PLANTED TANK: MY NEW CO2 REACTOR!!!

[fishoexplotion1]

what does the co2 do or the co2 reactor or defusal or what ever its called why does it make your aquarium plants heathier

[smokinjojo74]

@fishoexplotion1... 6th grade science lesson lol, ch.1 lesson 1, plants take in co2(carbon dioxide) and light to create photosynthesis and in turn create sugars and chlorophyll to be burned as energy which is where the oxygen comes back into your aquarium and the process starts all over again

[fishoexplotion1]

@smokinjojo74 lol i do know that about the photosynthesis and stuff i was just wondering what the co2 reactor or defusal do like does it give your fish more oxygen or does it makes your plants more healthy

[smokinjojo74]

@fishoexplotion1 oh okay lol, sorry bout that... but yea, i mean when you think about it, it does give your fish more available oxygen simply bc the plants have a constant source of co2(with a good diffuser) broken down into the water column to take in but also with the o2(for the fish) because its created and released back into the water column by the plants and also helps to eat up ammonia, nitrate& nitrite because of the speeded up plants, or thats my understanding of it lol, hope this helps

[smokinjojo74]

@fishoexplotion1 if not jus let me know what youre confused about an ill try to help ya out

[fishoexplotion1]

@smokinjojo74 THAT WAS MY QUESTION!!! lol does the co2 reactor give more oxygen or does it just help the plants

[smokinjojo74]

@fishoexplotion1- well, the reactor jus breaks down the co2 into tinier bubbles so they can enter the water column, but yea lol it does a little bit of both in my opinion cuz it puts co2 into the water but using the reactor makes it more available to the plants, also so it helps the plants grow, take in nutrients and of course let off oxygen

[jogizmaj]

CO2 is not necessary for those plants!! Bubbles are massive, so no chance for 100% conversion like u said! Nice angels btw!

[yournamehere954]

Do Co2 help your plant grow as well or just make them greener?

[nuggetwetyou]

u have an amazing tank. im hoping to start a nice planted tank. but can u suggest some plants that large angels, a silver shark wont ruin?

i just got rid of my silver dollars because i wanted plants.

so how do u get started? btw i havent graveled cleaned my tank in a very long time. however i do frequent water changes

[harshwbajpai]

Nice and simple .

[ForumBoosters]

Find Out More @ TheExoticFish . com

[Esposito1224]

I love the random Angel fish chillin' out next to the bubbles.....

[ajk423]

Would it work if I connected a simple air stone to the end of the C02 pipe and just bury this under the gravel? Surely this is a more effective way of trapping the C02 in the aquarium, the gravel will help to break the larger bubbles down into smaller ones.

[blownable]

Actually it makes larger bubbles that way. Mucho bettero to leave it in your water, but behind plants, or wood, or rocks, to hide its ougleyness

[sk8crazy93]

Like the plants =D

[sexy52637]

is that a 55?

[2ndwitness]

Wouldn't it be easier just to put the CO2 through the canister or HOB filter intake and have a few shells or bottle caps in a filter media section to trap the bubbles?

Then you wouldn't have so much stuff inside the tank.

Just a tube going to the intake.

You could regulate the amont of C02 by the number of bottle caps trapping the bubbles.

[WhamValdez]

Unfortunately there wouldn't be as complete absorption of the gas into the water, quite a lot would simply spill into the tank.  Also, CO2 is very corrosive over time and it will eat away at the plastic impeller in the filter.

[2ndwitness]

I've been running C02 through my Fluval 404 for 5 yrs now. How much longer will the impeller last? and how much does a new one cost? Also the C02 trapped in the bottle caps is constantly being dissolved by a very fast flow of water. Yes, some escapes through the outflow. But in terms of sugar how many bags in one year? I change the diy C02 about once per mth.

[WhamValdez]

You know what, ignore what I said. I'm confusing with CO2 corrosion on metal and it's just not a factor on plastic.

Do you have any problems with the gas going into the filter causing one big bubble and messing up the water flow? I think that is what messes up impellers, when they are running dry.

As for sugar, it depends on how big your DIY reactor is. Two 2 liter bottles at 1 cup each probably means 4 cups a month.

[2ndwitness]

I have not had it completely stop the water flow but occaisionally I can hear a big bubble going through which seems to slow down the flow for a few seconds. It does make some noise when a bubble hits the impeller. A second later it comes through into the tank. Some other makes of canister or HOB filter may respond differently. The sugar qtys are about right.

[2ndwitness]

I also think that different types of media in the filter compartments may stop bubbles getting through and cause a build up. A water polishing media may impede the bubbles but I have never tried it.

[2ndwitness]

Cool thing about the bubbles going through the impeller is that it stirs and chops up the bubbles which become so small they get caught in the current in the tank and most never make it to the surface. I think it works good. check out my 30 gal tank on my channel.

