A few tips to get a stronger reaction and more c02. The idea mix is 1:1.3 soda to acid so 420g of soda to 600g acid or 600 to 780 (tank safety valve is 70kg so this mix should be fine but try the smaller mix first if you wish to play it safe). Also stir them together instead of just dumping in each part, it will make for a better reaction. Lastly use ice cubes instead of water so the reaction doesn't happen instantly and you will have ample time to attach the top. Only issue with using ice cubes is it will take a day for the complete pressure to build unless you warm the tank. Hope this helps!
I dont know it will work for you or no, but you can use plastic to put citric acid + soda other way just to pour citric acid + soda directly to water This way will give you a lil time, enough time to close tigh the valve, water Cons : you have to seek plasctic and take it out when refilling and cleaning your tube.
Thank you for your plain and simple videos. I’ve been nervous about jumping into CO2, so all these years I’ve kept low tech plants. Recently someone was getting out of fish keeping and I purchased a lot of her stock, including plants and decor, and she “threw in” her 20ml ZRDR CO2 generator. It’s been sitting around the house for a few months and it wasn’t until I saw your videos that I finally got it up and running last week. So far so good. Setting this up really wasn’t as scary as it sounds, but I know I wouldn’t have been able to do it without your help.
So awesome to hear that! I am ecstatic my video inspired you to give it a go. I appreciate you taking the time to tell your story and the compliments on the video! Happy CO2ing! 🤘
I must tell you that I've been debating co2 for about a year..fighting algae, melting plants etc throughout the year.. I came across your video and you got me over the fence! I just hooked up my zrdr 4l today! I was super nervous to add the water into the canister but with ur tips...no problem, no leaks! Now I just need to wait until the a.m. to make sure all is well! Thank u!!
Awesome. Glad the video helped you out and if you want to see a little more info, I also have a follow up CO2 video on the channel. You’ll find it in the video list. Happy CO2ing! 🤘🤘🤘
Great video. 1) How long does this system last before needing to replace ingredients? 2) does drop checker turn back to Blue each morning when no c02 pumped into tank? 3) how long does it take to get your drop checker to turn from blue to green? 1/2 hour, 1 hour, 2 hours?
Thank you. 1) 3-4 weeks depending on BPS. 2) Most drop checkers will remain dark green - blue green overnight. 3) Depending on BPS and aquarium size; roughly 2-3 hours. Pro tip: set your smart socket or timer to have the CO2 turn on 3 hours before lighting once you’ve dialed in your co2 BPS. Off 5 hours before lights. I found this to be the best cycle.
Gave me a chuckle when you converted ml to oz. The metric system works perfectly for water because it was based on water. 900ml equals 900 grams (except for instances where saltwater is used). So all you had to do was measure out 900 grams of ice and you know you have 900ml of water because the volume of ice is different but the weight stays the same.
Also when initially charging your lines (like the start of the day) it will take a minute or 2 to get the pressure to build to get past the diffuser, meaning the bubble counter is null until you actually have co2 passing through the diffuser which is when you adjust the bubble counter
Great tip. I learned this as well. The drop checker takes forever to react as well so it’ll take a day or two in order to dial it in perfectly. Thanks for adding this tip Ken!
I make mine by mixing the water with citric acid first and put baking soda in a dissolvable bag then stuff the bag in the canister. Takes about an hour for the bag to dissolve but you don’t lose any gas. It’s a bit of an overkill.
My friend, nice video. I am brazilian, and would like to ask for some tips, please. I just got a R20-2L. It came with two pressure gauges. One of them measures as kg/cm2 and the other as PSI. Do you know which of them mesaures the pressure inside the bottlle? And which is the ideal pressure. The black regulator on top hs to be loose so it is closed right? Thanks
Black regulator knob loose is closed, correct. Turn to the right to increase regulated pressure. My 2 L systems only came with one gauge, if it is a single regulator with two gauges most likely one is bottle pressure and the other is regulated pressure. If you’re still having trouble, you can send pictures to the email listed in my profile, the about section of my channel. I can try and help from there when I see what’s going on.
Nice job SS thank you for your time I am just setting up my co2 generator. Bonus feature nice job on the kitchen looks great just noticedd because i have redone mine
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the vid. I can’t take any credit for the kitchen though, we bought the house after a fresh remodel so it was already done! 🤣 I appreciate you noticing though!
