[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
DIY CO2
>P.S. Considering the possibility of DIY CO2. Comments, suggestions?
>Heather :))))
Hi Heather-
I have been using DIY CO2 for a little over a month. What I have run
into is extreme fluctuations in levels of CO2. It just about gasses the
fish out of a 60 gallon tank when I first mix it, but later in the
month, it barely supplies a 10 gallon tank. For the littler tanks in
the house, I siliconed suction cups to glass jars, and stick them to the
glass upsidedown, low to the bottom, and somewhere invisible. Then I
feed an airline from the CO2 into the glass jar, and let it fill. Then
I take out the airline, and just let that measured amount of CO2
dissolve into the tank throughout the day. Yes, its a bunch of fiddling
each morning to fill each tank's jar, but its MUCH more stable that way.
For the big tank, I have decided that bottled, pressurized CO2 is the
only way. I can't keep a reasonably stable pH with DIY CO2.
One other thing... a bit of yeast nutrient added (say, 1/4 t.) to your
mix will make a more steady production of CO2. You can pick up the
yeast nutrient very cheaply at any hardware store that carries wine
making supplies. One of the reasons I believe I get such violent levels
of CO2 out of my mix is because of high altitude. If you are close to
sea level, you will have less to worry about.
Regards-
Marci