Diy Co2 Setup For 200L/50G

[AshleyNZ]

Hi all,  after watching my plants basically perish I have decided to take the DIY CO2 root for my aquarium, which is rather exciting.
However, being a total plant noob (if my perishing plants weren't evidence enough)
So here is my list of things I am considering getting
- 2L fizzy bottle
- Airline tubing
- Smaller (?) plastic bottle
- Hot Glue to secure the tubing into the lids of the bottles
- Yeast
-Baking Soda
-Warm water
-Sugar
- Large diffuser
- Drop checker? Or anything else that monitors the CO2/pH level
 
I will have a lot of questions, and yes, I have read videos on this. (when I say a lot, I mean A LOT, so be prepared)
 
1.What type of drop checker would you recommend for me to use to determine if I have too much/ too little CO2 in the water? Since im in NZ, best idea would be to look on trademe.co.nz or hollywoodfishfarm.co.nz
2. What recipe would suit a 200L planted tank?
3. What sized bottles would be best? (I saw on one video a bigger bottle and a smaller one, no volumes were mentioned)
4. Do I put the airhose directly into the lids, or do I need some other tubing as well?
5. How long will it last before I have to make another batch?
6. Do I need to take the CO2 out at night? What happens if I forget?
7.  Any other things I should/need to know? Anything at all, I need all the info I can get!
 
Thanks in advance for answering

 

[Ch4rlie]

DIY co2, am assuming this being Yeast Co2 method.
 
DaizeUK had a good system going using yeast co2 and some great plant growth in her 'eternal cycle' tank.
 
Here is a useful link from this forum, from Lighting, CO2, Ferts & Flow which you'll find in Plants and planted tanks section, with lots of information regarding yeast co2, you may have seen this already but always worth posting this for those interested in co2 methods

 
Yeast Co2 Method
 
And to help with your drop checker question, this may be of help -
 
Drop Checkers - How They Work

 

[AshleyNZ]

DIY co2, am assuming this being Yeast Co2 method.
 
DaizeUK had a good system going using yeast co2 and some great plant growth in her 'eternal cycle' tank.
 
Here is a useful link from this forum, from Lighting, CO2, Ferts & Flow which you'll find in Plants and planted tanks section, with lots of information regarding yeast co2, you may have seen this already but always worth posting this for those interested in co2 methods

 
Yeast Co2 Method
 
And to help with your drop checker question, this may be of help -
 
Drop Checkers - How They Work

Im going to have to say I found that quite hard to follow, being a newbie to this I need something really straight forward so that I can gather my list of what I need, so I can start saving up.Thanks for the links though