So i bought this kit after watching your video. and after watching this and reading reviews i never expected to build 400psi. I used the 600g of Citric Acid and the 600g of Baking soda, and 900ml of water as per directions. I let it sit for 4 days with the solenoid off. i was away from home for those for days and i didnt have an auto timer. Well i came home and the sucker was at 550psi. the safety valve is rated for 70kg but i dont trust the tank enough. So i bled off 100psi.
I’ve been told is possibly my brand of baking soda that is causing a lower reaction; something about a caking agent or anti-caking agent. However, the cylinder itself is rated for way higher pressure than you will ever build in the system so don’t worry about an explosion. The cylinder should hold up and the safety valve would be what fails first.
I have not tried a different regulator. These seem proprietary as the screw into the neck of the bottle. Haven’t seen any aftermarket regulators that have the same design.
@awel69 or @ssaquascapes - how are you bleeding the system? Could you explain or do a video? Mine is at 500psi after 24 hours of setup and I am getting a bit worried on how to release pressure.
@ljmarik To answer your question: I would plug the solenoid into power and just open the needle valve to bleed pressure to the atmosphere (no co2 tubing on bubble counter). But read on!! There is no need to worry for your situation. It seems people using a better brand of baking soda are seeing a higher pressure. Think of this as a BONUS! The safety relief valve is set to blow out at 600 PSI (approximate) so you don’t need to worry about a catastrophic failure. This valve is the screw looking thing on the back of the regulator. I see different pressures based on different brands of ingredients, inaccurate measurements, barometric pressure, humidity, etc. nothing to worry about at this time. Enjoy the extra 100psi. 🤘🤘
I have had no issues with corrosion as it is stainless steel. There is a follow up video on the channel if you’d like to see more. DIY Co2 Generator for Aquariums | All you need to know | 4 Month Review. Zrdr Co2 Generator System. ruclips.net/video/iJwK3b3sPco/видео.html
900ml=0.9kg in weight. weight your ice on your scale. Remember that 0.9of ice is slightly more than 900ml so do not measure volume, choose mass is easier
Excellent. Thank you. I did learn quickly from viewers that a ml is equal to a gram. I am a math idiot for sure. 🤣 I appreciate you taking the time to offer this suggestion. Thanks for the support! 🤘
Or you could make it real easy. Since the density of ice is roughly the same as liquid water. Fill a jug with 500ml of water and fill it with ice until 1400ml. Pour the ice in and leave the water behind. If some ice melted just pour until the jug reads 500 ml. Life isn't that complicated.
Good video! Ice water is a good idea. When in doubt, just measure everything, including water, by mass. No familiarity with these systems at all, but makes sense from a chemistry perspective. Interested in starting the hobby and looking at what setup cost would be overall. I have a 10gal tank at home, and a 30 gallon at work.
Starting out, I’d recommend focusing most of your money into plants. The plants are the key to an algae free aquarium. Lots of plants. You can go with a low cost internal filter for the 10G like Hygger which is quick and easy to clean. A basic aquasoil like Mr. Aqua aquarium soil will do the job for substrate. To further lower the cost, go out in nature and collect your stones and driftwood. That’s all there is too it! 10 G Filter:amzn.to/3Rz7ud3 Aquasoil: amzn.to/4aAcBCE
Dude youre awesome!! Ive been wanting to co2 my tank forever and ran into this kit on Amazon but was scared to try it. After watching this video and your updated video on it, I just purchased the same kit! Excited cause I am struggling to grow a carpet of monte carlo and i hope this was the missing ingredient i needed.
Thank you. I appreciate that! Glad the videos helped you make a decision. Monte Carlo likes CO2 for sure. Mine didn’t grow until I put it in a tank with CO2 so hopefully you have the same results.
So I got mine in and set it up 2 days ago. I woke today and checked the psi inside the tank and the meter is maxed out!! Yesterday it was only at 250 psi. Any idea on if I need to do anything? I mixed the correct amount and gave it a swirl just like you did in the video.
