DIY Co2 system

[Spencer1044]

I have recently made a Co2 system for my 29 gal planted tank. I hope it works. Only cost me $10 bucks. If you need directions on how to make one I can post those. What do you think.
And this is my tank at the moment i really hope this works.

 

[Spencer1044]

Do you think I need a brighter light

 

[flyboy]

Your lighting looks good. Do you have air pumps on your tank?

 

[Spencer1044]

Yes I have a 30 gal air pump

 

[Fresh2o]

What kind of light do you have?
The air pump is defeating the purpose of adding CO2. The increased surface agitation will off gas the CO2. If you need to run the air pumps, put them on a timer and run them when the lights go off.

 

[Spencer1044]

I dont know what the light is its what came with the tank. That's why im getting a brighter one. And thanks i think i will just turn the air pump off

 

[pittbully13]

+1 for air pump. I have a 29 gal with dyi co2 and lighs. 4 x 20 watts cfl 6500

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[Spencer1044]

Do you use root tabs

 

[pittbully13]

Sometimes time when I remember.

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[rhsoto94]

Do you havta use silicone tubing or is plastic tubing fine? I completely forgot I read to use silicone tubing once I got home and juss got the cheaper plastic at petco.

 

[pittbully13]

I just use regular'o airline tubing. Nothing special. Im trying to create a nice tank without fancy equipment.

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[Fresh2o]

I used silicone airline tubing but under pressure it probably leaks CO2 like a sieve. I tried to keep my setup low pressure (no ceramic diffuser; just pipe it into the filter intake). Regular vinyl is much better in terms of CO2 leakage. After a while you will need to change out the tubing because the CO2 will react with the vinyl and make it brittle which may leak to cracks/leaks. But vinyl airline tubing is cheap.
Here is a link to a discussion of CO2 permeability with various materials: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=11471[/URL]

 

[rhsoto94]

What are some other diffuser ideas I'm just using a water bottle with a sponge in it

 

[Fresh2o]

You could feed the end of the airline into a powerhead or circulation pump. Or feed it into the Venturi port of a power head (if it is equipped with one ). Or feed it into the input of a HOB or canister filter. The pump would do the mixing although I have "heard" that this is not good for the equipment. I used an HOB for 10 months with no ill effects.
You could try feeding into an air stone, however, I am not sure how effective this is on its own. If placed near a strong current it might help.
You could try using a ceramic diffuser but that requires a good deal of pressure. You will feel like you are waiting hours for the bubbles to appear.

 

[pittbully13]

I use a glass diffuser from ebay. Might want to buy two for whenever you change out suger/yeast mixture change out diffuser. They get pretty clogged so you'll always have a clean one. Pretty cheap $5 shipped.

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[Spencer1044]

Ok so I yturned of the air pump and the leaves on my java fern faded. Does anyone know why
I turned it back on and there not as faded

 

[Fresh2o]

I use a glass diffuser from ebay. Might want to buy two for whenever you change out suger/yeast mixture change out diffuser. They get pretty clogged so you'll always have a clean one. Pretty cheap $5 shipped.

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Good idea. Despite best efforts, yeast sometimes makes its way to the tank. I had a generously sized bubble counter and flushed the tubing with hydrogen peroxide, yet within a few weeks yeast would buildup at end of the tubing creating a partial clog. I am sure that it would have gummed up a diffuser.

 

[Fresh2o]

Ok so I yturned of the air pump and the leaves on my java fern faded. Does anyone know whyView attachment 232144
I turned it back on and there not as faded

No idea why that would occur.

 

[Spencer1044]

I turned it back on so im going to see what happens. Maby it has to do with ph because air pumps in my experience tend to lower the ph. If anyone knows why or how i can fix this tell me. Much appreciated. Thanks

 

[Spencer1044]

Guys help it just keeps fading even with the air pump on. What's happening???