[NamesROverated]

co2 reacts with stuff to for carbonic acid which isn't too good to have in the filter

[eazyone23]

Could you see the different`s the Co2 has done to your plants?

[tarimakashi]

does it work if i directly connect the co2 to the powerhead so then it will blow co2 directly into the water? or do i need a tube to collect the bubbles? i don't really get the purpose of the tube, how does the plant get the co2? need help please... someone...

[matickidd]

you need the bubbles to be collected and churned around in the tube to break them up and move them around so the CO2 dissolves into the water. then when its in the water not in bubbles it escapes the tube and into the rest of the tank. if you just have the bubbles being blown into the water straight away they just rise to the surface and the co2 escapes into the air

[beyondersam]

first question: it works, you need to check if the bubbles get smaller and dissolved in the water.

second question: you can make a device, tube, cup, bottle or whatever gets the bubbles dissolved in the water.

third question: the plant gets the CO2 that is dissolved in the water through its leaves, and it helps the growth a lot.

[grunt182820]

when you find it we might

no help from mommy now

you have to find all by yourself..

DICKHEAD

[aquariaspot]

this video is awesome! i'd love for you to make it part of the videos at AquariaSpot,com so all the other members could benefit from it. Great DIY!

[samthekunt]

does it fill up with gas eventually?

I have a very similar design using 2215 but i have air stone and even though the co2 bubbles are small and geting chopped around eventualy a pocket of co2 forms towards the top. Also once the pocket forms diffusion seems to decrease so the cycle is vicious. I was wondering if you had similar troubles further into operation becuase, whilst it is inevitable, it takes a while for the pocket to form. Ive had to vent excess co2 routinely wich is wasteful i think

[9winDuDown9]

I was thinking abut about making one out of chunks of foam and just let it go out like that as a reactor. I was just curious do I need a bubble counter to run a good tank? and do you also think the method I am going to do get rid of all co2 wasterfull bubbling out?

[samthekunt]

i didnt make this clip, but...if u want to count bubbles...you will need a bubble counter...quite simple. But you don't need a bubble counter to 'run a good tank' as such..no

[9winDuDown9]

Thanks for the advice. =)

[Eigeroo]

u use cel on it? do i need a cel ?

[garrett6699]

nice! I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT A $50 DOLLAR RED SEA CO2 REACTOR and yours seems to work just as well! NICE JOB!

[AweSomo84]

Looks nice :) the aquarium that is :P

[AweSomo84]

let the air be pushed trought the water , not sucked up.,..

[AweSomo84]

my mistake , :P

[master4578]

beautiful !

[Wawawawa23]

pH swings from CO2 are not detrimental to fish as pH swings from say, adding sodium bicarbonate. The difference is the pH swing from CO2 puts very little osmotic stress on the fish compared to other pH factors. I have been using CO2 with no nightly interruption for years with no bad effects.

[jean7cox]

depends on what type of fish you have

[hatstalker]

reactor sounds cool but i would prefer nuclear fission now that would be interesting!!!!

[ouija818]

that should be ok for low light plants 1 wat per gallon should be just fine but of course the more wats per gallon the better.

[darkspirit14]

Can anybody tell me wether my lighting is good enough for my plants. i have a 20 gallon with a total of about 19 to 20 watts lighting flourecant full hood. i want some low lighting plants like anacharis, java moss, java ferns, anubias, some amazon swords if possible. and i would like to know if they can be planted in pool filter sand or sand. and i would also want to know if i still need to fertilze them.i dont want to use co2 because i cant afford it plese help!thanks.(ANYBODY PLEASE RESPOND)

[Emsanangel123]

well i cant help much but seriously why is everyone putting a thumb down on ur comment?

[darkspirit14]

wow.late comment.

i dont know why people thumb down me...

there are always people out there who are just stupid and immature.

[Emsanangel123]

i know, today ive gotten like 2 hate mails for doing nothing... guess its just a bad day for me...

[bonham2112]

This a better one.......Take one can of coke shake it up,open it up and throw it in the fishtank...................onl­y joking!!!!

[HarlanAshmore]

or even better freeze the can of coke when both sides pop out and its totally frozen throw it at concrete as hard as u can and it will explode

[donghyunwon610]

lols dont actually do this :)

[CarSmashBoy]

thanks for posting this... ive been reading, but reading it and seeing it work are very different. this part makes sense now. you look at co2 tanks at welding shops? i hear a 20lb cylender will work 3 tanks for 3 years... at 2$ per year.

