Chess46
Aquarium Advice Regular
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2011
- Messages
- 65
Is there anyway to make a co2 system? I am wanting to get a few plants. Mostly java moss.
FastFly67 said:And there is naturally occurring Co2 in the water column. Folks who jump into a Co2 system, DIY or not run the risk of destroying a fish population because they haven't done the research and don't know why or if a co2 system is truly needed. I think the OP isn't the only one who would benefit from reading that article.
fort384 said:No, I would not say that is the case.
The risk of running a DIY CO2 system is minimal if younderstand what you are doing. The benefits far outweigh the risks imo.
fort384 said:Certainly you could do it on a 75. A 29 is about the biggest I would go. The problem is, as you get bigger, the more reactors you need, which means the more mixes you have to change, etc. On a 40 gal, you would need probably a minimum of 3 2L bottles to keep your CO2 concentration above 20ppm or so... and really I like to drive a tank at about 30ppm. The problem is, if you don't maintain above 20, it can actually cause more problems than adding CO2 helps you solve - BBA loves to grow in an environment with unstable CO2 below 20ppm, but above that of normal equilibrium with the air (that you get without co2 injection).
fort384 said:I don't have any DIY systems any more. I have been using pressurized for the past several years. Yes, I would think to do it right, you would need 6-7 bottles, and you would have to stagger the mixture changes to keep the co2 output consistent and stable.
This thread talk about measuring CO2:
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f20/1-4-diy-3-4-purchased-co2-system-136350.html
fort384 said:Not sure how many bottles they used. If it was only 2, I doubt they ever reached (or if they did reach, then they didn't consistently maintain) 20+ppm CO2.
No, I would not say that is the case.
The risk of running a DIY CO2 system is minimal if you understand what you are doing. The benefits far outweigh the risks imo.