Good Morning Plant Experts and Enthusiasts alike,
I have some questions if anyone cares to answer. I am including pictures too so I don't have to write a 1000 words.
This is my 20 gal. planted tank with no special substrate (it's fine gravel-not sand though), 96 watt Coralife compact flourescent-reduced to 72 watts- that's one quarter less light (I achieved this by painting one bulb black), and DIY CO2 injection through the top of the Aquaclear 50 powerfilter.
One of my concerns is weather I'm getting good distribution of CO2 throughout the tank, especially to the sides and bottom, where I'm seeing the most algae growth.
What is the best way to diffuse CO2?
Should I add a power head too? I tried but it sure adds alot of turbulence, maybe I didn't have it positioned or angled right. what's the best position and angle?
My penny wart is helping to diffuse the light...and I see alot of bubbles on the bottom of the pads/leafs-probably CO2-I guess that's good That I'm not loosing it to the surface-but are other plants getting any.
Ok here are the pics.
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I can't really figure out your current method of CO2 distribution - do you insert the CO2 tube into the AC intake? If so, I would imagine you lose most of the CO2 at the output because the surface of the AC output is too wide and the gas is not perfectly mixed with water.
I would suggest a DIY reactor powered by a small power head. Something similar to this:
http://ovas.ca/index.php?topic=34309.0
There are also lots of interesting ideas for a DIY CO2 diffuser here:
http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/CO2/diffuser.html
Good luck!
QuoteGood luck!
Thanks Zima...
I looked at both those and got new direction...the unknown makes me panic a little...I think I got it now. ::)
I also Googled DIY CO2 and found really easy to follow instructions at Chuck something or others site.
Here's that link.
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/diy_reactor.htm (http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/diy_reactor.htm)
Here's the setup you refer to. charlie gave me a heads up about the mod allowing excess CO2 to go back up and through the power head. Works fine......for now ;),
I'm checking pressurized systems for an upgrade ::)
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