Diy Co2?

[This Old Spouse]

I was doing some research on DIY CO2 setups and found a few interesting YouTube videos on using a yeast/sugar setup. I'm looking at all this because I have a 55g that's full of algae and I have no extra money to buy a proper setup. 
 
Has anyone ever tried this, and if so, how well did it work for you? Near as I can tell, all I need to purchase is a check valve and a little more airline.
 
Thoughts? Suggestions? 

 

[This Old Spouse]

Well, even though nobody even replied to this post, I kept doing research and today set up my CO2 system. I watched about 50 YouTube videos to get an idea of a good all-around system, so I'll see how it goes. 

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I know nothing about DIY CO2... Ultimately, I'd be interested in hearing how it turns out for you though!

 

[This Old Spouse]

I'm scared to death of blowing myself up with a CO2 cylinder, so this was what I came up with. My 55g is being overrun with algae so I had to do something. I'll give it a week to see what happens. 
 
Does anyone know if I need to try and strip off the algae I have, or if CO2 will take care of it? 

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Can you identify it?
 
http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm

 

[coolie]

I have DIY CO2, the results are slower than co2 proper, but my plants aren't dying, just growing slowly.
What kind of algae do you have. CO2 wont kill agae, especially string algae.

 

[Marnee]

I have a 50 gallon and use DIY CO2.  I only have 1 bottle running and it usually last me about 5 days.  I have never had issues with the fluctuating CO2 even though I have read several accounts stating that not have stable CO2 will cause an algae nightmare.  I have been using this method for about 10 months.  My lights are T5's and run 3hrs am, off for 2hrs then back on for 2hrs in the afternoon.  I have swords, crypt's, jungle val and some ludwigia.  Oh and there is a small amount of moss and I keep duckweed because it grows very fast.  When I want to reduce the amount of duckweed I simply take a very large net and skim the surface to remove the excess.  I use a ladder diffuser but have been toying with the idea of switching it to something that will chew the CO2 up to smaller bubbles.  Remains to be seen if I go that route.  For the most part I am satisfied with this setup and hope you get good results as I have.  

 

[This Old Spouse]

The worst of the algae is BBA, with some staghorn and hair thrown in for interest. 
 
I've hooked up the CO2 to my powerhead to distribute it as widely as possible. I'll be turning off the CO2 at night so I don't suffocate my fish and hopefully things will do well. Must say I'm very nervous about all this!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I've read that you want the CO2 to start up before the lights go on, but then go off when the lights do, or just before.

 

[Marnee]

The worst of the algae is BBA, with some staghorn and hair thrown in for interest. 
 
I've hooked up the CO2 to my powerhead to distribute it as widely as possible. I'll be turning off the CO2 at night so I don't suffocate my fish and hopefully things will do well. Must say I'm very nervous about all this!

Turning it off how?  How many bottles of CO2 do you run at one time?  

 

[This Old Spouse]

I installed a shutoff valve (stopcock?) so I can stop the flow anytime. Then I'm loosening the top on the bottle so it doesn't explode. It's just before lights out and my bolbitis has a nice carpet of pearling, the fish seem to be all right. I'm just running one large bottle for now to see what happens.


Some photos ...
 

 

 

 

 

[Daveo026]

I just started doing the diy co2 i got one of them glass diffusers and broke it after like 10 mins so i gotta go buy a new one hopefully i can fine one made of plastic then il try again at weekend

 

[M4R13Y]

For aquarium projects try the youtube channel uarujoey u think he covered it

 

[Lunar Jetman]

You also need to look at the lighting and flow in your tank. Just adding CO2 won't necessarily get rid of Algae if this wasn't the underlying factor. Poor flow can be just as much of a factor and pumping in CO2 (however you do it ) won't clear up the Algae if your flow isn't good enough.

How long are your lights on for?

 

[This Old Spouse]

Lights are on for a couple of hours in the morning, then about 4-5 hours at night. Being this far north we don't get a lot of daylight hours.
 
The flow in the tank is really good ... a 500 gph canister filter and a 660 power head. 
 
And Daveo026, I just have a second bottle with water as the diffuser/bubble counter. Nothing to break in this setup!
 
Here's a photo ... note that I have it exiting to the power head.