Diffusing CO2

[ehlim]

Hi, I understand some ppl use power head to diffuse pressurised CO2 in the tank. Can I use a small internal filter to diffuse the gas?. This filter has an external air intake. Should I remove the small bag of activated carbon from this filter? Is such a system better than a internal reactor with bio balls? Tks.

[PeterGwee]

Try using a good CO2 diffuser instead. The misting of CO2 helps plant growth alot. Just make sure you have good current by the diffuser to distribute the CO2 mist throughout the tank and clean it often (1-2 times a month).

Regards
Peter Gwee

[evolim83]

Hi, I understand some ppl use power head to diffuse pressurised CO2 in the tank. Can I use a small internal filter to diffuse the gas?. This filter has an external air intake. Should I remove the small bag of activated carbon from this filter? Is such a system better than a internal reactor with bio balls? Tks.

IME, if you hooked up the CO2 directly to the power head, the CO2 bubbles are not tiny enough and to rise to the surface very fast. Plants on the far end of the tank do not recieve CO2 due to the inefficiency of diffusing CO2!

Wat I am doing now, like Peter has mentioned, diffuse CO2 via a diffuser. The CO2 bubbles are very much smaller and therefore does not rise to the water surface as fast!
You can use your power head to push the stream of up-rising bubbles across!

[Thirteen]

if u really bo bian right... i would advise u to put the small power head as low as possible in the front corner of the tank. try not to exceed beyond 3bps. this should be fine.


Tat's wad i did when i'm on tight budget to get a diffuser. It works well actually for my tank.

[ehlim]

Tks all for the advice. But ahhh is a diffuser the one with an inverted glass dish with a white thingy for CO2 diffusion? In a 4 x 2 tank, do I place the diffuser close to the substrate and in the centre of the tank? Cheers.

[PeterGwee]

Tks all for the advice. But ahhh is a diffuser the one with an inverted glass dish with a white thingy for CO2 diffusion? In a 4 x 2 tank, do I place the diffuser close to the substrate and in the centre of the tank? Cheers.

You'll need two of those coupled with individual needle valves to control the bubble rates. Set it near the outflow of filter or powerheads such that the mist is being blown all over the tank area (visual check). Use the pH/KH chart to dial in the CO2 level (try to keep it around 30ppm throughout the entire photoperiod and shut it off at night via solenoid) and then tweak if necessary. Having high flow in the tank will help mix the mist around well with the plants.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[ehlim]

You'll need two of those coupled with individual needle valves to control the bubble rates. Set it near the outflow of filter or powerheads such that the mist is being blown all over the tank area (visual check). Use the pH/KH chart to dial in the CO2 level (try to keep it around 30ppm throughout the entire photoperiod and shut it off at night via solenoid) and then tweak if necessary. Having high flow in the tank will help mix the mist around well with the plants.

Regards
Peter Gwee

Tks Peter. I will be using a PH controller to control the CO2 release. But how do I use 2 diffusors when I have only 1 gas line from the CO2 system? Is there a splitter somewhere? And do I put the powerhead, and hence, the diffusor, at the bottom of the tank? Cheers.

[PeterGwee]

I will be using a PH controller to control the CO2 release. But how do I use 2 diffusors when I have only 1 gas line from the CO2 system? Is there a splitter somewhere? And do I put the powerhead, and hence, the diffusor, at the bottom of the tank? Cheers.

Don't use a pH controller function but rather use it as a monitor if you have already bought it. If not, just get a good pH test pen would do. Calibrate it when you use it.

You need a manifold with 2 needle valves which quite a bit of LFS are selling. Yes, place the powerhead and diffusers down low at the back of the tank blowing along the back length of the tank (easy to hide as well). Just make sure the mist is well spread out in the tank and there is no dead spots. You might need to tweak a bit here and there to ensure good circulation. Spend sometime on this since CO2 is the most critical thing to plants and nutrients are easy to rule out when issues set in.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[kemp]

bros, i'm currently having this problem. Previously i was using a DIY CO2 cylinder until recently it ran out, then i replaced it with an electrical version. Wonder has any1 uses such product before? From what I've gathered, i've quite a far bit of negative review of the electrical CO2.
This is what happened to me, after replacing the DIY with this electrical version, my riccia started not pearling anymore, so i thought it was not enough CO2 (previously my riccia was pearling even with the DIY version), so i turned up the release of the CO2 (there's actual this switch by the side of the electrical co2, gauge between 0-300).There's seem so much of air bubbles inside the tank, making it look quite awful, thus affecting the sight of viewing. Can't even see clearly my moss wall. I'm having a 1.5feet tank (kinda small) so was wondering could the electrical co2 be too much for it? OR i should have stick with the DIY version instead. Thinking of actually switching back to DIY, was contemplating with getting the huge cylinder co2 but i guess it's abit 'over kill' for my small tank.
any1 can advise?
Thanks

