Re: [APD] Alternative Co2 sources

[Bill Wichers <billw at waveform_net>]

> --- "Richard J. Sexton" <richard at aquaria_net> wrote:
> > I noticed this today on some hydroponics site:
> >
> > 'CO2 can be supplied by various means, including
> > . . .
> > new catalytic
> > converters that combine propane with oxygen to produce
> > CO2 and water vapor
> > without a flame. These are currently being marketed as
> > mosquito repellants."
> >
> > Mosquito repellents?

Usually they are sold as mosquito *attractants*, but the idea is that the 
mosquitos are attracted to a trap that kills them. I have one of these 
units (it's not a catalytic converter though, it's just a very small burner 
that runs off a propane tank that lasts about 4-5 months). The unit I have 
uses the propane flame to produce both heat and CO2, and when the mosquitos 
come close it has a fan and an enclosed UV light to both pull and lure the 
mosquitos into the trap where the fan mulches them and blows them into a 
collection bag. In my particular unit there is an after market add-on of 
additional mosquito trap netting that was installed by the 15-20 spiders 
that live on the unit and make meals of the many insects it attracts. Smart 
little guys getting their easy meals like that :-)

Apparently the CO2 is a big mosquito attractant. The unit does seem to be 
very effective, and after running it for a while (nearly two years), it 
does seem to reduce mosquito populations. We are near a few large ponds 
here and the bats alone can't seem to keep the mosquito population at 
manageable levels.

I would recommend NOT trying to use propane to produce CO2 for a tank 
though. The units are intended to vent outdoors, and they most likely 
produce more than just CO2 (CO for example, which is deadly). Also, if the 
propane burner leaks or doesn't achieve 100% combustion then you will have 
a gradual buildup of propane in the area of the unit which could pose an 
explosion hazard. CO2 bought from gas suppliers might be cheaper than 
propane too, and it has the advantage of having built-in fire retarding 
properties ;-)

     -Bill




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Waveform Technology
UNIX Systems Administrator

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