I think using glycerin is my last mistake to fix. I knew I'd heard someone mention something besides water in the bubble counter before, but couldn't find it. Glad it was mentioned here!
Hi mj love love love your videos and ive created my own scape im a 100l tank that is 110m long. I have a diffuser at the opposite end of my tank from the outflow but the flown doesn’t affect the flownof the co2
In process of re-establishing a much larger planted setup. Had never used CO2 before in my smaller tanks which may have housed 1 or 2 plants. I find your videos very informative, clear, concise with little or no BS filler. Initially thought about trying the homemade 2-bottle set up but it’s short term and messy. Setting up a 60gal and considering using the tank and gauge-based format shown in this video (of course dependent on setup and continued costing). My concern is on sourcing replacement CO2 (refillable vs non-refillable) bottles and $$$$. New subscriber. 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
Welcome to the channel! I'm running a 5g tank on 75g and haven't replaced it in about 4months so far - Got it filled for around $15 I believe...maybe a bit less. Hope your build goes well!
I have a bubble counter with water but.... it has a special hole where u refill it with a syringe. So no need to unplug anything. Its made by aquapros. Really handy.
I think u might of helped me, the valve check being slightly far away might be my culprit. My co2 runs fine but always lags to start. I have to increase bubble counter to force the gas through and then reset it correctly again everytime at start , super annoying
bro started a new planted tank 2 of them.. one with high co2 and other with low co2.. also different soils.. in the high co2 tank there is brown dust and hairy brown stuff on all plants.. and looks dull after 4 weeks but the low co2 one has none of this problem but some leaves melting orthers growing well.. the high co2 tank was cycled.. in dark start method.. 2nd one was not cycled.. but showing better water clarity and none of this brown stuff
What brand of hosing do you use? I can only find very stiff hosing. It looks like yours is very soft and bendy. Do you have a link where I can find this hosing???
Thank you for the video. I have couple questions below; - Do you use twinstar as you are selling on your site - Opposite idea ,using filter during CO2 may increase the water irritation on top so Co2 can escape more easily ? - For example ,we use hang on back filter as the same side as Co2 diffuser, I see that bubbles are going more further side of aquarium. So this waterfall effects push Co2 bubbles mid of aquarium?
👋! Yes I use twinstar and also Aquario diffusers (extended ones are cool). As for CO2 placement if you place near your HOB the water can push the bubbles down helping them stay in the aquarium and dissolve - and be distributed further in the aquarium.
Good question - in our studio we have used a strong air pump to create surface agitation/oxygenation in a 36" long tank with the CO2 diffuser on the opposite side. Plants are thriving and CO2 levels are stable so haven't had any issues
Thanks so much. I just bought my first co2 regulator from co2art. I cannot get the diffuser to bubble. Now I believe I have water in the line. I'm going to open the regulator and let it flow and see if it starts to bubble.
Diffusers can take a bit to show bubbles. Sometimes bigger ones first then smaller ones. You can crank up the flow temporarily to push it through and get it going faster then back the flow down.
I wish I did! It’s a great tip and definitely works - but it can also be mineral oil, which is really easy to get and works great for the same purpose. That’s what I’m using in all the bubble counters in the studio.
Inline diffusers are great options as well. More efficient when it comes to dissolving the gas in the aquarium and if you don’t like the look in your tank that’s the way to go
Ive been running co2 from the 2 bottle setup (that i learned from your channel 😁) with daily ferts (flourish and flourish excel), about 6 root tabs, and about 2 inches of the enriched aquasoil substrate on a 10g extremely heavily planted tank with a large variety of plants with no fish in it (only some pest snails that hitched a ride from the store) so i dont necessarily have to worry about killing anything by having too much co2. I dont even have a co2 checker because of that fact. And i never turn the co2 off because no fish to kill, pretty much just an underwater garden and my question is: should i put my diffuser near my HOB filter intake? Its literally SO planted that i dont think the filter flow even really reaches the other side where the diffuser is but theoretically wouldnt i get better absorption if the co2 bubbles are going into the filter and back into the water that way? So theres more dispersion of co2-ified water flow..?
