Co2 In A 2.5 Gallon Tank

[MrNiceGuy]

im going to set up a diy co2 system for my betta tank. i have a nano diffuser (made for tanks 15 gallons or less... the thing is tiny) and a 20 oz plastic bottle i'll be using. is there a real risk of adding too much and killing my betta? or will i be fine with what i have?

 

[Katty]

Is there any reason you're doing that instead of using something like Flourish Excel?

If too much CO2 were accidentally dosed, I think the betta would be fine because it could breathe air as well.

 

[MrNiceGuy]

Is there any reason you're doing that instead of using something like Flourish Excel?

If too much CO2 were accidentally dosed, I think the betta would be fine because it could breathe air as well.

hmm.... i did not know about flourish excel until now. i looked into it just now though and it seems like a good idea. have you had success with it? i may have to switch.

but at the same time, i just went through the trouble of setting up the co2 injection it'd be a shame to take it down, i already bought the diffuser and everything. i dont know what to do right now.


back to the injection question though, is there any way i'll be able to tell if my co2 injection is overdosed and/or causing some type of problem for my fish?

 

[Katty]

I just use the Excel because I don't have to worry about testing and over-doing it, ect. A little medicine dropper marked in mL to dose is helpful.

Generally to tell if the CO2 levels are good, you get a KH and a pH test kit, test both, and look at a little chart like the one here. I've personally never tested the CO2 levels in my tank because I just use the excel. If you use the CO2 system thing, it would be a good idea to test around different times of day and night to see if the levels fluctuate and whether you should take it off around certain times.

 

[RadaR]

We don't use those KH and pH charts anymore because they fail to take into account other compounds in the water that may alter the pH as well. The tables assume that the pH change is soley down to carbonic acid (dissolved CO2 in water). Clearly there are many other things that can change the pH.

Excel is great. Dose 0.5ml daily to see good results. Plants such as Vallis and some bladderworts dont take too kindly to liquid carbon though.