Can you DIY CO2 in a 55 gallon or do you need pressurized?
- Thread starter Yoemen
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tanker
Josh Holloway--Be mine!!!
I do not thing dwarf hairgrass "requires" CO2. It can do without added CO2. CO2 is "needed" in tanks with lots of light.
The set-up is expensive but then you only need to refill the CO2 tanks every so often depending on how much you add and how big the CO2 tank is. I use to use a 10lb and that lasted about 6-7 months. I now have a 20lb (just got it last year).
If you have only a few plants a 5lb CO2 tank may last you 6-7 months.
The set-up is expensive but then you only need to refill the CO2 tanks every so often depending on how much you add and how big the CO2 tank is. I use to use a 10lb and that lasted about 6-7 months. I now have a 20lb (just got it last year).
If you have only a few plants a 5lb CO2 tank may last you 6-7 months.
You don't need CO2 to grow healthy plants, it is beneficial to you and your plants however, since high light not only promotes plant growth but also algae. In other words, it will save your back and arms from scrubbing the glass and cleaning every surface of your aquarium. Hairgrass needs high light and CO2 will enhance its growth and keep algae at bay. It would be more cost effective int he long route to go with a pressurized system, but it can be done with a DIY unit. When I first started injecting with a dyi into a 55 gallon, I used 3 bottles to keep the pH at 6.3 and an air stone at night. I can post a step by step guide of how I did mine if you'd like. I injected the co2 from 2 bottles into the intake of my filter and from one into a ceramic diffuser(scroll to the bottom Mighty Momato), the huge draw back from diy units is you have to refill them about once a month and you will go through almost 6 cups of sugar a month. Again, I will gladly post instructions of how I made mine just let me know.
If you look at the sticky on the planted page on CO2 you will find a bunch of information on the subject. I suggest reading over it and then you will have a more informed place to ask questions from.
I used DIY in two 55's before switching over to pressurized and had to do two bottles of reactor to get a decent CO2/ppm, but you can get away with one reactor and still be effective with it.
Much of your need will depend on how much light you've got over the tank.
BTW, dwarf hair grass requires good light to grow. Not really bright light....I'd say in the 2.5 - 3.0 wpg range.
Len
I used DIY in two 55's before switching over to pressurized and had to do two bottles of reactor to get a decent CO2/ppm, but you can get away with one reactor and still be effective with it.
Much of your need will depend on how much light you've got over the tank.
BTW, dwarf hair grass requires good light to grow. Not really bright light....I'd say in the 2.5 - 3.0 wpg range.
Len
repeating what djlen and I have already said, you really don't NEED co2 unless your WPG is 2+. Hairgrass needs quite a bit of light so i'm gonna assume that you have proper lighting
Here are the instruction for the way i used to do my DIY co2 along with a DIY bubble counter.
DIY CO2
Parts:
screw (the type i used are spax 14x1 1/2 or 6x40mm)
screw driver
needle nose pliers
two juice bottle (i used 2 liter cranberry juice bottles)
box cutter
air/co2 hosing (co2 hosing is a little stiffer easier to force through holes without breaking)
diffuser
powerhead (optional)
one of those t fittings that let you plug two air tubes in with one outlet
check valve (for each bottle you use) brass is better but plastic will do. (any petstore wll have these)
RINSE ALL THE BOTTLES AND CAPS!
1. Put a screw to the cap and screw it through to make a whole. Be sure to use a screw that will make a whole slightly smaller than the air tubing. (you'll see why in a minute)
2. Cut the airline tubing at an angle.
3. Place the longer/skinnier part of the tubing through the whole in the cap,
grab onto it with your needle nose pliers and PULL (by making the whole smaller and forcing the tube through, you will ensure a good seal between the cap and the tubing)
Cut the tube so that about two inches remain in the bottle.
4. Repeat for second bottle, or how ever many you desire. I suggest two until you figure out how it will effect the water.
5. Place a check valve on each of the tubes coming out of the bottles and then finally plug them into the T fitting.
6. Plug a single line from the | end of the T fitting that will run to the tank.
7. If you choose to make a bubble counter, it would go AFTER the T fitting, if you do this, you do not need the two check valves before the T.
8. Plug the line into a diffuser of your choice, I like the mighty momato we discussed above.
9. For best results place the diffusor under the intake of a filter or power head (more swooshing around forcing more co2 to dissolve in water.)
10. AND YOU ARE DONE!
The Recipe!