Also, is there such thing as too much co2 if I don't have any fish to worry about killing? im just basically feeding the plants all the nutrients i can think of in all the ways i know of
Good question! If the flow isn't getting to the other side of the tank, making a change in your diffuser location to better cover the tank is a good idea. In the case of an enclosed canister, near the intake is a good option as the gas will stay within the tubing/canister before being released into the tank. In the case of HOB, you run the risk of losing gas in the open top before it's full dissolved. If you're plants are healthy, I wouldn't worry about it. If they're showing signs of CO2 deficiency, consider two diffusers (you can get a y connector for around $25) then run one on either side. Again, if all is well, I think you're good :)
Also a good question - yes, that is definitely a thing. Biggest concern would be fish, but in your case, plants can be negatively affected by a large drop in pH from the increased CO2 amongst other things like nutrient imbalances
@BRSfresh I also don't have a heater and never do water changes only top ups. I know I've heard some plants do better with warmer waters but again it's so planted that I think a heater would barely fit and/or throw off the look that I'm going for and kinda be an eye sore to the jungle I have in there. Think it'd be worth trying to hide a heater inside the hob filter? Also should I be doing water changes if no fish in there? It's currently been running for about 2 months and absolutely no nitrate
Sounds like you have a great balance in there. With no fish you should be fine to continue what you’re doing. I have not had an issue with growing a variety of plants at room temp without a heater.
Do you still add plant fertiliser to your tanks alongside the co2? I'm just in the process of learning about it and want to add a co2 kit and was hoping to cut bk on all the chemical fertilisers in my tank
May depend a bit on your set up - but while the combo of CO2 and ferts will likely result in the best plant growth, if your goal is to cut back on ferts go ahead and just use CO2. We have multiple setups with only CO2, no ferts, and they are doing great. That said, when your planted substrate deteriorates (maybe after a year) ferts may be a needed supplement for your root feeders if you’re not otherwise using root tabs or changing the substrate.
Hi, I use the Aquario curved diffuser. ● I've seen your answer to someone else's questions. You said to put the check valve a few inches above the tank. How do I do that when the stem of the diffuser curves over the rim of the tank and down? I'm using an aquario curved diffuser S in a 60 p tank. Why do you need to elevate check valve? In my 60p tank, could I just clip the diffuser on, and it's at the right height? half way up
👋! No worries with that diffuser. You can just set the check valve in your tubing a couple inches below the curve. The point of it being high up in the tubing by the tank is to stop the back-flow of water up the diffuser that can happen when the CO2 shuts off. And to stop it early before it goes down the tubing behind the tank. In other words, if it’s further down the tubing behind the tank, when your CO2 turns back on, it may not have enough pressure to push through all that water, especially vertical, which could affect the gas flow in your tank or even if it gets to your tank at all. This doesn’t usually happen right away. If you have your check valve down low, your CO2 will probably run fine initially. But in my experience, at some point it doesn’t and when I move the check valve, it solves the problem. So now, I just start with it high a few inches below the rim. I hope that helps!
Absolutely it works. But if you have a canister filter using an in-line reactor is the best whereby the CO2 micro bubbles is dissolved before coming out of the outflow pipe of your filter. Sera Flore 500 or 1000 active reactor are amongst the best.
My check valve is definitely too far from my diffuser. What placement do you recommend for hang on back filtered tanks? I have my diffuser at the bottom middle of one side of my tank. I have two filters running on either end of a 40 breeder. Is there a better place than this?
👋! Set the diffuser about 2” back off the top rim and you should be good. That’s my go-to placement on multiple tanks and have had no problems. Too low (like the bottom of the tank) has resulted in the gas not effectively making it to the diffuser in my experience.
Both are great ideas! Would live to know your thoughts: Do you find that the rate of the bubbles through the olive oil makes you adjust the flow any higher to compensate for the viscosity or are you able to keep the bubble counter dialed the same as water? How many bubbles per second are you running? Thanks!
