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I have been looking into DIY CO2 for a little while. I haven't set it up yet, but have been gathering the bits and pieces I need.

I was going to diffuse the bubbles with a limewood airstone. Is that a good way? I have seen reactors and diffusers. What is the difference between the two?

What is the best way to diffuse the CO2 into the tank?

*Kristin*

I was going to diffuse the bubbles with a limewood airstone. Is that a good way?

Not really the best way. A lot of the gas will escape the tank before it saturates the water. With DIY CO2 you want to get as much of that gas as possible. I'm not sure that a glass diffuser will or won't work with DIY. Bensaf or one of the other plant guys might know. I do know that reactors work pretty well to use up just about all the gas that the yeast gives off.

The difference between the two is that a diffuser takes the gas and the pressure of the gas pushes against a plate with very tiny pores. This creates very tiny bubbles that will mostly saturate into the water before ever hitting the surface.

A reactor uses a powerhead and a cylindrical chamber to churn up the large gas bubbles and dissolve directly into the water in the chamber. The water comes into the chamber with less CO2 concentration and CO2 saturated water leaves the chamber.

Both are great ways to get CO2 into the tank. My choice is an external reactor. This way there is no clutter in the tank at all. It is also very efficient.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

what size is your tank btw? diy co2 is only effective up to 30g-ish

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"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

I was using the Limewood on my tank with the DIY for a while. I seemed to work pretty well. I also had to other bottles running on a bubble ladder though too!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

what size is your tank btw

29g

Moondog, do you have any suggestions as to the diffuser or reactor?

I have pretty much everything I need for DIY, except for a diffuser or reactor. I do have the limewood airstones though.

My KH and pH hasn't been matching up in the 29g, so I'm waiting on DIY for now. I may not use it at all. I am still deciding. I have only a little algae growth and my plants are doing great. The Stargrass and Alternantha are even doing good. So, I may just not worry about it.

*Kristin*

Kristin, You know I've been going through the same ordeal in talking about my 55. I found this new invention that just might work on your 29. Check it out:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=14711&inm=1&N=2004+113779+2035

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."