What psi? Over 400-440? I’ve never had mine max out the pressure gauge. That would be 600 psi. It’s possible you have a faulty gauge if your gram measurements are correct. There is a safety valve that will pop if the canister is over pressure so if it hasn’t yet, I guess I’d just run the system and see what it does on the next refill. If same pressure result than it must be an inaccurate gauge if measurements are correct on the ingredients.
There was another commentor on either this video or the other one that said he gets almost 600 psi, but is increasing his ratio of ingredients. That being said, I think safety wise, you’re OK, I don’t think the bottle is going to explode. However, don’t take my word for it and I’m not responsible for it, (disclaimer). I would just give it another shot after this one is used up and see if you have the same results. If so, and you want to play it safe, decrease your ingredients by 20%. I guess you got a really good swirl, and the entire reaction fired off at one time.
For the price of this I could get a pressurized system made of recycled fire extinguisher tanks. But the ease of refill is my biggest concern, I haven't been able to find anywhere that would refill my tanks. A reactor like this is going to be 100 times easier to refill. Question is, how does this measure up to a pressurized system? How long would one tankful last for?
I have had no experience with a regular pressurized CO2 system so I could not speak of comparison unfortunately. Depending on use this DIY system can last between 1 month and 3 months. I actually did an detailed update video on these systems recently. I have 3 of these and show you the pros and cons. If you’d like to check it out, here is a direct link ruclips.net/video/iJwK3b3sPco/видео.html or you can find it in my video list titled “DIY Co2 Generator for Aquariums”. Hope that helps you make a decision on these systems.
@@ssaquascapes actually after thinking about it, who cares if it doesn't last as long as a regular pressurized system. The ease of refilling makes up for it. Just pop off the cover, fill in the reactant stuff, pop it close again, and bam you're back in business. With pressurized system even if I could somehow find someplace to fill it back up, I still gotta take the time of the day to drive up there and drive back home again. So yeah still worth it I think.
Exactly. I love just ordering citric acid and baking soda from Amazon, it shows up at home, and I just make CO2 when needed. Takes about 5 minutes once you have done it a few times. If you do get one off Amazon, I think I have a quick link in the description. 🤘 Thanks for the support!
Hi thanks for the video. I have a similar system, should there be an o-ring in the cap for the bubble counter? I mean the but you unscrew in order to fill it with water? I have air leaking from there but I can't see any damage. Thanks!
I have 5 of the screw top bubble counter’s and the ones I have DO have a flat o-ring to seal it. Here is a direct link to the screw cap ones I use. Note the o-ring on picture 3 I think. amzn.to/44xzRgW
My pleasure. Thanks for checking out the vid. I have a follow up video as well if you need a little more info. ruclips.net/video/iJwK3b3sPco/видео.htmlsi=eqyiejCyED0iaaA_
Your drop checker should change color in about an hour. But, start slow and increase every few hours on startup if you have livestock in the tank. You don’t want to gas the tank as the drop checker is delayed. Co2 longevity will depend on how large the tank is and how much co2 you’re injecting. The bottle could last 3 weeks or 3 months based on those factors.
I’m wondering why the bass isn’t eating the smaller fish or does he and just isn’t hungry? I used to keep a bass that size when I was a kid and he would eat anything he could get into his mouth.
For me, the 4L system last about five weeks. The 2L system lasts about three weeks. I have not put sugar and yeast in the system as it is designed for citric acid and baking soda.
I have no experience with a tent setup. I couldn’t weigh in on that topic with any confidence, sorry. It is a low PSI system (400 PSI max) so keep that in mind for your setup.
Hey man. I just bought one of these CO2 systems (with dual gauges) I had a question for you. When you twist the black regulator knob as loose as it goes, does it come off? (Or should it stay on?) When I twisted mine as loose at it goes, it came off the tank, and I was not expecting that.
I’d return it. There should be a stop when you get to max adjustment. Mine don’t twist all the way off. Sorry you got a bad unit. If from Amazon it should be an easy swap.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I’m actually testing pressurized liquid CO2 vs this system as we speak. A long experiment for a video. Stay tuned for the video release stating the results! 🤘
Hey question: is it better to have generator system on larger -120L tank or no C02 at all? (there is no option close enought to me where i could refill co2 tank so generator seems to be only option)
The method of co2 differs as far as how you produce it. But, once sending co2 to a diffuser, they are all the same. So, if a generator system like this is your only option you’ll be fine. You may have to refill it more often the liquid co2, but you can get the same injection dosage for you large tank that you would with any other system. Hope that long spiel makes sense.
