Best diffuser for a 20G tank

[sluder4]

I just built my own DIY C02 maker. I currently have it putting C02 into my power filter but idk if it is doing the job or not. So I was wondering if I should stay how it is or if I should change to a diffuser? My plants arent doing great and I have bought some brand new high powered bulbs that will give me plaenty of lumens and watts per gallon :]

if anyone could send me a link of a good diffuser and pics of what they have done for your tank :]

Thanks

 

[tjfish]

I did a simple 2L bottle diy for my co2 and ran it straight into my power filter and my plants went nuts. The chinese algae eaters have since destroyed alot of my plants so it doesnt really look that great now, and is kida bare as far as planted tanks go but ill get a pic up here for ya in few minutes.

 

[tjfish]

Well as i said, the CAE's destroyed alot of my plants, i used to have 2-3x this many growing but it is what it is. im not adding any more plants til i catch the lil bastards which you wouldnt think would be that hard in a 20 gal....but it is really hard without destroying everything lol.
Also water is a lil cloudy from the water change i did this mornin.
Anyway here it is.
You can see my air line for the co2 goin right in my filter in the back lol.

 

[sluder4]

Beautiful tank!!!! thanks for the info I see you have an HOB filter and run it all the way up it...well mine is an in aqurium filter and I just shoved the line inside the filter the bubbles go up the filter but idk if its mixing it into the water or not. I am getting a bubble a second atm. I havent seen any pearling either but will take a pic and post it in a few.

 

[sluder4]

It goes straight into the filter and idk what happens to it after that think it is dissolving enough?

 

[tjfish]

I say if the co2 is going through the impeller in the filter it is diffusing it. If your co2 is not going through the impeller part of the filter i would guess its not getting diffused much more than it would with just a bubbler.
It looks like yours is probably feeding to the impeller assuming the line is going into the intake part of the filter.
In my experience (im sure someone with more could give more infor) The easiest way to tell if you have enough co2 is that if you have adequate lighting and nutrients for your plants, and they are growing well, you probalby have enough co2.
Hope this helps

 

[octavusprime]

I use a diffuser right under my cansiter filter intake. You can buy a drop checker for like 10-15 bucks on Ebay. It changes colors when your PH (C02) levels are correct. Blue = too little Green = good c02 yellow= too much c02

 

[tjfish]

awesome deal, im gonna have to check that out. I've never seen that before.

 

[sluder4]

Yeah I have a drop checker if I knew how to make the solution then I could tell....but I took the line and blew some air through it and it came out of a hole in the back of my filter. I sit and watch the back as the co2 goes in but it never comes out of the hole so maybe its hitting the intake? I don't know I will have to look into it some more. If I do get a diffuser would I still need to allow it to run into my filter?

Heres a pic of my setup: