DIY CO2 Diifuser.

[GIS Guy]

The setup that I have right now begs to differ.
I installed the valve backwards.

Only conclusion left then is that the valve is defective?

 

[Mahamotorworks]

You should only be able to blow through a check valve one way. If you can blow through it both ways then it would be faulty. My CO2 is only 17ppm. I need to redo the DIY bottles. I need to fine tune the mixture I use.

MAHA

 

[hyunelan2]

Is there actually anything going into the tank? You could be losing your CO2 through airline connections. Check valves are not supposed to allow anything through. Take yours off and blow through it, see if it works both ways, if so - throw it away and get a new one.

 

[GIS Guy]

It's a TopFin so I'm supposing it's not the best brand.
I'll check it this morning during some maintanence time.

 

[GIS Guy]

It's been tested.
The strangest thing happened...
I cannot blow through it in the opposing direction, but the CO2 can penetrate the valve.
This morning I specifically checked this, because I hooked up my canister (Magnum 350) as a reactor and wanted to see if it would work.
(Mind you the canister is a temporary solution until I purchase a powerhead. The only thing in the canister is an empty media basket.
It seems to be working just fine as a reactor, for the time being. I know I'll have to occassionally refill it with water as the gas displaces it.)
Anyway, there are most definitely CO2 bubbles coming from the solution and entering the canister.
I can see them at both locations.
Now I'm not sure what to make of this.
Perhaps I still need to replace the check valve.

 

[Guysy1110]

if co2 is entering the tank, but water from the tank cannot flow back into your co2 mix, then your all good

Thats all i have my check valve for.. to stop water flowing into my diy co2 mix.

Guysy

 

[hyunelan2]

^Right.

If you have the check valve mounted backwards and you are still getting CO2 flow into the tank, a possible explanation could be that the CO2 is under such low pressure that it is not enough to push the stopper closed inside the check valve. I would still be wary of this though. When you do a 'recharge' or increase CO2 output, there is the likelyhood that there will be enough pressure to push the stopper closed, and you will not get CO2 into the tank (most likely losing the CO2 through the connection between the airline and checkvalve).

 

[GIS Guy]

Thnx guys, good advice.
So the probability of yeast solution entering the tank is minimal and I shouldn't be concerned?

 

[hyunelan2]

There should be no chance of yeast entering the tank, unless you are keeping your DIY bottle in a location higher than the tank. Then, you would run the risk of possibly being able to siphon the yeast solution down into the tank. Even then, it would be a very slim chance that could happen.

 

[Mahamotorworks]

Ok. I just got done testing my water to get my CO2 Levels. Here is what I got. My PH is 6 Maybe lower. My KH is 5 to 6. That would mean the my CO2 Levels are between 150ppm and 180ppm. This is a DIY System. I have a bubble bar that runs all the time to help with circulation. And my water is about 2 inches from the top of the tank. I disconnected one of the bottles for now. I was only seeing a bubble every 2 seconds. I am waiting on more plant to get here hopeflly tomorrow.

I changed my CO2 to fun into a quickfilter of an AC 30 Powerhead. Like Lonewoleblue's set up. I will get some new Pics tonight.

MAHA

 

[Lonewolfblue]

How fast was the bubble rate before disconnecting the one bottle?

 

[Mahamotorworks]

1 bubble every 1 or 2 seconds. That is it. I turned up my Air pump. I will get a video of it running. It looks really cool spitting bubbles out.
I Picked up some parts to make Spray Bars for my AC 50 Powerheads to go into the 75G tank. I will post pics as I build.

MAHA

 

[Mahamotorworks]

The CO2 has stayed running at the same speed. As you watch you can see the CO2 mist flowing back to the side of the tank with the Powerhead. This is with the 2 Bottles hooked up.

The photos uploaded so here they are.

The Set up

And Play by Play.

Here is the Video of it.

MAHA

 

[Lonewolfblue]

Try adjusting the output down a little, see how that does.

 

[Mahamotorworks]

I have the outlet straight cause the Flow from the HOB filter pushes the CO2 bubbles down and around the tank. All the fish are doing good today I ran the CO2 overnight like I usualy do I guess I freaked out when I have 150ppm of CO2. I usually only have around 40ppm. I changed my recipe for my CO2 mixture, it looks like it worked.

I got some new inhabitants today. You will have to wait till I finish getting then plant I have on order to see the end product

MAHA

 

[Mahamotorworks]

DIY Bubble Counter Done

I just assembled my bubble counter after waiting for it to dry overnight. Here it is. I thought that when the powerhead would spit out the bubbles of CO2 that was one bubble, not so. I will let you count in the video below.

As you can see a small mason jar, some tubing, and silicone and you too can have your own DIY Bubble Counter.

MAHA

 

[GIS Guy]

What's the advantage/disadvantage of a bubble counter that size?

I was thinking about going with this:
.
.

.
.
It has a 1 inch diameter and 4.25 inches tall.
This container has measured incremente volume of 50ml (1.7oz)

 

[Guysy1110]

I think one dissadvantage could be that because its not a transparent colour, it could stop you from seeing the bubbles clearly ?

Otherwise i think its a good size

 

[Mahamotorworks]

I think it would be better to have more height then what I have. I had a old Spice bottle that was about 5 inches tall that I was going to use but some how it got thrown away. Just as long as you can see that the bubbles are moving it will work.

So has anyone counted my bubbles yet?

MAHA

 

[Guysy1110]

I counted just over one thousand lol