Co2?

[stevereade]

I currently have the Nutrafin CO2 kit and use 1/3 TSP of yeast and the sugar to the first level and water to the second level, it lasts about 4 or 5 days with 15 - 20BPM, basicly I want more CO2. I'm pretty sure you cant overdose on it in a tank (mines 80litres well planted with shrimp and tetra, dosing TPN+, 2WPG) and I'm sick of changing it so often, is the 2litre soda bottle idea better and how much yeast/sugar/water do you use if so? Do I need two bottles in case it goes mad to stop it leaking into the tank? Is the Nutrafin ladder still ok to use (asking as I like it as my bubbles are tiny by the time they reach the top)? Oh and I don't want to use pressurised as I can't really afford it at the moment and I'm not messing with fire extinguishers as I'm a security and fire engineer and have seen the devastation they cause when messed with. Please help.

 

[SuperColey1]

There really isn;t a way to prolong it other than use twice as many bottles and less yeast in each. However it can be very tricky to judge the yeast.

The thing is the process will work for a month or so but we are after the peal. Not the drop off after the peak therefore need to change weekly.

Even if you do use bottles you will then need to change 2 a week and that means every 3½ days.

Kinda defeats the goal you are seking.

AC

 

[stevereade]

I thought if I used bigger bottle as the nutrafin one is tiny, with more yeast, sugar and water etc it would last longer?

 

[RadaR]

I thought if I used bigger bottle as the nutrafin one is tiny, with more yeast, sugar and water etc it would last longer?

Maybe a little bit. Although, if anything it will just produce more CO2 but run out the same time. That's if you use more yeast.

 

[ian]

I have used diy c02 and in some aspects it was good and in others it was bad. I was always battling BBA when i was using diy, for the one reason it fluctuated so much. Since starting with pressurised CO2 the BBA has cleared completely. As Andy states, you'd be changing the bottles that regular and trying to keep on top of things it'd be hard work. Bigger bottles don't always last longer, they just produce bigger quantities of diy C02, so you would still be changing them every 3-4 days.

 

[stevereade]

Cool cool, think I'll leave it be then, touch wood with the weekly water change and CO2 change before it slows too much I'm getting no algae what so ever, only bit is on the Anubias which was on it when I got it

 

[SuperColey1]

Oh the 'good' old days of DIY. lol Trying to save money and all that. This picture shows 2 Nutrafins and 1 DIY all linked up through a gang valve. Changed one on Mondays, one on Wednesdays and one on Fridays.

Great growth but like Ian BBA

AC

 

[mbsqw1d]

only bit is on the Anubias which was on it when I got it

As far as I know, Anubias want low light compared to most other plants. As in, plant it 'in a shaded area'. It doesnt react strongly to high light and the result is leaves covered in algae

 

[RadaR]

only bit is on the Anubias which was on it when I got it

As far as I know, Anubias want low light compared to most other plants. As in, plant it 'in a shaded area'. It doesnt react strongly to high light and the result is leaves covered in algae

This is a common misconception.
Anubias dont WANT low light, but they are perfectly fine with low light. They are slow growers so in high light tanks they are more prone to algae, however this really shouldnt be a problem if CO2, nutrients, flow and pruning are up to par.

 

[stevereade]

Like I said it was on it when I got it and the shrimp are slowly cleaning it off anyway.