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I'm just getting into plants and I'm going to use co2. I don't want to spend too much money to buy a co2 reactor at the store so I'm turning to DIY.

What materials would I need and how would I go about setting it up?

Also, how would I go about regulating the ammount of co2 that goes into my tank?

Thanks in advance

There are plenty of sites...try a google search .

Basic equipment
2L (or 3L) soda bottle
Drill
Check Valve
Airline tube
Fish tank to recieve CO2
Optional Barb adapter (see [link=this thread]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Planted%20Aquaria/55803.html" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link])

For the mix you'll need
Bakeing yeast (larger jars can be found in the baking asile, packets can be found in the refrigerated section)
Sugar
Water.

Variations exist on how to diffuse the CO2 into the tank. I use an old gravel vac and a powerhead, some people place it into the filter, others use an airstone on the end of the tube (not using the airpump obviously as you want to minimize surface agitation).

^_^[hr width='40%']"Has someone taken your faith? It's real, the [link=pain]http://babelfish.qwertydigital.com/" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link] you feel.
The life, the love, You die to heal.
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Babel, could you describe the "old gravel vac and powerhead" method?

Just how it is set up

For a diffusion bell you can take the head off an undergravel filter, anchor it into your gravel and allow the elbow bend to trap the co2 long enough to give it a chance to absorb into the water. Better yet is to take the airline running from your co2 bottle and hooking it to the fresh air intake on a powerhead, this allows the powerhead to chop the co2 into fine bubbles and disperse it into your tank increasing absorbtion. Basically anything that either traps the co2 and holds it in suspension in the water column or breaks the co2 down into fine bubbles allowing it to be quickly disolved will work.

I had an old broken Gravel vac tube left in a drawer and modified it to be a diffuser...since mine was cracked it's not working as well, I'll probably alter it some ...when I get the time....


Basically we have one gravel vac tube (or a small soda bottle) that acts as the diffuser.

Run the airline tube and a powerhead into a tight hole (silicone would work great here ) in the diffuser. I've filled mine with the netting from an onion bag (red stuff) to further help trap the co2 so it doesnt rise too far up. You can also use cut up portions of filter sponges or the like.

Co2 rises, powerhead pushes co2 bubbles down to allow them longer to diffuse into the water and then forces co2 laden water back into the tank without the bubbles rising to the surface.
Mattyboombatty (if I remember right) has a great mock up of one he did....which inspired me to do mine...I'll see if I can find the original thread.

^_^[hr width='40%']"Has someone taken your faith? It's real, the [link=pain]http://babelfish.qwertydigital.com/" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link] you feel.
The life, the love, You die to heal.
The hope that starts, The broken hearts...
I’ve got another confession my friend, I’m no fool.
I’m getting tired of starting again, Somewhere new."[/font]

i find putting airstone at the end of the tube in the tank is the easiest of them all.

hmmm I think I'm just gonna stick to a bell diffuser made from the top of a soda bottle. Then again...if you had maybe a diagram of the siphon tube and power head diffuser I might try that. Think you could give a stab at a diagram?