Co2 question...

[Aj86]

I have a 55g and i have a red sea Co2 unit but its rated for a 30g tank and i didnt see much results so decided to go the DIY generator with a 2L bottle using a mixture of 2 cups of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of yeast ... would that work for a tank my size or should i have 2 reactors running into it?

 

[kenneth_kpe]

i cant really say but it would be better to measure your c02 levels rathen then making educated guesses

you should get a ph and kh test kit if you are going into c02 injection, safer for your fish and better for your plants

 

[squirrelrabbits]

Someone might know more about this than I do, but I think part of the issue is how much Co2 gets dissolved in the water--in other words, what kind of diffuser you use set against how potent your DIY yeast concoction is. You could conceivably make a very powerful batch of DIY co2 (using lots of yeast, etc) that would then have high output (enough, say, for a 55 gallon). Once you have a powerful co2 *generator* set up, however, the question is how to dissolve it. For example: at the moment, I use two Hagen Natural Plant Growth Bubble Counters/Diffusers in both my 30 gallon tanks... but I have just ordered a more powerful diffuser form the plant guild folks and am going to try to just run one very potent bottle through that single diffuser. My expectation is that this will work as long as I use a high ratio of yeast to sugar--but that I will have to change the co2 more frequently becasue the higher the output, the faster it burns itself out.

Does that make sense?

 

[squirrelrabbits]

Of course I should add that I agree witht he other poster: you do need to monitor ph and kh levels in order to calculate for sure if you're getting the right amount in there. When I first got my diy systems going, it took me a while to get them dialed in (I always erred on the side of making too LITTLE co2, for the sake of my fish). When my diffusers come, I expect it will take another ound of testing and fooling in order to figure out just the right yeast recipe. The only way to know for sure is to test the water frequently while you're getting it dialed in.

 

[Angry_Platy]

I have a DIY CO2 thingy on my 30gal tank that has 2 2L bottles each with 2 cups sugar, 1 and a 1/4 teaspoons yeast and 1 teaspoon baking soda. This generates enough CO2 to create CO2 levels of 15-25ppm for a period of approx 10 days. I diffuse with an airstone. Some people say this is not the best way to diffuse but I have had no problems with it.

HTH

 

[Silly me]

first off all, you'll ALMOST never get a very high amount of CO2 into any tank with a DIY setup. I have 2x2l bottles with a DIY difuser, in a 65G tank, and its running close to 25ppm

I add two cups of suger with a teaspoon of yeast in each,

 

[Aj86]

Thanx for your help guys i guess im jus going to have to experiment and see what i can come up with! Thanx again!

Aj