DIY CO2 System - what should I look out for?

[rubysoho]

I am going to be setting up a [acronym:a654af0378="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:a654af0378] [acronym:a654af0378="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:a654af0378] system, and I was wondering if there are specific things I need to be on the lookout for. Like how much will my pH drop, what test kit should I get to monitor levels or either oxygen or co2 (is there a test kit?). In general I would love to hear your pearls of wisdom

Thanks!

[TankGirl]

Here is an article from Madasafish: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/showqu...q=2&fldAuto=41

After reading that, post back with any questions you have pertaining to [acronym:a1323e8e25="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:a1323e8e25] specifically.

[afilter]

Here is a link if you are interested in the [acronym:4a8520631b="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:4a8520631b] cheap method.

http://members.aol.com/yamatoaquariums/co2.html

This is basically what I used when my 75gal was a [acronym:4a8520631b="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:4a8520631b] planted tank. 2 liter soda bottles work great. I used the tetra difussion bells and just filled them once a day with airline tubing. Caution some recommend just running a line into you tank or leaving the airline hooked to your diffusion bell. Do not do this as it could create a siphon and start to drain your tank(learned the hard way )
If you do want to use the bubble method make sure you have a check valve.

I never tested for [acronym:4a8520631b="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:4a8520631b], just filled the diffusion chambers daily and my plants thrived to the point I was harvesting them and selling to [acronym:4a8520631b="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:4a8520631b].

Good Luck,

[afilter]

[acronym:e15c7c3111="By the way"]BTW[/acronym:e15c7c3111], another secret to my success with live plants was seeding the substrate with laterite when I set up the tank.

[rubysoho]

Thanks guys, I found what I needed. It is the [acronym:459e99a620="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:459e99a620] I need to monitor to make sure my pH will remain steady. Those articles were great!

"One caution: keep track of your [acronym:459e99a620="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:459e99a620] (Carbonate Hardness) readings of your water, since [acronym:459e99a620="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:459e99a620] forms a weak acid (Carbonic Acid) that can slowly reduce your [acronym:459e99a620="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:459e99a620] levels in your water. If [acronym:459e99a620="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:459e99a620] is allowed to reach zero, pH can drop precipitously. If your [acronym:459e99a620="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:459e99a620] reads less than 4, try adding a little Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) to increase [acronym:459e99a620="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:459e99a620]. Regular water changes become vitally important in tanks with supplemental [acronym:459e99a620="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:459e99a620], since water changes will constantly replenish the water's natural buffers, helping to maintain a more steady pH."

[TankGirl]

I used crushed coral in my filters to maintain [acronym:3caa940a5a="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:3caa940a5a] - there are a few threads going about [acronym:3caa940a5a="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:3caa940a5a] if you want to look into that. I find it much easier than adding baking soda, but Mark prefers the baking soda method - more precise and more control.

[malkore]

But keep in mind, you pH WILL go down when you inject [acronym:0caa36ee7f="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:0caa36ee7f]. Yes you wanna make sure Kh doesn't fall, but weekly water changes with semi-hard water ensure good Kh levels.

[brendan]

Just my opinion but if you're serious about getting into C02 I'd go for the pressurized system right off the hop. You'll have a higher and steadier concentration of C02 as with yeast the concentration drops over time. Get the milwalkee regulator on the net, you should be able to find is for $56. The 20lbs tank run about $80/year.

[malkore]

brendan,
if you found that regulator for $56 online, please share the link...cuz a year ago I found the cheapest source was on sale for $79.

Also, just to clarify, it's not $80 a year for a 20lb tank...it should be more like $80 for a deposit on the tank, and 20lbs should run a 125gallon tank for at least a year. A refill on that size tank might run about $30 - it really depends on where you live and where you get it filled though. It's about ?$17 for my 5lb cylinder fill at a welding shop.

[TankGirl]

http://www.aquariumplants.com/cgi-bin/cart/pr007.html

It is $60, which is where I got mine - they are a sponsor of ours. I don't think Robert H or Marc could beat that!