I'm not using CO2 diffuser as my CO2 is DIY that is not able to penetrate the ceramic diffuser So I use a better method and that is mixer, ISTA has it, CO2 mixmax, but I make it my own with powerhead, and a bottle. I know it is bad in appearance, but you can just put it behind, and let your plants hide it
A drop checker isn't more accurate? You're nuts. BPS only tells you how much you're injecting, it doesn't tell you actual CO2 levels. A drop checker does. There are very few things that will make a drop checker read inaccurately because it's measuring dissolved gas pH.
Baby oil has been known to work as well. The viscosity will be different between water, baby oil, and glycerin. Just make sure you are checking your CO2 checker and adjusting the flow for whatever you are using.
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Loved the glycerin tip - I knew people used something other than water, but didn't know what it was until now. Thanks!
I think using glycerin is my last mistake to fix. I knew I'd heard someone mention something besides water in the bubble counter before, but couldn't find it. Glad it was mentioned here!
What about inline diffusers? Glycerin was a good tip, I’ll try that one.
Hi mj love love love your videos and ive created my own scape im a 100l tank that is 110m long. I have a diffuser at the opposite end of my tank from the outflow but the flown doesn’t affect the flownof the co2
Been following this man and the team over at Green Aqua for so many years when it comes to freshwater.
Gute, nützliche Tipps zum Thema CO2! 😉
In process of re-establishing a much larger planted setup. Had never used CO2 before in my smaller tanks which may have housed 1 or 2 plants. I find your videos very informative, clear, concise with little or no BS filler. Initially thought about trying the homemade 2-bottle set up but it’s short term and messy. Setting up a 60gal and considering using the tank and gauge-based format shown in this video (of course dependent on setup and continued costing). My concern is on sourcing replacement CO2 (refillable vs non-refillable) bottles and $$$$. New subscriber. 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
Welcome to the channel! I'm running a 5g tank on 75g and haven't replaced it in about 4months so far - Got it filled for around $15 I believe...maybe a bit less. Hope your build goes well!
I have a bubble counter with water but.... it has a special hole where u refill it with a syringe. So no need to unplug anything. Its made by aquapros. Really handy.
I have learned a ton from your videos! Thank you, have a blessed day!
I'm just setting up my first CO2 system. This helps very much. Thank you.
That’s awesome 👏. What plants are you growing?
I think u might of helped me, the valve check being slightly far away might be my culprit. My co2 runs fine but always lags to start. I have to increase bubble counter to force the gas through and then reset it correctly again everytime at start , super annoying
I have definitely been there. Moving the check valve up to just a few inches past the top of the tank permanently fixed the problem!
Your videos are always such a help. Could you clarify how much bleach and how much water to use for cleaning the CO2 disc? Thanks!
Just 1 part bleach to 4 parts water should take care of it - remember to keep your diffuser running!
bro started a new planted tank 2 of them.. one with high co2 and other with low co2.. also different soils.. in the high co2 tank there is brown dust and hairy brown stuff on all plants.. and looks dull after 4 weeks but the low co2 one has none of this problem but some leaves melting orthers growing well.. the high co2 tank was cycled.. in dark start method.. 2nd one was not cycled.. but showing better water clarity and none of this brown stuff
What brand of hosing do you use? I can only find very stiff hosing. It looks like yours is very soft and bendy. Do you have a link where I can find this hosing???
this is what you're looking for (available for US shipment only)
brs.li/4eUCqiV
@@BRSfresh Thanks!
Thank you for the video. I have couple questions below;
- Do you use twinstar as you are selling on your site
- Opposite idea ,using filter during CO2 may increase the water irritation on top so Co2 can escape more easily ?
- For example ,we use hang on back filter as the same side as Co2 diffuser, I see that bubbles are going more further side of aquarium. So this waterfall effects push Co2 bubbles mid of aquarium?
👋! Yes I use twinstar and also Aquario diffusers (extended ones are cool). As for CO2 placement if you place near your HOB the water can push the bubbles down helping them stay in the aquarium and dissolve - and be distributed further in the aquarium.
@@BRSfresh thank you for your quick respond . very informative
Thanks setting mine up now and these are helpful
Awesome! Welcome to the wonderful world of CO2 😁
So great video about CO2 👌
What about using a air stone in the same tank would it be detrimental to the co2 amount
Good question - in our studio we have used a strong air pump to create surface agitation/oxygenation in a 36" long tank with the CO2 diffuser on the opposite side. Plants are thriving and CO2 levels are stable so haven't had any issues
Thanks so much. I just bought my first co2 regulator from co2art. I cannot get the diffuser to bubble. Now I believe I have water in the line. I'm going to open the regulator and let it flow and see if it starts to bubble.
