Letting Out The Co2

[blackfinshark_3]

Instead of putting my co2 in the filter intake cant i just kinda put it under a bowl or something so the co2 bubbles are always in contact with the water thus giving me better levels of co2?

 

[madcaow]

prolly just end up creating a big bubble under the bowl until it starts to overflow bubble by bubble.

i spose if you can figure out a way to have the bubbles in the water until they have completly dissolved then you will get higher readings.

or something.

 

[BigIan]

or get 2 of those hagen ladder diffuser things. run onr above the other and the bubbles should all have disolved by the time they reach the top of the second one

 

[blackfinshark_3]

cant i just make them?

 

[voo]

Some people do use this kind of diffuser, like a bell.
I think ladders give better diffusion as there's more contact with the water - also more water movement.

With the bell like you describe you'll just have a bubble underneath. I use a ladder and by the time it reaches the top the bubble is tiny, so most of the CO2 has been dissolved.

 

[craynerd]

Holding CO2 under water in a bell or jar is a poor method of CO2 diffusion since there is little surface area. Hence, the better methods involve bubbling the CO2 up a ladder or even better, using a ceramic disk to form microbubbles. Microbubbles have a much larger surface area and thus greater diffusion.

Flow rate also has an effect. Static Co2 in a bell jar in theory should diffuse slowly, since there is a small conc. gradient. A larger flow rate either way, i.e water passing CO2 or CO2 passing through water, should diffuse faster.

Chris

 

[blackfinshark_3]

alright, im gonna try making my own ladder.

ill take pics if it turn out alright

wait, is it better to feed my co2 through my filter or a powerhead?

ive been feedng it thorugh my hob aquaclear but im putting a 201 powerhead in the tank to help circulate the c02, give a stream for the fish and since it was a quickfilter on it. also clean a little more.

 

[craynerd]

you should get nice diffusion through ur powerhead!

 

[blackfinshark_3]

k sweet!