2 Questions, Co2 And Tpn+

[Andeekaii]

Hey Guys and Girls

I have a few questions to keep you all occupied this evening.

1. Firstly, i am running 2x DIY c02 bottles. I have the airtube connected to the top of my filter, where it takes oxygen in from usually. It is chopping up the bubbles into tiny little bubbles which then fly around the tank. Is this an appropriate way of diffusing the co2? A lot of the bubbles float to the surface and just stay there, they dont pop they just stay on the top. The other bubbles kinda just float around the tank?
I can get a diffuser no problem for a few quid, but will this be more effective, my tank is 125L and most of them are only effective for 50L, also dont they need to have some kind of pressure to push the c02 through them?

2. Secondly, i have ordered 500ml of TPN+ (I cant be fussed with making my own, im sick of DIY stuff now). I just wondered if i could steer clear from EI dosing as i obviously dont have a stable co2 level and it would be very costly. Could i just lower the amount of TPN+, say dose 10ml 3x a week. Thus reducing the need for large water changes and making the whole process less prone to create an algae bloom?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, but please dont recommend presurised co2 and EI as its a no go im afraid

Andy

 

[three-fingers]

1) Not really very effective. Youd be best buying a small cheap ceramic diffuser and putting it in a decent flow of water (like under the filter output). The idea is to get lots on teeny tiny bubbles that float around in the tank for as long as possible, and preferably come into contact with plant leaves. What you have is better than nothing...but still not very efficient. A bubble ladder would be another lesser option, but would take up more space.

2)Go for it . The idea of EI is to make sure that the nutrients aren't limiting the plants growth. If your not going to go with EI, you'll probably just want to make sure the plants look nice and don't suffer deficiencies. Its a nice laid back option. )
Try even just 5ml 3x a week along with some DIY CO2 (doesn't need to be loads) and a ~20% water change every fortnight. Similar worked for me, it should give you slower, but more manageable healthy growth. If you notice any signs of deficiencies, simply keep upping the dosing slightly every 2 weeks until they dissapear.


Though ifyou have very hight lighting, you may find algae taking over this way. Try aim for low-medium lighting and just choose plants well.

 

[Andeekaii]

Well, you said i should be aiming for lots of teeny bubbles, floating around and hitting the plant leaves?

That is exactly what IS happening, i am just crap at descriptions lol.

When my co2 drop checker arrives i can get a rough estimate of the amount of co2 which is dissolving.


Unforuntately i cant really aim for low lighting as im growing HC, hence why i have the 2.5wpg and diy co2.
I'll just give it a bash and pray it works. Wish me luck!

Thanks for replying

 

[three-fingers]

HC is fien with low-medium light as long as its not shaded by other plants, and provided you have enough CO2. Mine grew great under 1.4pg in full light and Excel dosing, but under 2wpg+ it struggles in the shade of other plants.

With regards to the CO2 diffusion, I find it hard to picture how small these CO2 bubbles are...and having them reach the surface is bad. I've tried using the same method as your using with an Elite mini filter and DIY CO2 and found the results very disappointing compared to a proper diffuser.

I find drop checkers are pretty useful with pressurised CO2, but not with DIY (which tends to fluctuates too fast for the drop checker to read properly. So IMO your best option with DIY is to simply do your best to diffuse it as much as possible using different diffusers and maybe even DIYing sprayars out of filter hose to make sure the CO2 bubbles don't reach the water surface.

Dont worry too much about what the drop checker says and only stop trying to improve C2 diffusion when the fish start acting weird/gasping for air.

 

[Andeekaii]

Could you recommend an effective (cheap) diffuser?

Thanks

 

[three-fingers]

http/cgi.ebay.com/Nano-CO2-diffuser-Live...93%3A1|294%3A50

I have bought 2 of those from them (bought a few other things from them too) and they are great.

I use them under a DIY spraybar attached to a cheap power head to stop the bubbles reaching the surface.