Question on injecting Co2

[AlexHcp]

Hello to all bro, sorry to post questions again, if any of my question has been answered, please direct me to the link so that I can read up more.

I am currently having a 2ft tank set up with co2, as I read up in the forum, less surface agitation will prevent the loss of co2,

1) my first problem is that since there are no surface agitation, I realize that mosquitos has been breeding in my tank. It is pretty taxing to manually having to remove them everyday. My tank is in the 2nd week of fishless cycling and injecting co2 at 1-3 bps. May I know how can I solve this problem of breeding pest, other than adding fishes?

2) there is a very thick white protein build up on the surface. It is not like the normal thin layer, but a very thick layer once every 2 or 3 days. May I know what are these and how can I solve this problem, other than adding an air pump to break the surface?

All inputs and suggestions will be taken seriously, will try any reasonable methods. Thank you all bro in advance.

[edw7636]

Maybe add a co2 inline diffuser? This way u can get the co2 to diffuse effectively and same time provide some agitation?

[AlexHcp]

Hmm, i am using a Reactor currently for my tank. Not an issue with diffusing effectively, but more on the issue of the mosquitos and the white protein built up.. thanks bro though

[Ecalyte]

Get an airstone and place it near the water outlet. The bubble popping will dissipate the oil slick and prevent mozzies from breeding. Then you counter the co2 loss by increasing the bps. Just monitor the time taken for your plants to bubble and adjust the bps accordingly.

The more worrying concern is your mosquito breeding. I would first look around your house to see if there are any additional places where the mozzies could be breeding... Since their presence alone would indicate another breeding source. Let me know if the airstone effect doesn't get them to stop breeding, it will however definitely fix your protein problem.

[AlexHcp]

Bro Ecalyte - my plants dont really bubble cause my tank is only using fan and no chiller.. By increasing the Bps to counter the bubbling, it will waste the Co2 ?

Yeah i am quite worried about the mosquito breeding too, and i already put in a air pump with air stone into the tank to bubble when i leave home earlier today. I also off my Co2 system, cause i am not too sure if this is the correct way... Will have to monitor if the breeding will stop, and the larvae is freaking scary, quite big size, abit reddish color.
- Will check my house for any other area possible for the breeding - i wont want to get dengue or be fined when inspected...

Thanks bro - May i know if you have any other way to fix the mozzie problem incase they still do not stop breeding?


Thank you very much!

[Ecalyte]

Well yea it will waste the co2 but I don't consider it wasting if it will solve your other problems. The oil slick will not dissipate with your normal surface agitation. You need something that will 'break' the surface like a bubble popping, or water dropping into the tank from a distance. I believe the reason why the mozzies continue to lay eggs even after your attempts at agitating surface is due to the oil slick that is providing them a platform to rest on while laying the eggs.

Remember, with your airstone you need to put it near an outlet so it will start popping all over the surface... Or if you have strong surface flow that will force ALL the surface water to come in contact with the spot where you placed your airstone. Otherwise there will still be a spot where protein slick will still be present.

At this junction, you can't worry about wasted CO2 anymore. It's now a necessity due to the problems that you are faced with.

[AlexHcp]

Thank you bro! True that i cant worry about wasting Co2 now then, i always put my air stones near to the surface to as to create more agitation... I will go home and check today, hopefully there arent any mozzie left, else i will have to manually remove again. My air stones must be near the outlet? as in the outlet of the Filter or?

[Ecalyte]

Preferably the bubbles created by your airstone can get pushed around the surface of the tank by your filter outlet.. This will increase the 'break water' effect and will prevent mozzies from settling down on the water surface due to the water that gets splashed around by the bubbles popping.

So just place the airstone underneath your filter outlet.. Once the protein film has completely disappeared, you can reduce the bubble rate of the airstone to lessen the co2 waste. But right now have it on full blast to get rid of the film ASAP..

[AlexHcp]

Ok sure bro, i will do it once i get home. I can skim the surface before using the air stones right? so it will be more effective?

Bro sorry but i have a question - for the protein / oil build up on the surface, is it very common that it will get super thick? cause i used to have another 2Ft tank, with no surface agitation, but the built up of the slick really not so much and mozzie dont breed there ehh... its my shrimp tank, but now i also got use air stones for that..

[AlexHcp]

Just an update to my tank, I manually caught at least 10 larvae today... Adjusted my outflow, and use an air pump, hopefully tomorrow I won't see any more larvae... May any kind bro enlighten me on this question that I have - I am using a reactor and I realize that a very big bubble tends to build up in the reactor whenever I out my bps to at least 2. Is this a co2 build up? May I know is this common or should I do anything about it ....?

[Ecalyte]

The air pocket is CO2 that has not been diffused into the water.. But this sometimes happens when not all the balls are spinning. So if this happens, turn off the CO2 and wait for the air pocket to dissipate. Anyway those things are so old school. Just use a normal diffuser.. Haha!

[AlexHcp]

Lol my balls like totally don't spin... Diffuser I read up seems not as effective as dissolving the co2 ehh.. Haha ok bro I see how it goes ehh... I hope no more new born mozzie....

[Ecalyte]

Well.. From the sounds of it your reactor not doing a good job either haha! Dont read too much into what people say.. Use it and try yourself. You might be surprised =) Especially since the experiment only takes time and under one red note!

[AlexHcp]

Sorry for such a long lapse before replying again - realise that the balls and the reactor actually grew some slimy thingy - looks white and brownish, and that stops the ball from spinning. I cleaned it, and everything seems to return to normal now, except that i have co2 insertion, with an air pump...