Diffusers can take a bit to show bubbles. Sometimes bigger ones first then smaller ones. You can crank up the flow temporarily to push it through and get it going faster then back the flow down.
Thank you my friend.
Have you got a link for the Glycerin
I wish I did! It’s a great tip and definitely works - but it can also be mineral oil, which is really easy to get and works great for the same purpose. That’s what I’m using in all the bubble counters in the studio.
Why not shift to inline diffusers for the tanks that you run canister filters on ?
Inline diffusers are great options as well. More efficient when it comes to dissolving the gas in the aquarium and if you don’t like the look in your tank that’s the way to go
You mention using RO water in one of your tanks. Are you remineralizing with the addition of ferts or is are you also doing something else?
👋 Yes, remineralizer and a GH booster
Ive been running co2 from the 2 bottle setup (that i learned from your channel 😁) with daily ferts (flourish and flourish excel), about 6 root tabs, and about 2 inches of the enriched aquasoil substrate on a 10g extremely heavily planted tank with a large variety of plants with no fish in it (only some pest snails that hitched a ride from the store) so i dont necessarily have to worry about killing anything by having too much co2. I dont even have a co2 checker because of that fact. And i never turn the co2 off because no fish to kill, pretty much just an underwater garden and my question is: should i put my diffuser near my HOB filter intake? Its literally SO planted that i dont think the filter flow even really reaches the other side where the diffuser is but theoretically wouldnt i get better absorption if the co2 bubbles are going into the filter and back into the water that way? So theres more dispersion of co2-ified water flow..?
Also, is there such thing as too much co2 if I don't have any fish to worry about killing? im just basically feeding the plants all the nutrients i can think of in all the ways i know of
Good question! If the flow isn't getting to the other side of the tank, making a change in your diffuser location to better cover the tank is a good idea. In the case of an enclosed canister, near the intake is a good option as the gas will stay within the tubing/canister before being released into the tank. In the case of HOB, you run the risk of losing gas in the open top before it's full dissolved. If you're plants are healthy, I wouldn't worry about it. If they're showing signs of CO2 deficiency, consider two diffusers (you can get a y connector for around $25) then run one on either side. Again, if all is well, I think you're good :)
Also a good question - yes, that is definitely a thing. Biggest concern would be fish, but in your case, plants can be negatively affected by a large drop in pH from the increased CO2 amongst other things like nutrient imbalances
@BRSfresh I also don't have a heater and never do water changes only top ups. I know I've heard some plants do better with warmer waters but again it's so planted that I think a heater would barely fit and/or throw off the look that I'm going for and kinda be an eye sore to the jungle I have in there. Think it'd be worth trying to hide a heater inside the hob filter? Also should I be doing water changes if no fish in there? It's currently been running for about 2 months and absolutely no nitrate
Sounds like you have a great balance in there. With no fish you should be fine to continue what you’re doing. I have not had an issue with growing a variety of plants at room temp without a heater.
Is glycerin safe for the ultra fine defusers that warn against using mineral oils or any kind of 'bubble counter fluid'?
If glycerin or mineral spirits were to get to your diffuser, you would need to replace it. But that is unlikely to happen (at least in our experience)
Ty for your videos...helped me alot ❤
Great to hear!
I started with c02 about 2 weeks ago but chose a inline diffuser. Was this a mistake? I'm still trying to dial it in..
Definitely worth it! In-line diffusers are a great way to maximize absorption of the CO2 in your tank.
@@BRSfresh Awesome thanks for the confirmation. Hoping to see my plants take off soon!
Do you still add plant fertiliser to your tanks alongside the co2? I'm just in the process of learning about it and want to add a co2 kit and was hoping to cut bk on all the chemical fertilisers in my tank
May depend a bit on your set up - but while the combo of CO2 and ferts will likely result in the best plant growth, if your goal is to cut back on ferts go ahead and just use CO2. We have multiple setups with only CO2, no ferts, and they are doing great. That said, when your planted substrate deteriorates (maybe after a year) ferts may be a needed supplement for your root feeders if you’re not otherwise using root tabs or changing the substrate.