[donghyunwon610]

how do you make the bottle of yeast and sugar spit out co2 because mine doesnt do that so i got it make it suck it out with the power head

[katukissu]

You take 2L Coke bottle, add 400 grams of sugar, then 1 teaspoon of yeast and then add warm water (not hot) leaving ca 10 cm of free room at the top of the bottle. Now close it with your finger and shake it well. Close it up and after 10-20 minutes you should see first bubbles. It helps, if you keep some lihgt (like 30-40 W) lihght near the bottle to keep it warm.

[katukissu]

piece II

The warmer it is, the better it works. :) You can also try to build a bottle sylinder out of PVC

And it is very important that all the connections are airtight!!! (use paly-doh dor examle around the connections) and it will work just fine :)

[katukissu]

sorry for the spelling mistakes- play-doh I meant.

and not dor but "for" sorry.

[AlanMolstad]

Because you have clearly a very good system, i suggest you make another YouTube video clip about it.

But this time start at the start with the type of Gravel and where it's from.

Then go from the very start of the CO2 system, show how each part of your system looks and how it runs.

Show us how to make the CO2 and how the air lines run.

Then talk about the plants and where you get them.

[gooded01]

aww man thats a lot of work :P im happy to answer any questions you have.. alternatively put ur tank on youtube.. and I'll be happy to suggest some ways of optimising it for plants if youd like.. Cheers

[ancientpimp]

I dont think a video would be necessary on how to make diy CO2 but it could help, although theres tons of info on the net with illustrations. Just search for DIY CO2

[SaeYoung]

How much Co2 do plants take in?>

[wwaayynne57]

which is better for a diffuser, a power head connection were it spits the bubbles out really fast or those clear chambers?

[gooded01]

Ah think both are doing the same thing.. cant really answer that for u.. depends how many cords u want coming from ur tank.. im currently runing a powerhead into the co2 thingo so i can use the spraybar as normal tho

[lugia10159]

@wwaayynne57 A Power Head thingey

[lugia10159]

Respond to this video...  And a Air Valve

[wwaayynne57]

do u run it at night too?

[gooded01]

Yes.. I choose to ignore pH swings.. has never been detrimental to my fish as i do regular water changes.. angels of 7+ years seem to be evidence it is ok in there ;)

[Leroyjohnson124]

you should put in on a timer and turn it off at night. you want the co2 to exit your tank at night

[HildeIII]

That will cause ph swings

[pojhmongyang]

If you put that pump on a timer it shouldn't cause too much ph swings during the night. Great setup though. Looks like you're doing a diy yeast setup.

[wwaayynne57]

how come the co2 bubbles dont fill up the chamber, and does it use any electricity to run the co2?

please reply!

[gooded01]

Hi, i think at the time it had enough flow to completely dissolve 98% of the C02.. the gas is from a CO2 sugar/yeast bottle underneith the tank, was replacing the mix every month roughly, no electricity.

[07espada]

It think it works for you because of your slow bubble count. In my case I'm dealing with 100 bubbles a minute and that means that the CO2 has to dissolve fast to avoid that it fills the whole diffusion chamber.

[jordan8medeiros]

can you give me any advice on a home made Co2 like materials i would need to use etc.?

[danielreyesc]

you take a two leter bottle two cups of sugar one teaspoon of yeast and fill almost to the top with warm a water, figure out a way to connect an airline and enjoy

[kmpkingshorse]

way cool!

[gooded01]

C02 + H20 = Sugars + O2 if you add C02 you can enhance photosynthesis = Grow better plants faster..

[kmpkingshorse]

correct me if i'm wrong, but is that equation energetically favorable that will occur spontaneously?

[gooded01]

Im sorry.. not spontaneously.. it requires a plant to get it all grooving along ;)

[TsLOw]

wut is the point of the co2? i want to get a plant tank myself and just wondering...

[lonleyaznboi9]

how did u build it???

[gooded01]

Just remove the cap from the end of the eheim spray bar.. cut a hole for the bar to fit into the clear tube.. and another at the bottom of the clear tube for your C02 to fit.. and then just find a suction cup to fix it to your glass.. super easy :) the hardest part is finding a clear plastic tube somewhere..

[barneysboys]

brilliant idea. I like how you've used the spray bar from the eheim.

I tried so many reactors. I'm just using a rio power reactor now. Some people just put the co2 tube directly into the intake of the eheim. but it's all personal choice really!

[MrFoKai]

oh wait... that was you on the first comment =P durr

[MrFoKai]

Haha fight fight fight! jk regardless its a nice tank lol

[MrFoKai]

whoa nice tank.. what size is that

[Berettah1985]

Thnx.. is 200L.. love experimenting with it.. been going for about 8 years now.. :)

[gooded01]

Dang! my bro is always logged in.. didnt realise.. I take full credit for my fish tank.. berettah dont do a thing 4 it!!!! :P hehe

[berlaarlier]

yo respect he does is job very good homie