How I Achieve 30+ Ppm Co2 (diy) In A 55 Tank With Hob + Airstone

[leafs]

I would agree. Pin it!

 

[dgwebster]

Ive got a small 20 gallon tank that ive planted and looking to add a source of CO2 to help them grow. Im enjoying the idea and satisfaction from a home made kit and looking to fully house the setup.

However, for a 20 gallon tank, could i use say 4 500ml bottles? or 2 1L bottles (im going to guess the two 1L bottles will last longer) and a smaller airstone?

Or any other suggestions?

 

[penguinpimp1990]

im still shocked to see that this is not pinned

 

[dgwebster]

agreed, i had to hunt through all the posts to get this.. anyone got any details though on what happens when you reduce the quantaties of the mixture - does it reduce quantity or time?

 

[penguinpimp1990]

maybe pm psued, hes the one who wrote this article

 

[pseud]

For a 20 gallon tank I'd probably use one 2l bottle, 1 tsp yeast, 2 cups sugar, fill with water.. but start out with 1/4 tsp yeast just to be on the safe side. I'd use a second 2l bottle to mix up a batch two days prior to changing the bottle.. for example:

Saturday: Hook up bottle A
Thursday: Mix new batch in bottle B
Saturday: Hook up bottle B

Try to hook up your new bottle at night after lights out, or in the morning a few hours before lights on, to give enough time to allow pressure to build up.

Let us know how you get on!

 

[newfishaddict]

Hey, so I've seen a few threads asking about CO2, and had a couple of people ask me, so I decided to make a thread on how I personally go about getting the CO2 levels I require in my tank.

Firstly, this is just the way that I do it. Other people may have a method that is more efficient for them, or even more convenient, but this works for me and after making some adjustments it fits my budget, and my schedule just fine.

Firstly, a bit of information about my tank:

55 gallon (48"x 12ish" x 20ish")
Penguin 350 HOB filter (carbon removed from filter cartridges)
130w CF (6700K & 8000K)
Flourite & Sand substrate
Fully planted, EI fertilizations to keep NO3 - 10ppm; PO4 - 2ppm

pH - 6.5
KH - 4
CO2 - 37ppm

You will need:
2 x 2l Soda bottles
3 x Check Valves
Airline Tubing + "T" connector
1 x Ceramic Airstone (micro bubbler). 2" long
Aquarium Sealant (pure silicone. Check your LFS for a small tube, only a couple of bucks)

Firstly, raise your water level as high as you can. You want to reduce surface agitation.

Secondly, hook up the airstone to the tubing and place on the opposite side of the tank to the filter. Run the tubing up out of the tank and down to the ground. Place a check valve on this end and then cut a length of tubing (a few inches) and slide onto the "T" connector.

Take the tops off your 2 soda bottles and drill small holes. Start with 1/16". The tubing should JUST barely be able to go through. You should have to kinda squash the tubing a little to get it in. Each piece of tubing should be about 6-9" in length. Spread silicone aquarium sealant around the seal the tube makes with the top, inside and outside (some people don't find it necessary to do this but I like to make sure the seal is totally airtight). Leave it to set for 48 hours.

Now, cut the tubing that will be inside the bottle so it is only about 1.5 inches long, and you should have about 6 inches on the outside. Cut at an angle, this helps any liquid that does get up the tube to drip out. On the ends of the tubes connect a check valve, then cut a small piece of tubing a few inches in length and connect to the "T" connector.

Your DIY CO2 unit is complete. Now you just gotta fill it!

CO2 recipe (courtesy of gf)
2 cups of sugar
1 tsp yeast (I use Fleischmann's active dry yeast - available at stop and shop)

I change each bottle weekly, one on wednesday and one on thursday. Take a 3rd soda bottle (I know ,I said you only needed 2, I lied) and on a tuesday/friday night/afternoon make up the formula and sit it aside. (don't screw the lid on! (unless you have a hole in it like i do with some tubing coming out as a pressure release valve)). The next morning before lights come on remove one of the bottles to be replaced and hook up the new one. When you unhook it just turn the bottle whilst holding the top and then turn the other bottle on. The check valves will keep the pressure in the other bottle the same.