@@ssaquascapes hmmm, mine (fzone 2.5L) has been sitting over 12 hours and the needle is still barely in the green. I used Amazon brand baking soda, maybe that’s the problem?
@DavPlaGuiTar many people have commented that different brands do produce different PSI‘s. Millard brand from Amazon seems to work best for both ingredients
Seems about right. Probably lost a little reaction with the warm water. For max results/pressure a subscribed said to use ice instead of water. Works really well and this is the method I use now to get 400 psi every time. No loss of gas! 🤘
Hows the unit holding up? I have a tiny little tank that I want to introduce CO2 to so I am looking at the 2L one. Would you still recommend this system?
I would. There are a few quirks to watch out for, but I am still using all three tanks to this day by ZRDR. Here is a follow-up video I made discussing things to consider with these systems. ruclips.net/video/iJwK3b3sPco/видео.htmlsi=bIl8N_XcrPLBgxCQ
@@ssaquascapes Thanks! I actually found that follow up video and ordered the 2L model. They do offer the 2L model with double-gauge now, for about $20 more... Since i'm just running a 3g tank, i'll be doing 1bp3s or so, I figured the second gauge wouldn't be necessary due to such a slow drain. How long do you think one mix will last at that slow depletion?
You should be able to use any inline co2 diffuser. From my experience they all have an airline IN connection where you would connect your co2 line or air line. 🤘
Still using all three systems as we speak. Haven’t had any issue with them except replacing the diffuser and check valve. If you don’t have access to liquid co2 filling stations this system is worth the investment
I forget the liter size but it's 200 grams of dry n 300ml water and I actually do the acid 1st and I get like 50/75 more psi than it claims I should. What size tank have you ran this type of system on ? I'm running it in a 20 gallon but it only last a couple weeks at 1/2 bubble per second. I don't know if that's normal or not.
@@ssaquascapes You are right, however, the CO2 canisters are hard to replace and run out quickly. The idea here is to replace the CO2 canisters with some more reliable and available source, like those baking soda and citric acid.
I see. We’ll keep in mind the pressure of this system only reaches 400psi and will decrease with use. I don’t know how much pressure a soda machine needs to carbonate water. But, I have recently switched to liquid CO2 canisters from a local air and gas company. A 5 pound bottle has lasted me months. Might look into a traditional CO2 system and regulator for aquariums in order to maximize your liquid CO2 use. The pressure remains constant until the bottle is empty vs this system.
@@ssaquascapes so, 600 gm of both materials gives you 400psi, this very great, in soda machines it uses nearly 40-50 psi to infuse co2. The liquid co2 is better for dissolving it in water.
@@ssaquascapes si el mío lo trae también pero mencionas en el vídeo q trae 2 filtros y q una era repuesto si era repuesto o se ponen los dos una afuera y una adentro?
I've been running a smaller one (2.5l). 200g of each has given me three weeks of 1bps with no noticeable movement on my gauge. I have read that a 200g reaction will give approx ~90-120 days at 1 bps
I will be doing a follow up video. But, now that I learned how to get 430 PSI when I make a batch, I will see how long it lasts. Currently it is on a 75 gallon (300L?) tank at 3 BPS. Needle hasn’t moved much in a week. Still over 400 PSI. I also have two of the 2L versions and love them as well. After a month of use with ZRDR systems, I think they are worth getting 100%. I’d buy again for sure.
@@ssaquascapes ok we will see,because I'm interested in the tube, but I have to see first how long it can work in one time, mix the cinnamon soda per 200g .
Is there anything else I need to make this system function properly other than a timer for it to kick on and off on schedule? Kind of confused about the plug in thing.
You will need: Baking Soda, citric acid, and an outlet timer if you want to run the system automatically on a timer. Other than that, the kit comes with all the parts you need.
Looks like a Petsmart tank, Mine is also a Petsmart 29 gal. I can tell by the fat rim and black silicone. I really like the black silicone it looks better than the clear silicone. Thanks for your videos.
@@ssaquascapes I was close. I also have a marineland 10 gal half-moon that's 10 years old with a betta in it, still in excellent shape. wish I could send a pic.
