc9a="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:3368a0fc9a] leaks out the opening. Using a sheet of plastic to make a frame for the diffuser and some wonderful suction cups to hold the thing in place. I don’t think it’s going to look bad ether. Not that that is a huge problem since I’ll have it behind a huge Amazon sword plant.

Currently I have 2wpg or real close to.

For a generator, I'm using a 2 bottle set-up
4L Generator bottle
Flow Valve
16oz Separation bottle
Flow Valve
Reactor
[/code]

[czcz]

If you cap/seal the point where the airstone meets the tubing I am not so sure water will not be forced out the tube and you will eventually end up with large bubbles on the output, as you would with a very long line from the bottles. Might be wrong. If the point where they meet is open, and the gas is kept is trapped into your ladder because it rises, I think it is a good idea. Remember airstones clog and some report whitish film when using them for [acronym:1dc6fd3a52="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:1dc6fd3a52], and it is best if you can replace the stone without destroying the ladder apparatus.

There are commercial spiral glass diffusors out there that first use sintered glass or ceramic disks to break up the bubble from the supply line.

[CompMage]

Yea, I'm going to build my own, see how it turns out. If it works, I'll keep it. Other wise I'll get a glass diffuser.

What I'm hopping for is a very constant stream on fairly tiny bubbles in the ladder. Ok what about this design.

Leaving an opening below the point of entry of the gas. Would this help encrease the amount of absorption of the gas and reduce the water in the latter from becoming super-saturated and stagnet?

I'm starting to see why people use active pums with [acronym:09f2251e88="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:09f2251e88].

[czcz]

I think it will. Post back before and after numbers if possible please. Good luck.

[CompMage]

Well, as soon as I can finish the 4L of soda off I'll start work. That's a lot of soda!

[JProx]

lol 4L of soda are equal to almost 12 (12oz) cans of soda, thats not so bad. throw a lan party and invite 3 friends over, and they will drink 12 cans in an hour at least probably more. lol

but seriously, mage when you get the chance post before and after numbers, i might be building one of these soon myself.

[CompMage]

Ok Ok,

As for me throwing a LAN. WHen I run, it's 150 people or bust!

I'll take as complete of readings as I got kits for tonight. I can't wait to next check when I can get a new AP [acronym:fd85e09ffe="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:fd85e09ffe] kit. My current kits are or almost depleted.

Just so I know what I'm testing for with [acronym:fd85e09ffe="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:fd85e09ffe]
[acronym:fd85e09ffe="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:fd85e09ffe] & [acronym:fd85e09ffe="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:fd85e09ffe] to find the amount of [acronym:fd85e09ffe="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:fd85e09ffe] I have right? On the chart.

I'm going to re-read the [acronym:fd85e09ffe="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:fd85e09ffe] thing later in the plants area.

I'm building this weekend. Should be fun!

[JProx]

there is a proportion between dissolved co2 and [acronym:5757670ae2="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:5757670ae2] and [acronym:5757670ae2="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:5757670ae2]. i forget the specifics of it, but once you find your [acronym:5757670ae2="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:5757670ae2] and [acronym:5757670ae2="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:5757670ae2] its a simple formula to solve for co2. i am sure its on the forum somewhere...

i once invited 8 people to the house for a lan party and told the 8 people to bring at least 1 friend along with them. we ended up with 17 people (including myself) and it was the most disorganized thing i have ever been a part of. since then i only invite 5 or less people, and i have learned that 4 people (includiing myself) will blow through a case of pop in about an hr and a half. but nothing beats those huge hotel lan parties though, nothing, expect maybe a ~100 + people paintball match on 2 acres of land...

[CompMage]

Well to start,

[acronym:64eac790b8="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:64eac790b8] 7 On the money, From the tap, and in my tank.
[acronym:64eac790b8="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:64eac790b8] is 1 for lack of a lower messurment on my thing, It says 10 - 15 [acronym:64eac790b8="Parts per million"]PPM[/acronym:64eac790b8]
[acronym:64eac790b8="General Hardness"]GH[/acronym:64eac790b8] is about 100
AM is 0.0 or Pratical 0 on my kit
[acronym:64eac790b8="Nitrite"]NO2[/acronym:64eac790b8] is 0.0
[acronym:64eac790b8="Nitrate"]NO3[/acronym:64eac790b8] is 15, I'm h
[acronym:64eac790b8="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:64eac790b8] I'm guessing from the chart is about 3ppm right now.


Ideal water for fish?? I think so! Ideal water for Alge, yep that too, plants..keep dreaming.

FE is at about 10 [acronym:64eac790b8="Parts per million"]PPM[/acronym:64eac790b8] I use Leaf Zone from AP
I don't have a kit for anything else as like I said, my kit's are just about out.

JProx. I run 150 - 200 person Lan parties 3 - 4 times a year, I skipped last year but plan on getting things back on track this summer. XCELERATOR GAMING, if you're big into LAN gaming you might have heard of us.

Back to the fish. I'm going to start work on the [acronym:64eac790b8="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:64eac790b8] system this weekend. I'm going to grab some more stuff for testing too.

The formula used for this calculation is: [acronym:64eac790b8="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:64eac790b8] (in [acronym:64eac790b8="Parts per million"]PPM[/acronym:64eac790b8]) = 3 * [acronym:64eac790b8="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:64eac790b8] * 10( 7-pH ) where [acronym:64eac790b8="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:64eac790b8] is Carbonate Hardness in degrees.
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_co2chart.htm
A really good page for [acronym:64eac790b8="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:64eac790b8] stuff.

[czcz]

Unless you are specifically growing plants that demand soft water/acidic conditions, consider buffering up [acronym:d78d6ce21d="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:d78d6ce21d] with baking soda (calculator). Current [acronym:d78d6ce21d="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:d78d6ce21d] will drop pH below 6.2 with 20ppm [acronym:d78d6ce21d="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:d78d6ce21d]. Only as clarification, the last part of the [acronym:d78d6ce21d="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:d78d6ce21d] equation is 10^(7 - pH).

If the [acronym:d78d6ce21d="Iron"]Fe[/acronym:d78d6ce21d] dose is not missing a decimal place, it is very high. People have told me I am gambling by dosing .3ppm every other day. Greg Watson has the highest regular dose I know of at 1ppm every other day.

[acronym:d78d6ce21d="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:d78d6ce21d]