Which is the better co2 diffuser for you ?
I like the Aquario extended diffusers. Keeps the tube right at the top of the water so only the diffuser is visible in the tank.
Hi, I use the Aquario curved diffuser. ● I've seen your answer to someone else's questions. You said to put the check valve a few inches above the tank. How do I do that when the stem of the diffuser curves over the rim of the tank and down? I'm using an aquario curved diffuser S in a 60 p tank. Why do you need to elevate check valve? In my 60p tank, could I just clip the diffuser on, and it's at the right height? half way up
👋! No worries with that diffuser. You can just set the check valve in your tubing a couple inches below the curve. The point of it being high up in the tubing by the tank is to stop the back-flow of water up the diffuser that can happen when the CO2 shuts off. And to stop it early before it goes down the tubing behind the tank. In other words, if it’s further down the tubing behind the tank, when your CO2 turns back on, it may not have enough pressure to push through all that water, especially vertical, which could affect the gas flow in your tank or even if it gets to your tank at all. This doesn’t usually happen right away. If you have your check valve down low, your CO2 will probably run fine initially. But in my experience, at some point it doesn’t and when I move the check valve, it solves the problem. So now, I just start with it high a few inches below the rim. I hope that helps!
How about an external defuser? Any good?
Inline diffusers work well - you get the benefit of both not seeing the diffuser in the tank as well as a much higher dilution of the gas in the water
If i don't like CO2 bubbles... Can i set my difuser under de filter? The bubbles goes inside the filter and back to the water... Can it work?
Absolutely it works. But if you have a canister filter using an in-line reactor is the best whereby the CO2 micro bubbles is dissolved before coming out of the outflow pipe of your filter. Sera Flore 500 or 1000 active reactor are amongst the best.
Was just cursing my bubble counter being out of water again, not 20 minutes before watching. Glycerin will be here tonight. Thanks for the tip.
Glad to hear this helped!
What type of glycerin do you use?
Just a vegetable glycerin works fine
Is vegetable glycerine the same thing? It’s all i can find. And can you add food coloring to it to make it different colors?
That should work the same, but let us know if you get a different result.
My check valve is definitely too far from my diffuser. What placement do you recommend for hang on back filtered tanks? I have my diffuser at the bottom middle of one side of my tank. I have two filters running on either end of a 40 breeder. Is there a better place than this?
👋! Set the diffuser about 2” back off the top rim and you should be good. That’s my go-to placement on multiple tanks and have had no problems. Too low (like the bottom of the tank) has resulted in the gas not effectively making it to the diffuser in my experience.
I use an online diffuser which I think is much better. In my bubble counter I use olive oil.
Both are great ideas! Would live to know your thoughts: Do you find that the rate of the bubbles through the olive oil makes you adjust the flow any higher to compensate for the viscosity or are you able to keep the bubble counter dialed the same as water? How many bubbles per second are you running? Thanks!
Glycerin, eh? Off I go get me some then!!
I'm not using CO2 diffuser as my CO2 is DIY that is not able to penetrate the ceramic diffuser
So I use a better method and that is mixer, ISTA has it, CO2 mixmax, but I make it my own with powerhead, and a bottle. I know it is bad in appearance, but you can just put it behind, and let your plants hide it
Cool that you have something that works for you! ISTA has some great stuff
Sad Otto in to small tank, hmm..
While a drop checker is better than bbs, it’s not actually that accurate.
A drop checker isn't more accurate? You're nuts. BPS only tells you how much you're injecting, it doesn't tell you actual CO2 levels. A drop checker does. There are very few things that will make a drop checker read inaccurately because it's measuring dissolved gas pH.
maybe oil instead of glicerine??
Baby oil has been known to work as well. The viscosity will be different between water, baby oil, and glycerin. Just make sure you are checking your CO2 checker and adjusting the flow for whatever you are using.
I have learned a ton from your videos! Thank you, have a blessed day!