Co2 Injetion

[fatheadminnow]

I was just given a Co2 regulator and I have a Co2 tank at home. All I would need is the air tubing, diffuser and bubble counter. My tank currently has 1.6 WPG, would it be okay to pump Co2 into this tank? If so, what should the ppm of Co2 be in the tank? I would assume it should not be 30 ppm because I do not have 2+ WPG.

-FHM

 

[Truck]

You will need a check valve too, and a solenoid.
you should aim for 30ppm (regardless of light) and measure with a drop checker filled with 4DKH water and low range PH solution

 

[fatheadminnow]

Thanks, yup, I already have a drop checker.

So, since I have 1,6 WPG, it will be fine for Co2 injection up to 30 ppm?

-FHM

 

[aaronnorth]

30ppm is non-limiting for plants, but safe for fish, no matter what level of lighting, because it is still 30ppm.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Okay, thanks guys!

So, I still need to get a check valve, solenoid, diffuser, tubing and a bubble counter?

-FHM

 

[aaronnorth]

have a look at tthe guide in my signature, make sure you dont miss anything.

the solenoid is optional, you can run it 24/7 at a lower injetion rate/ slightly increased surface agitation if you want to save some money. This mehtod uses a bit more CO2 but not to the point where you can say you are wasting a lot.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Okay, great! With the solenoid, do you want the Co2 to shut off a couple hours before lights out because photosynthesis slows down near the end of the day?

-FHM

 

[aaronnorth]

on 2hrs before lights on, off 2hrs before lights off.
Remeber there is a lag of approx 2hr with the drop checker, so if it is green/ 30ppm at 2pm, then that means 30ppm at 12pm (so at 2pm it is actually higer than it is showing)

personally, i have it 2hrs before lights on, so by the time i am 2hrs into the photoperiod it is green. Then it switches off 3hrs before lights off because it is yellow by then so the CO2 left in the water is enough to last the rest of the photoperiod.

Adjust slowly over a couple of days if necassary, dont be impatient with the drop checker not changing due to it lagging as this is the most common method of gassing the fish

 

[fatheadminnow]

Okay, great info!

Thanks a lot!

I am sure I will have more questions as time goes on!

-FHM

 

[fatheadminnow]

I came across this on Ebay. What do you think?

http/cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190348888817&_trksid=p2759.l1259

-FHM

 

[Mikaila31]

FHM Does your regulator already have a attachment for CO2 tubing? There are various different attachments a regulator can have. There are different types of threads and I believe different sized ports(holes to thread in attachments). I'm not exactly sure what the difference is, usually they are referred to as 1/4 NPT, 1/8 NTP, and ect. I suggest you figure out what you have so you know the parts you get will thread in correctly. For example the link you have has a solenoid that needs to be threaded into your regulator. Other than the solenoid I'm not quite sure what else you might be able to use from that auction, the flow regulators don't look like something you could use....

 

[fatheadminnow]

Not sure really. There is a store next the college here in Menomonie that sells pneumatic parts like this, so I am going to check it out sometime!

-FHM

 

[aaronnorth]

that doesnt look right from the description for use with a fire extinghuisher or CO2 bottle.