I have thought about this as well. My answer, to be safe, is no. They are not designed for yeast/sugar. I would have to experiment with it to see if it can be done and get the measurements correct so it didn’t bubble over into the regulator. Maybe worth a video some day. Heck, try searching RUclips. Maybe someone has done it already. 🤷🏼♂️
Theoretically, there is no such pressure there, until recently I used one 2-liter Coke bottle with 1 liter of water, a teaspoon of yeast, a glass of sugar and a teaspoon of soda. A syringe with linden wood as a diffuser. The bottle was always soft and the mess didn't go beyond the bottle. What do you think about it?
I’m not worried about the pressure. These steel canisters can hold more pressure than you could create with sugar and yeast. My issue is that if it foams, and gets in the regulator, it would clog up the regulator. You were not seeing pressure on the coke bottle because you had little to no restriction to hold pressure back. If you just put a sealed cap on you would see pressure build up, like in these systems. Again, with the right measurements to prevent excess foaming, I am sure it could be done in these ZRDR systems. But, until I personally test it, I won’t put my name out there saying it’s ok because I don’t know for sure. 🤘
James, The link to the product on Amazon is in the description section of this video. If you’re on your phone, click “more” under the video title and you should see the Amazon affiliate link for the CO2 system there.
The max pressure I can get on this generator is 400psi. From my experience with 12g co2 cartridges, they normally hold around 1000 psi of pressure. The system in this video would not produce enough pressure to fill the cartridges to a useable level as they would not even be half full. I also believe they use liquid co2 to achieve the continuous pressure in that small of a cartridge. This system is all gas co2. So, I don’t think you would have any success at all.
i didn’t get 2 of those hard filters with mine. i had one hard filter at the bottom and one soft cotton like filter that went into the tube. i think they left something out of my kit. also, my c02 hand meter will detect c02 coming out of the line if i put the line “hose” right up to the hand meter but it’s like the tank won’t fill up the room because i can leave it turned up real far inside the grow tent and it won’t detect it. idk if i did something wrong or if the meter is just bad. scares me thinking the meter is bad because i don’t wanna mess anything up and get hurt from c02 poisoning. i’ve got to get another meter i guess
Oh, you’re using it in a grow tent for atmospheric CO2. Yeah, this is probably too small of a system to see any concentration in a room. But I still advise you use caution as it appears you are. Other than that, I couldn’t offer much advice of tent CO2 setups as I have zero experience there.
I run all Hygger lights. 8 in total. Some have only the 24/7 - 8/10/12. Those ones I run off a electrical socket timer. 100% intensity on the lights, 6 on/6 off/6 on/6 off. The other lights have a fully automated smart controller built into the light. And are set on the same 6/6/6/6 schedule but the light controls it. I USED to run the lights on the built in timer at 12 hours. But I am playing with lighting currently for maximum plant growth and algae control.
You need to mix, the proper way to add chemicals is water first then chemicals the water stops the reaction from creating heat or fire depending on the chemicals, I work in the chemical industry and when we mix large batches this is what we do water first, it also contains the powder due to the moisture.l, and yes mix you will have clumps of powdered chemical if you don’t
Doesn’t work in this application. You don’t want the reaction to start (water is the catalyst) before you can get the cap on. You want to trap the reaction. You mix chemicals that way to avoid severe reactions that can be dangerous. We actually WANT the rapid reaction. 😉
@gordr8024 can you take a video of you adding the powder baking soda and citric acid mix to the cylinder of water? My email is in my bio. Thanks Also, I am under the impression that a catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change. Since the water never changes from his physical or chemical property, I would assume it was the catalyst.
The needle valve only controls the bubbles per second,or co2, going into the airline. The pressure regulator limits the pressure from bottle to needle valve. So you do have two valves to control pressure on the 4L size system (the one in this video). The 2L size system has only a needle valve that holds back all 400 PSI. BUT, you can fit a 4L regulator on a 2L bottle which I may do later (I have two 2L kits). You can buy the 4L regulators separately. Hope that helps.
On my 5 gallon tanks I have 1 bubble per 3 sec. You can get slower bubble counts but when tank pressure drops, needle will have to be readjusted to maintain flow.