Ingredients:
Bakers Yeast
Sugar
Baking Soda
Water
1. Put two cups of sugar into the bottle.
2. Fill the bottle 2/3 full slowly as to not disturb the sugar on the bottom with luke warm water. (Not too hot, it should feel warm to the touch)
3. 1/2 teaspoon of yeast
4. 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda
5. Put the cap back on and you are done, you should start seeing bubbles within the first 12-24 hours. This lasted me about 30 days.
The Bubble Counter
Parts:
Check Valve (again, any pet store will have these, same ones as for an aquarium air pump)
Oral Syringe (you can find one in any pharmacy store such as rite aid)
Adhesive (believe it or not i used jbweld)
SMALL rubber band
1. Pull the syringe apart. (take the plunger end out, it should just come apart)
2. Place the rubber band or the seal from the plunger around the checkvalve to give you an idea of how far down to place the check valve. (and to keep the adhesive from getting inside.
3. The syringe comes with a plug, leave it in the small end and fill it halfway with water.
4. Place the check valve inside the wide syringe end. Some will fit snug while others won't fit, that is why you use the rubber band... to give it more diameter.
5. Apply the adhesive to the checkvalve/rubberband/seal, whichever and let sit for the night.
It should be dry by that point and since there is a check valve there... you really don't need the two before the T.
6. Plug the line coming from the T into the bubble counter and another tube onto the top of the bubble counter to the diffusor.
DONE! Sorry I dont' have pictures for this one but I can't find my bubble counter.
Here are the instruction for the way i used to do my DIY co2 along with a DIY bubble counter.
DIY CO2
Parts:
screw (the type i used are spax 14x1 1/2 or 6x40mm)
screw driver
needle nose pliers
two juice bottle (i used 2 liter cranberry juice bottles)
box cutter
air/co2 hosing (co2 hosing is a little stiffer easier to force through holes without breaking)
diffuser
powerhead (optional)
one of those t fittings that let you plug two air tubes in with one outlet
check valve (for each bottle you use) brass is better but plastic will do. (any petstore wll have these)
RINSE ALL THE BOTTLES AND CAPS!
1. Put a screw to the cap and screw it through to make a whole. Be sure to use a screw that will make a whole slightly smaller than the air tubing. (you'll see why in a minute)
2. Cut the airline tubing at an angle.
3. Place the longer/skinnier part of the tubing through the whole in the cap,
4. Repeat for second bottle, or how ever many you desire. I suggest two until you figure out how it will effect the water.
5. Place a check valve on each of the tubes coming out of the bottles and then finally plug them into the T fitting.
6. Plug a single line from the | end of the T fitting that will run to the tank.
7. If you choose to make a bubble counter, it would go AFTER the T fitting, if you do this, you do not need the two check valves before the T.
8. Plug the line into a diffuser of your choice, I like the mighty momato we discussed above.
9. For best results place the diffusor under the intake of a filter or power head (more swooshing around forcing more co2 to dissolve in water.)
10. AND YOU ARE DONE!
The Recipe!
Ingredients:
Bakers Yeast
Sugar
Baking Soda
Water
1. Put two cups of sugar into the bottle.
2. Fill the bottle 2/3 full slowly as to not disturb the sugar on the bottom with luke warm water. (Not too hot, it should feel warm to the touch)
3. 1/2 teaspoon of yeast
4. 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda
5. Put the cap back on and you are done, you should start seeing bubbles within the first 12-24 hours. This lasted me about 30 days.
The Bubble Counter
Parts:
Check Valve (again, any pet store will have these, same ones as for an aquarium air pump)
Oral Syringe (you can find one in any pharmacy store such as rite aid)
Adhesive (believe it or not i used jbweld)
SMALL rubber band
1. Pull the syringe apart. (take the plunger end out, it should just come apart)
2. Place the rubber band or the seal from the plunger around the checkvalve to give you an idea of how far down to place the check valve. (and to keep the adhesive from getting inside.
3. The syringe comes with a plug, leave it in the small end and fill it halfway with water.
4. Place the check valve inside the wide syringe end. Some will fit snug while others won't fit, that is why you use the rubber band... to give it more diameter.
5. Apply the adhesive to the checkvalve/rubberband/seal, whichever and let sit for the night.
It should be dry by that point and since there is a check valve there... you really don't need the two before the T.
6. Plug the line coming from the T into the bubble counter and another tube onto the top of the bubble counter to the diffusor.
DONE! Sorry I dont' have pictures for this one but I can't find my bubble counter.
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