[PeterGwee]

Get the cylinder...thats about it. No more hassle and lulls in CO2 level if you use it well. Initial cost is high but its really worth it.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[kemp]

Get the cylinder...thats about it. No more hassle and lulls in CO2 level if you use it well. Initial cost is high but its really worth it.

Regards
Peter Gwee

Bro, sorry to ask again. Wondering would it be too 'overkill'? was afraid end up under utilising it. Do they have a smaller cylinder?
Hmm...I've decided to give up riccia. Now i have E.Tenullus (pardon my mis spelling), glosso and christmas moss. Would i still need to get the cylinder? Or would the DIY type be suffice enough?

[|squee|]

There are smaller cylinders, but they cost more than normal ones like 2L and 3L.

A CO2 cylinder system will give you good constant injection of CO2, and everything is automated. For DIY, you do not have constant injection of CO2, and you can't increase the rate of CO2 being injected into the water. When you take into account that when people use CO2, you have to use CO2 properly at a controllable bubble count and more importantly a constant bubble rate. This is because almost 90% of all algae issues stem from insufficent CO2.

Hope you understand the importance of CO2 when you're injecting it. Usage of CO2 is like using fire... you have to use it well, otherwise it'll cause havoc.

[kemp]

Thanks bro!
No wonder i've started noticing alagae starting to grow on the side of my tanks, now then I realise that it's due to insufficient CO2. Geez.. I guess it's really time for me to go get a cylinder CO2 soon!
Really appreciate your advise!

There are smaller cylinders, but they cost more than normal ones like 2L and 3L.

A CO2 cylinder system will give you good constant injection of CO2, and everything is automated. For DIY, you do not have constant injection of CO2, and you can't increase the rate of CO2 being injected into the water. When you take into account that when people use CO2, you have to use CO2 properly at a controllable bubble count and more importantly a constant bubble rate. This is because almost 90% of all algae issues stem from insufficent CO2.

Hope you understand the importance of CO2 when you're injecting it. Usage of CO2 is like using fire... you have to use it well, otherwise it'll cause havoc.

[kemp]

Another quick question. Would the lack of CO2 and too much light hassen the process of algae growing? I've recently replaced my 18watts PL with a 36 watts PL, which is then i was advise to change my DIY co2 to an electrical type.

[barmby]

Would the lack of CO2 and too much light hassen the process of algae growing?

Lack of CO2 speed up algae growth. This is a sure thing.

[kemp]

Hmm..I'm currently experiencing misting problem in my tank whenever i uses the electrical co2. LAst night, i went to get a nutrafin co2 refill kit, took out the electrical co2 and my water doesnt have the misty problem again (water stable and clear).
Do you think by getting a cylinder co2 with a good diffuser solve my misty problem too? Currently the electrical co2 kinda emits too much air bubbles into the water and furthermore since my is a small tank, it's look kinda unsightly..

Lack of CO2 speed up algae growth. This is a sure thing.

[barmby]

Do you think by getting a cylinder co2 with a good diffuser solve my misty problem too? .

No.

I will recommend you having a reactor to mix CO2 and water. Further to that, you may consider having the outlet of the reactor to be connected to a spraybar. Next, place the spraybar under and behind your tank. This way, no more CO2 bubble and good all round spread of water enriched with CO2.

[kemp]

cool bro again!
i was shopping for co2 cylinder today. Was also looking for a reactor too.
but again, would a co2 cylinder be considered 'overkill' for a small tank like my?
currently i've christmas moss and glosso and mini nanas in the tank,

No.

I will recommend you having a reactor to mix CO2 and water. Further to that, you may consider having the outlet of the reactor to be connected to a spraybar. Next, place the spraybar under and behind your tank. This way, no more CO2 bubble and good all round spread of water enriched with CO2.