Stock rotate your bottles. I keep the one to be changed at the back, then remove it, slide the front one to the back and hook the new one to the front. Saves confusion.

Clean your airstone regularly, I do mine twice a week, you might get away with it weekly, but you want the bubbles to remain as small as possible. If it gets clogged, the bubbles will get larger.

I think that's about it. Feel free to ask questions.

I just want to add that I found that a glue/sealant called "Goop" worked better for me than silicone....

 

[dgwebster]

Pseud,

Thanks for that, you are a gem. I therefore plan to purchase a small household bin that holds a 2L bottle comfortably to make it a nice and neat setup.

 

[xautomaticflowersx]

Great post! And in the spirit of the thread I thought I'd add that today I made a DIY diffusion bell for my second attempt at DIY CO2 (the first attempt failing was down to the seal on the bottle lid I think... leakage) to see how I get on with it.
To make it I basically used:

• A 20ml plastic medicine cup (the sort that comes with cough syrup so that you can measure out your dosage)
• A suction cup
• A pair of scissors
• Some aquarium silicone sealant

I cut a 'V' shape out of the lip of the medicine cup, wedged the suction cup tightly into the 'V' shaped crevice and smeared lots of silicone sealant around it to help keep the suction cup in place. Once it's dry you just attach the little upside-down medicine cup to the inside of the glass about halfway down and run the airline from the DIY CO2 bottle underneath it so that the bubbles of CO2 that travel down the tubing get trapped in the little 'bell' and are slowly diffused into the water. We'll soon see how it works out! Hehe if it does at all!

 

[Neal]

I'm bumping this post just for newbies, I also think a mod should pin this as it's very useful, i've finally found something I understand how to do, PIN IT PLEASE!

Neal

 

[pseud]

hah. Thanks Neal.

Couple of things, I no longer find it necessary to spread silicone aquarium sealant around the bottle tops, just make sure the hole is nice and small and pull the tubing through with pliers

And I invested in a co2 diffusor and can now get away with only making up one bottle per week

 

[Neal]

I'm just going to use Rach's little bell diffuser. I want to try and get some suction cups that will attach to the tubing so it will make it look all neat and tidy.

Neal

 

[netcode]

pseud I really like this setup, it seems very simple. From reading the other DIY co2 systems there seems to be little work involved in this system. I do have some questions for you though.

Are both bottles releasing co2? If so why aren't you changing both bottles on a weekly basis?

Do you find much sway in your Co2 levels throughout the week?

How deep do you place your airstone in your tank? I assume the airstone is doing the diffusing.

I see you bought a diffusor, what kind?

Also might you be able to post some pictures of your system?

PS. I think this topic should be pinned, this is a great system and seems very simple to put together.

 

[Neal]

Glad someone else thinks it should be pinned also, it's a really great guide and it will be the one i'm going to use when I set my planted tank up next week!

Neal

 

[pseud]

pseud I really like this setup, it seems very simple. From reading the other DIY co2 systems there seems to be little work involved in this system. I do have some questions for you though.

It is very simple. After you get it set up and running the only complication is remembering to mix up a new solution before you go to bed!

Are both bottles releasing co2? If so why aren't you changing both bottles on a weekly basis?

Yes, both bottles are releasing CO2 and both bottles are changed weekly, just on different days of the week. Bottle number 1 is changed on mid-week, and Bottle 2 on the weekend. As it gets closer to the end of the week one bottle will start to produce less CO2, hooking the other bottle up compensates for this loss by effectively boosting the CO2 level... and so on...

Do you find much sway in your Co2 levels throughout the week?

Nope, I've managed to keep it pretty consistent.

How deep do you place your airstone in your tank? I assume the airstone is doing the diffusing.

Until I got a diffusor it was. Put it as far down in the tank as you can.

I see you bought a diffusor, what kind?

http/www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod...5&N=2004+113779

I ordered that one but it actually looks a little different. I highly recommend it over the airstone. It's 20 bucks but you definitely get more than your money's worth.

Also might you be able to post some pictures of your system?

I promise.... to try

PS. I think this topic should be pinned, this is a great system and seems very simple to put together.

Thanks, hope I answered your questions, if you have any others feel free to fire away.