CO2 up n running!

Walt

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I got my CO2 up and running last night :)
I found a formula on the site, and basically did: 190L x 4KH / 50 = 15.2 bubbles per minute.
I first tested my PH, and dang it had gone up since last test and was sitting at 8. :huh:
KH sitting at 4.
Looking at the chart, that puts me at 1.2ppm.... is that correct?
So i now have it set to 15 bubbles per min....

I left it running over night and re-counted the bubbles just to make sure it still at 15, and it was....

Tested the PH after running for aprox 12 hours and its dropped to 7.6, which now puts me at 3ppm....

How long should it take to reach 30ppm?.... i didnt wanna crank the heck outta it n stress the fish too bad, but im thinking it might take more then 15 bpm(bubbles per min)

Course keep in mind, this tank has 2 uprises running 2 airstones, and im sure that aint helping the co2 level. :rolleyes:

Sooo.. just as im getting pumped up to get my CO2 going, what comes in the mail?
My new Coralife Hood! 2x65 watt 50/50 bulbs :)

Sooo... ya i know, but i HAD to hook it up n see :)

Its Nice!!! Only 1 problem.... my glass lid has a split down the long length that acts like a hinge to open up the front part for access.... this center 'split' is hinged with a 1 inch piece of plastic so i cant run my lights in the center of the tank... ive either gotta slide em to the front half of the tank, or the back half....

When i do either one, the other half gets too dark... grrr....
So i moved em to the front, then laid one of my 40 watt bulbs over the back and its Nice n lit up :)
Course that puts me at about 3.1 wpg!!

Yowsa!

That CO2 better start kicking in.. heh.. actually, ill prob back the bulbs back under 2wpg till the co2 level comes up...

How long that will take, is the question ;)

Having fun though!!!! :kana:

Walt
 
Excellent :)

What CO2 unit are you using, walt?
 
a 5 pound tank ;)
I had an extra tank n regulator laying around due to my other hobby, brewing beer :)
So all i needed was a needle valve and disfuser...
so i picked up a needle valve the other day for 6 bucks, and the ladder from nutrafin for 12 bucks :)
 
Nice! (My dad brews home-made wine btw)
 
How big is the tank Walt, i think you might want to bump it up considerably, more like a bubble every second or every couple of seconds, but the airstones are probably just driveing the co2 off so all your efforts may be in vain.
 
50 gallons = 190 L

ya... im gonna cut the tube closest to the ladder about half way down and replace the airstone with a small power head (only 80gph) and point it back behind my rock wall.....
Then there will only be a small surface disruption all the way on the other side of the tank....

Im thinking i should up it to 40 bpm... what cha think? :)
 
just as a comparison, I run 1 bubble every 3 seconds, but have two (DIY) untis going, so guess this equates to 1 bubble every 1.5 seconds in a 125 litre tank...I'm with zig, I'd bump things up a little bit more and then do a nother round of testing to see where you are!
 
ok.. i deff low then... ;)

Im gonna bump that hummer up to 1 every sec.... 60bmp.
Then keep an eye on it...

THANKS for the Info! :)

Walt
 
I would say you need at least 1 bubble per sec in a 50G.

I'm near that in my 34G but I have a fair bit of surface movement now to keep away surface scum (feeding lots of frozen foods for my Discus).
 
1 bubble per second sounds like a lot. Would a homemade CO2 unit produce enough co2 for a 55 gallon tank you think?
 
Walt said:
Its Nice!!!  Only 1 problem.... my glass lid has a split down the long length that acts like a hinge to open up the front part for access.... this center 'split' is hinged with a 1 inch piece of plastic so i cant run my lights in the center of the tank... ive either gotta slide em to the front half of the tank, or the back half....

When i do either one, the other half gets too dark... grrr....
So i moved em to the front, then laid one of my 40 watt bulbs over the back and its Nice n lit up :)
Course that puts me at about 3.1 wpg!!
[snapback]886818[/snapback]​

I had the same problem. I cut the hinge and put a 2 inch piece near each end. Works perfects and you don't notice any dark spots. The glass that moved was only about 18 inches, and if it was any longer I would use a third mini hinge.
 
1 bubble per second sounds like a lot. Would a homemade CO2 unit produce enough co2 for a 55 gallon tank you think?

You would probably need 2 or 3. Or it would mean adding more yeast and having to change the mixture more often. Also depends what levels you wish to reach. Its all about experimenting at first.
 
Walt said:
a 5 pound tank ;)
I had an extra tank n regulator laying around due to my other hobby, brewing beer :)
So all i needed was a needle valve and disfuser...
so i picked up a needle valve the other day for 6 bucks, and the ladder from nutrafin for 12 bucks :)
[snapback]886851[/snapback]​

Where did you find a 6 dollar needle valve?
 
I get a very good bubble rate. not sure of the bpm rate, but i'll check tonight. I have 1 2L pop bottle with 2 cups sugar, 1 tsp of yeast and then i fill it up with water. I have a 90 gal(us) tank, and i get 35mg/l.

if you want, I can post the instructions that gf gave me for making this unit.
 
Canoe, I would love that. Thanks.

As you can guess, I'm new to the world of planted aquaria. Just ordered my lighting today. I gathered a couple of 2l soda bottles, and was about to start making it today. I know I should get the CO2 working before I put the lights on, but how long prior to the lighting should I get it going?
 

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