Co2

[newfishaddict]

Hi, I have a question regarding co2. I recently set up a co2 generator that I made out of a 2L plastic bottle. I have a Hagen bubble counter; it looks like a grid of angled parallel rows that hold the bubbles of co2 under the water. I wanted to add co2 slowly because I am new to co2 generators and I do have a few expensive fish (5x40$ Denisons Barbs). Anyway, I started the co2 generator and the bubbles filled the bubble counter. I then disconnected the co2 line to see how long it takes for the co2 to dissolve. It has been 3-4 days now and the co2 bubbles in the counter have still not dissolved. This makes me wonder how fast co2 dissolves? Most importantly, if I had been adding co2 continuously for the past few days it seems it would not have made a difference because the bubble counter is already full, and adding more co2 would have just displaced the bubbles that are already there….

I am wondering why I would not just fill my bubble counter with co2 bubbles (this would take about 20hours as the yeast grow in the water and sugar mixture) , and then disconnect the co2 line for a week (or more) as it takes so long for the co2 bubbles in the bubble counter to dissolve….

Note:my kh is high enough that I dont need to add sodium bicarbonate(baking soda)

 

[zig]

I think you are missing the point here......the co2 dissolves into the water as it travels up the ladder, the co2 will probably not dissolve if it gets stuck on the ladder, its the friction of the bubble coming in contact with the water (as it moves) that dissolves the bubble (there is a scientific term for this but i cant remember it) when your ladder is new and you are injecting the co2 for the first time the bubbles will get stuck half way up and stop, the ladder needs to get a slime coating on it which takes a couple of days and then after that the bubbles will travel from the bottom to the top of the ladder with no impedence dissolving the co2 bubble in the process.

If you fill your ladder with bubbles nothing much is going to happen, the idea is that they travel up the ladder not just sit on it with no movement.

Let your co2 mix run for a day or two and the bubbles will travel up the ladder fully, and as they do you will notice that they get a lot smaller as they reach the top, this means they are dissolving. You then measure the co2 content of the water with a Ph and a KH testkit and cross reference these on a co2 chart.

 

[newfishaddict]

I think you are missing the point here......the co2 dissolves into the water as it travels up the ladder, the co2 will probably not dissolve if it gets stuck on the ladder, its the friction of the bubble coming in contact with the water (as it moves) that dissolves the bubble (there is a scientific term for this but i cant remember it) when your ladder is new and you are injecting the co2 for the first time the bubbles will get stuck half way up and stop, the ladder needs to get a slime coating on it which takes a couple of days and then after that the bubbles will travel from the bottom to the top of the ladder with no impedence dissolving the co2 bubble in the process.

If you fill your ladder with bubbles nothing much is going to happen, the idea is that they travel up the ladder not just sit on it with no movement.

Let your co2 mix run for a day or two and the bubbles will travel up the ladder fully, and as they do you will notice that they get a lot smaller as they reach the top, this means they are dissolving. You then measure the co2 content of the water with a Ph and a KH testkit and cross reference these on a co2 chart.

Zig, two times now your answers have been perfect, exactly what I wanted. Thanks so much.

I thought that the contact between the co2 and the water was the main factor, however after your response and I thought about it, I can believe that the friction is one of the main factors.

I am concerned about adding too much co2 though….Is it hard to do this considering that I have moderate/high kh and gh…..? kh is about 80ppm and gh is about 170ppm....my understanding is that the kh of 80 mg/L is a significant buffer in the tank, especially since my tap water is the same kh and gh and I change water often (about 15-20% each 5-6 days) based on nitrate levels...

 

[zig]

The co2 bubble will dissolve eventually if just in contact with water, but this process will be quickened considerably if there is either movement of the bubble through the water (as with the ladder) or if there is water movement around the stationary bubble.

Your KH is 4.5 dH which has sufficient buffering capacity, it is only the KH and the Ph we are concerned with as regards co2 injection.

Yes it is easy to overdose the co2, i dont know what system you intend using DIY or pressurised co2? also your tank size will be a factor depending on which method you use. But easy does it in the beginning, if you are careful you will have no problems.

 

[newfishaddict]

The co2 bubble will dissolve eventually if just in contact with water, but this process will be quickened considerably if there is either movement of the bubble through the water (as with the ladder) or if there is water movement around the stationary bubble.

Your KH is 4.5 dH which has sufficient buffering capacity, it is only the KH and the Ph we are concerned with as regards co2 injection.

Yes it is easy to overdose the co2, i dont know what system you intend using DIY or pressurised co2? also your tank size will be a factor depending on which method you use. But easy does it in the beginning, if you are careful you will have no problems.

This is a 29g with a 2L bottle and yeast for co2...