DIY Co2

Hi guys, as you might have seen in my introduction I'm just in the process of planting up a 150ltr tank. The substrate is aquarium sand and I'm using liquid fertiliser also. It currently has two 24" T8 lights running for much of the day.
I'm planning to set up a DIY Co2 system (sugar and yeast etc) tomorrow. From what I have read 150ltr is probably the upper limit for the DIY system so I have decided to set up two 2ltr bottles and run them at the same time instead to make sure the plants have enough. Im going to run this directly into a Internal Fluval 3 plus filter so that the impeller help disperse it. I have read that Co2 can lower the PH but mine is currently at around 7.8 so didn't think that would be a problem. As this is my first attempt at this I would really appreciate any help or advice? One question I do have as well as this would be as regards to oxygenation. Should I continue with the air stone and pump or stop this as the plants will produce there own oxygen?

Thank in advance! Adrian

i keep my tanks in the consevatory at the moment so dont need co2 i carnt keep up with them they grow that quick

Oh that's internesting, didnt realise that they wouldn't need Co2 if in contact with direct sunlight. I would have thought Co2 was always required.

My tank has lots of Amazon Sword and Vallis in it and it's not in direct sunlight but still grows like there's no tomorrow. Only bought it two weeks ago and it's doubled in size. No Co2 here, just some fertiliser in a bottle. Turned my water red though, so be warned!

as long as theres plenty of light natural or artifical they will go the more light the better

My room is quite bright throughout the day, then as soon as i get in from work (about 8 ) the lights go on until midnight.

same with mine during the day i use sunlight then as it gets dark artifical lights come on till about midnight

i think it all depends what nutrients are in your tank
and what type of light you are running mick as direct
sunlight there's a lot of different angles to look at it i am going a few routes one sand one sand and aquatic compost one just aquatic compost and one cat litter route all i am going to use aqua grow light and home made c02 system i will also be using a power head or pump to move the water low down in the water column to make sure i dont get a build up of nitrate

Some plants are easier to grow than others I presume as well. I bought a collection of random plants and I think some are likely to need the co2. I'll have to keep a photo log to see how it goes. Hopefully won't fail lol!

elodea densa and cabomba and
Hygrophila polysperma grow quite easily
amazon swords and java fern also grow well but
with co2 can grow a bit wild and need pruning and cropping i like the pygmy chain swords there is also
a lot of plant that are sold as aquatic plants and are not they are pot plants that just like wet conditions
so be careful when buying plants for the tank

Well I set it all up today and it's working a treat, well impressed! Little worried I've put too much water in the bottles but I'm keeping an eye on them.

mick the fish wrote:i keep my tanks in the consevatory at the moment so dont need co2 i carnt keep up with them they grow that quick

Is that your tank collection mick? :lol!:

yep till i sort out the the fish house

How many tanks have you got now mick?

your bottles should be about half full sugar water and
bread makers yeast should work fine i would make a particle trap where the pipe from the co2 reactor
should go in to water and the pipe out of this should be well above the water line which mean the co2 as
to pass through the water removing particles that will get in to the tank and make it cloudy i will try and put a drawing up at a later date

ive only got 7 at the moment running 20 more to come

I hope i don't catch up with you. We have 6 empty tanks at the moment in the hope of setting up a couple soon.

That would be great if you could cheers. I've currently got the co2 going directly into the filter so the impeller can disperse it. Seems to be working really well. Wasn't aware it could make the water cloudy however. It's clear at the mo.

if the water sugar yeast mixtuer droplets get in to the
pipe they make there way in to the tank

Oh I see, I've left plenty of room between the water level and the top of the bottle but I suppose it will still be possible if it evaporates. I'll have to keep an eye on it.

This is the first pic after I have set up the DIY Co2 system and planted it up. Just a waiting game now to see how it grows.
[img][/img]

Looks mint mate, how big is it?

Its 150 litre at the moment, I realise the angel fish will get bigger but I'm planning on upgrading when the time comes. Just hoping I can move all the plants as easily.

I think it looks stunning, the contrasting colours are beaut.

very relaxing to watch in the dark i bet