DIY C02 and tank shots.

[Electric45]

Hey so i still have my 20 gallon planted and lookin to do some DIY C02 work on it. As far as stats about it here it is:

Inhabitants:
-1x Leopard Ctenopoma
-2x Kribenisis (1 male & 1 female)
-Java moss (possibly flame moss, not sure)
-Java fern
-Cryptocorne
-Dwarf Hairgrass
-Vallisneria
Equipment:
-Aquaclear 30-45 gallon rated (replumbed the inflow so its further away from the outflow)
-29 gallon rated heater
-Ecocomplete substrate
-36Watt T5 corallife fixture
-DIY C02 Setup yet to start.

This tanks been setup for quite along time and i want to see some more growth out of my dwarf hairgrass, cryptocorne and vallisneria. Heres some pics of my tank and current setup i have yet to start for the C02. I have a few questions regarding the DIY C02.

1. I've read a bunch of stories about them exploding, im really concerned about that and don't want it to ever happen. How does my setup look to make sure this doesn't happen?
2. I have yet to buy a diffuser, where could i find some cheap ones under $10?
3. The mixture i see most common for a tank my size is, 1/4th teaspoon yeast, 2 cups sugar and fill the 2 liter bottle up to the area where it becomes rounded.
4. I don't know how to have a pressure release system in case the pressure gets really high so what ive done for now is used a T-valve and just barely tighted down the threaded control so it will pop out if the pressure is too much.

I know this is a lot of info/questions but i'd really appreciate some help. Thanks very much.

 

[Electric45]

bump

 

[Cichlidfeesh]

I'm not sure If I can be much help, but I have used the 2 liter bottle CO2 gererator before. In terms of blowing up I dont think you have too much to worry about. You would have to have a nasty clog in your airline in order to build up enough pressure (I think its around 100 or so psi) for the bottle to blow. As for the mixture just go with what works for you. I tried many different ways, but always just eyeball it now. If I had to guess I use about 1/2 teaspoons of yeast and 2 cups of sugar.

As you use this system you will notice two things. 1) It gets easier as you go and 2) your plants will grow like crazy.

Honestly I made mine as simple as possible. 2 liter bottle, air line, air stone. Nothing in between, and no pressure realeases. If however something goes wrong just check your bottle by squeezing it. You'll know if you have any kind of pressure problems.

For a diffusor you could probably just look at ebay. I used a small air stone and it did the job just fine.

 

[Electric45]

did you run an actual airstone at night to make sure you were overdosing C02? because im actually selling my fish away since i have no means of combating algae so im planning on getting quite a few cherry shrimp and i dont want them to die haha.

 

[Cichlidfeesh]

All I had on the tank was the DIY CO2 generator and two aquaclear HOB's. I had 2 Rams and a couple cherry barbs in the tank and all seemed fine. The fact that I didn't have a proper diffusor probably prevented the tank from having too much CO2, but my plants grew like weeds so it was a win-win.

Before CO2:

CO2 bottle:

After 2 weeks of CO2:

 

[studd muffin]

awesome tanks!

 

[Electric45]

man that looks like some great growth. I took out all valves and just have the straight tubing with no resistance and my C02 is a steady stream of bubbles. its workin great.