So I've started my first aquarium a year ago, and I've heavily planted it with Anubias, Java Ferns, Java Mosses, Proserpinaca Palustris, Riccia Fluitans and Red Root Floaters, so nothing too demanding.
It's a low tech 85l (52l of water) aquarium with an internal filter and heater set to 25*C (77*F). The stocking is 15 Ember Tetra, 12 Green Neon Tetras, 5 Otos, 2 Honey Gouramis and some Cheery and Amano shrimps.
I've been really interested in doing some CO2 lately and I've read about all of the common methods, from this community also. I know I probably don't need CO2 for this tank, but I've tried setting up a 2nd 30l tank with HC Cuba and Monte Carlo and those didn't really get a hold. Some of those plants are in this aquarium too and I want to save them.
I've read a lot about the yeast method and this one seems to be the most fun. This is the plan right now and I hope some of you can point out the flaws:
1. Currently I'm running a 200g sugar + 200ml water + gelatin solution; I think that lowering the sugar amount may also result in less CO2 per hour and I want to test this somehow
2. I'll be using 1.5l bottles with a narrower horizontal section area; I'm hoping this will reduce the surface of biological activity
3. I've setup a drop checker with 20mg/l solution and I'm also testing pH twice per day; at the start of the day and at the end of the day
4. Since I can't really regulate the amount of CO2 going into the aquarium, I think that raising and lowering the diffuser will impact how long the CO2 bubbles have to travel to the surface and therefor impact the dissolved CO2
5. I've ordered a solenoid valve and my plan is to setup a Y(T) junction on the airline tube. One way goes to the aquarium and another to the solenoid valve. During the day, I plan to shutoff the solenoid valve and open it during the night. My thinking is that, since there's less resistance on the solenoid valve path, the CO2 will just vent into the room and not reach the aquarium. A no return check valve is also needed on the aquarium path, so that the tank doesn't somehow drain through the other path lol.
6. I'm not using it right now, but I plan to setup a second bottle with water, to "wash" the gasses generated by the yeast solution, before going into the aquarium.
This is the plan so far. What do you guys think of it?
It's a low tech 85l (52l of water) aquarium with an internal filter and heater set to 25*C (77*F). The stocking is 15 Ember Tetra, 12 Green Neon Tetras, 5 Otos, 2 Honey Gouramis and some Cheery and Amano shrimps.
I've been really interested in doing some CO2 lately and I've read about all of the common methods, from this community also. I know I probably don't need CO2 for this tank, but I've tried setting up a 2nd 30l tank with HC Cuba and Monte Carlo and those didn't really get a hold. Some of those plants are in this aquarium too and I want to save them.
I've read a lot about the yeast method and this one seems to be the most fun. This is the plan right now and I hope some of you can point out the flaws:
1. Currently I'm running a 200g sugar + 200ml water + gelatin solution; I think that lowering the sugar amount may also result in less CO2 per hour and I want to test this somehow
2. I'll be using 1.5l bottles with a narrower horizontal section area; I'm hoping this will reduce the surface of biological activity
3. I've setup a drop checker with 20mg/l solution and I'm also testing pH twice per day; at the start of the day and at the end of the day
4. Since I can't really regulate the amount of CO2 going into the aquarium, I think that raising and lowering the diffuser will impact how long the CO2 bubbles have to travel to the surface and therefor impact the dissolved CO2
5. I've ordered a solenoid valve and my plan is to setup a Y(T) junction on the airline tube. One way goes to the aquarium and another to the solenoid valve. During the day, I plan to shutoff the solenoid valve and open it during the night. My thinking is that, since there's less resistance on the solenoid valve path, the CO2 will just vent into the room and not reach the aquarium. A no return check valve is also needed on the aquarium path, so that the tank doesn't somehow drain through the other path lol.
6. I'm not using it right now, but I plan to setup a second bottle with water, to "wash" the gasses generated by the yeast solution, before going into the aquarium.
This is the plan so far. What do you guys think of it?