Making A DIY C02 Unit and C02 Mixture Article - Page 13 - MyFishTank.Net Freshwater Saltwater Aquarium Fish Forum

Big Vine · 02-01-2007, 03:36 PM

Yes, I suppose I could do that, Big Vine. That sounds like it would work well.

(Confused? see previous post)

If anyone else happens to find me talking to myself here, could you tell me what you think about what the LFS guy just told me. He runs a place here in my area.

I just went in and bought a bunch of plants, asked him about his CO2 at home (he does DIY). He said he mixes it everyday and it runs about 8-9 hours. His "tip of the day" was to inform me that it would be best to make sure the CO2 mixture bottles are situated above the level of the tank; claiming that, if kept below, the tank water would be sucked into the tank and subsequently returned into the tank along with yeast, which would basically destroy everything.

That's when I asked if he kept an empty space between the end of the tubing (inside the bottle) and the water, upon which his response was to insist that the tubing needed to be submerged!

Please confirm my suspicions about this last part (the tube having to be submerged thing) as being one giant load of bull.

Here I am getting ready to hook my DIY CO2 today---later on---and now find myself second-guessing everything. lol

BV

drumminfish · 02-01-2007, 04:28 PM

I would say that sounds like a load of bull. When the yeast give off CO2, what doesn't get absorbed by the water goes into the air above the water...honestly, I'm wondering what his setup does, since it sounds like he's sucking water into the tank already, if the end of the tubing is submerged. The only way that WOULDN'T be sucking water into the tank would be if there was no suction, which then all that would be is.....a bottle with a tube attached.

iamcowboy · 02-01-2007, 04:48 PM

Also it is my understanding that the inline check valve prevent the yeast mixture from getting sucked into the tank. I have had my first CO2 mixture going for 5 days now. Just do it big vine!

Mahamotorworks · 02-01-2007, 04:57 PM

First off dont submerge the tubing in the Mixture, you are just asking for problems. If his only last 8 to 9 hrs I would throw all of his info out. I have CO2 mix that has been running for 3 weeks. now, the CO2 productions has slowed down, but still going. I am changing it tonight. My Co2 bottles are on the same level of the Tank. I think having them above could cause more problems. If they get knocked over, the CO2 mix WILL end up in the tank. If you use a check valve no tank water should end up in the CO2 bottle. You can use a bubble counter so that no mix ends up in the Tank.

I will get some Photos of my set up tonight when I change my bottle to help you out.

Big Vine but just do it. If you arent happy/nervous about it then take some photos and show them here we will help you trouble shoot.

MAHA

Big Vine · 02-01-2007, 05:39 PM

Whew...that's a relief!

Now...about this "check-valve" business...
I won't be using one of those. I don't think I'll be using a bubble counter either. The only place I have room for the two 2 liter bottles is in the cabinet directly under the tank (on the floor, basically). The cabinet will be cramped with that stuff in there, which means no room for bubble counter.

Guess this means I can only check CO2 level by monitoring pH and listening to 'crackling' sounds from the HOB filter output as the CO2 bubbles get chopped in the impeller?

All in all I'd be looking at roughly 4 ft. of airline tubing on each bottle (~3ft. from bottle to top of the tank, then ~1 ft. to get from the top of the tank to the HOB filter intake, which is where I'll be sticking the tube.

Hope this sounds about right.

I've already got the yeast and lots of sugar, so all I need now is the airline tubing. Couldn't find any stoppers to fit the 2 liter bottles, so it looks like I'll need to bust out the drill and use some sealant.

I appreciate the guidance. I'm sure I'm making this more complicated than it needs to be. I'll be picking up the airline tubing in the next little while, but I won't be back to start hooking things up until later tonight.

BV

Mahamotorworks · 02-01-2007, 06:03 PM

Just drill a hole smaller then the tubing. You will have to cut the tubing at an angle to pull it through. Once it is through It should be air tight. Good luck let us know how it goes.

MAHA

Big Vine · 02-01-2007, 06:19 PM

Will do.
I'm guessing this means the ~4 ft. trip up the tubing won't matter---CO2 should still enter the tank just fine, right? (it is a gas, after all)

Thanks Maha!
BV

Big Vine · 02-10-2007, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mahamotorworks

Big Vine...just do it...If you arent happy/nervous about it then take some photos and show them here we will help you trouble shoot.

Each line of tubing that goes to each HOB intake tube is about 4 ft. in length from the mixture bottles (obviously not hooked up yet)---will that work okay?
Is the positioning of the bottles (i.e. below the tank) okay, or should I expect tankwater to get sucked back into the mixture?

Are the ends of the tubing sticking into the HOB intake tubes properly (i.e. not shoved too far up the tubes)?

Thanks.
BV

tropicalfish · 02-10-2007, 05:15 PM

A Check valve will take care of tank water going into the mixture.

Mahamotorworks · 02-10-2007, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tropicalfish

A Check valve will take care of tank water going into the mixture.

Correct

Big Vine,
Every thing looks good. With the use of a check valve you should have no problem. When you change the bottles out I would pull the Tubing above water level just to be on the safe side.

MAHA