Diffuser and Diffusing CO2

[ddavila06]

2 questions regarding diffusers:

what's a good diffuser that you have not had issues with and actually did its job well done?

what would the best way to diffuse CO2 into my 125 be? was wondering since my aquarium is 6 feet long that i might need to split it into 2 diffusers. can that be done? would it be nessesary? thanks!

[krisw]

What type of filter do you have running on that tank, Damian?

[ddavila06]

the canister fluval 405s. i have read though that they can get airlock if i stick the hose into the intake...i could always try though.

[krisw]

Oh right... You can try it, but they will likely airlock. So, you're probably left with either using a glass diffuser positioned underneath the output of one of those filters. Or, you could setup a closed loop system just for CO2 diffusion. Long term, you'd probably be happier with the closer loop system, but it would likely cost more up-front unless you get a pump/pipe for cheap. If interested though, Dave could hopefully chime in on how he plumbed his.

[ingg]

I plumbed it into the bulkheads and a closed loop, only really doable if you have a reef ready tank - or are willing to really rip up the tank to set it in place.


Essentially, draw water on an intake, run it through an inline reactor, through a water pump, return to tank.

My return goes over the top back of the tank, to the tank floor, and splits into four jets on the floor of the tank. These jets have LocLine nozzles on them, poke up just a little out of the substrate. They allow me to a) release co2 laden water at the tank floor, and b), direct flow into any potential dead areas due to hardscape items blocking flow.

It was a blatant ripoff of how Ghazanfar set his 215.

[ddavila06]

i tihnk i would be happier with the glass diffuser, i was checking prices and they seen to run in the $20s so thats no issue. im also possible and very likely getting one of those (air flow devices Dave mentioned before that start with a K, can not remember the name right this moment) and position the diffusser right below so that any very fine bubbles coming out might get chopped-up a little more by that.

another question i have is, i have the basic set-up ready to go. i put on the regulator which has this:

*CO2 regulator with dual gauge, electronic solenoid valve, and precision needle valve. Perfect for reef aquarium with calcium reactor setup or plant aquarium with CO2 setup. and is from here:
*http://www.reeffanatic.com/products/co2 ... ulator.asp

now im confussed, it measures the pressure in PSI and Kg/Cm2 which one is which and where should i adjust each at? and how important is how many bubbles per second come out is/or how many should i adjust it at? do i make sense? i need some slapping on the face please! i been reading too much for now

[chris_todd]

Damian,

I think Dave was talking about Koralia powerheads.

As for bubbles per second, that is very important. Perhaps others who have experience with CO2 should be answering this question, but I think in a 125g, you should start with 1 bubble every 2-5 seconds, make sure your fish are OK, and perhaps measure (e.g., with a drop checker) or estimate (using the pH/KH method - google for this) your CO2 levels, and then move your way up from there. Bubble counts of 1-5 per second seem to be the range I see in published data.

HTH,
Chris

[ingg]

Koralia Powerheads, yes.

There is an ebay seller with what looks like a knockoff I am dying to try - lot lower pricing for huge flow, but who knows if they are as good....

[ddavila06]

i just plugged in the whole thing into the intake of the filter. im going to take my chances with it, if airlock happens fluval has a "pump" kind of thing and i can pump out the ai. maybe i can design sometihng or attach something to the output so that when that something stops moving it would mean that water is no longer coming out...

tested the ph and is at a surpricing 7.6 and i have like 6-7-8 bubbles coming out per sec. i can easily make that less but water to give it a try high up and control it down as needed if needed because i no longer can see the bubbles now (hose into intake)

i need lots of fingers crossed, thanks all for suggesting, and DAVE, that site in how to set up the CO2 system goes step by step as if teching a child, was perfect! thanks http://www.rexgrigg.com/regset.html

[ddavila06]

update:
the co2 has one of those electronic selenoid valves so i set it up to start early around 7~ am, it is now 10:35 and the ph has dropped to around 6.9-7.0 fish look fine, nothing weird yet, will check again around midday