confused about distribution of CO2

[utahfish]

i have a 29 gallon tank with one 65 watt 50/50 compact fluorescent lamp and another 65watt fluorescent lamp so 130 total watts. i have a diy co2 unit with the line diecrtly hooked into the filter of a mini power pump on the opposite side of the tank where the filtre sits. so i have water circulating from both sides of the tank and co2 coming from one side.

my question is how much of the co2 is getting dissolved and being used. would it be better to put the co2 next to the filtre and not have two currents of water or does the extra current help distribute the co2. and if so should i put the co2 power filtre at the bottom of the tank to force the co2 to take a longer path to the surface or keep it at the top?

i often look in the tank and can see alot of bubbles just floating on the top, like fiz on top of your soda, does this mean my co2 isnt effectively being dissolved or do i need to add a greater current to upset the bubbles?

i know these are alot of q's but i want to make sure that my plants are getting the co2 becasue if not it's just a waste.

 

[jimboliana]

utahfish,

do you have a diffuser? if not as you say it would be better for the CO2 to start at the bottom and work its way up to the surface so the CO2 bubble is in contact with the water for longer

Also as long as your currents are not disturbing the water surface too much your filter currents will help move the CO2 enriched water all round the tank to your plants

As for how much CO2 gets disolved into the water i think it's about 0.1% but dont quote me on that i'm sure someone who knows for sure will let you know

Hope this helps

Jim

 

[Angry_Platy]

I know with my DIY Co2 that ias long at it is bubbling the level in the tank varies from 10 to 25ppm. Of course it is highest not long after setup and lowest when the bubbles are getting less (and I am getting too lazy to change it)......

 

[utahfish]

the difuser is the power pump. the co2 line is directly fed into the filtre on the pump it sucks the bubbles in, the little fan blade inside the pump chop up the bubble and spit out lots of tiny little bubbles every second or so. i'm not sure though how much of the little bubbles actually get dissolved in the water or if the big bubble gets chopped up into little bubbles and it's just as less effective?