Don’t know if you will see this i have the same system just a smaller version. Everything is the same and was working great 3bps but now i can not get more than .25 bubbles a second. If i raise the output of the co2 it just burst out the sides of the bubbles counter that is places above the co2 canister. and it is lost co2 i’ve tried for a few weeks and right now i just lost half my co2 tank trying again. any help ?
Sounds like your needle valve is clogged. If you unscrew the needle valve all the way, you should be able to disassemble it and make sure it is perfectly clean. Blow out the hole, orifice, and reassemble. If that does not work, there is a clog somewhere else.
I'm trying to refill but my black filter tube won't screw into the regulator because it is too small and just falls into the canister when I try to screw the regulator on. Has anyone else had this issue?
The black filter holder is plastic and screws into metal. So I have also noticed it to be loose but I have not had it fail yet. See if you can just stick it in there and maybe even super glue it in. once that filter is in the regulator, you have no need to remove it again.
If it is the 4 button controller you can just put it on a timer. It’ll turn on to last dim setting when it regains power. If it has the led screen Smart Control, then no, an external light timer won’t work. It won’t turn on until you set the clock on the controller.
I’m new to co2 systems and i heard they could blow up or something. I’m planning of getting the same diy co2 system. Just a question, when the co2 plug timer shuts off, how does it stop the flow of co2? Also if it stopped, is the tank not going to explode?
No worries on the cylinder exploding. It holds nearly 2000PSI and you won’t reach that pressure. It also has a safety relieve valve to prevent explosions. The reaction of the ingredients only produces a set amount of pressure so it won’t continue to climb. It is shut off at night by the solenoid valve. Set your fears aside and join us in the world of Co2! 🤘🤘🤘
900ml of ice weight less than 900ml if water cause of air bubble during the ice create so you must check yours elf you can take ice melt it a you will see how much ice make 900ml water❤
Better deals out there for sure. Also the same product under multiple labels. These are FBA from Amazon though or the couldn’t fulfill 2 day shipping. 🤘
I run it all the way down until there is no more bubbles in the bubble counter. Needle in red. Then twist the regulator off the bottle very slowly which will release the rest of the pressure. If you’re in the yellow and getting no bubbles. Adjust the regulator and needle valve to compensate for the lower pressure in bottle.
The Fzone system has a built in check valve. I didn't know that and attached a regular check valve and the CO2 wouldn't pass through it without cranking the needle valve up full blast.
I change mine when I feel it stops reading accurately. Maybe every 3 months. I look at it when I do water changes. Lower the water below the drop checker and it will be exposed to atmospheric air changing it to dark blue pretty fast (roughly 20-30 mins). If it doesn’t react that fast I change it out. Probably not the best method but it is my method.
A few tips to get a stronger reaction and more c02. The idea mix is 1:1.3 soda to acid so 420g of soda to 600g acid or 600 to 780 (tank safety valve is 70kg so this mix should be fine but try the smaller mix first if you wish to play it safe). Also stir them together instead of just dumping in each part, it will make for a better reaction.
Lastly use ice cubes instead of water so the reaction doesn't happen instantly and you will have ample time to attach the top. Only issue with using ice cubes is it will take a day for the complete pressure to build unless you warm the tank. Hope this helps!
Awesome information! Appreciate you sharing for me and all others that see this comment.
I dont know it will work for you or no, but you can use plastic to put citric acid + soda other way just to pour citric acid + soda directly to water
This way will give you a lil time, enough time to close tigh the valve, water
Cons : you have to seek plasctic and take it out when refilling and cleaning your tube.
Can do the same mix in a 2L bottle?
@quadzilla26b no. It will be too high of a reaction.
@@ssaquascapes it actually works! Iv done it on a 2L this week!
Thank you for your plain and simple videos. I’ve been nervous about jumping into CO2, so all these years I’ve kept low tech plants. Recently someone was getting out of fish keeping and I purchased a lot of her stock, including plants and decor, and she “threw in” her 20ml ZRDR CO2 generator. It’s been sitting around the house for a few months and it wasn’t until I saw your videos that I finally got it up and running last week. So far so good. Setting this up really wasn’t as scary as it sounds, but I know I wouldn’t have been able to do it without your help.
So awesome to hear that! I am ecstatic my video inspired you to give it a go. I appreciate you taking the time to tell your story and the compliments on the video! Happy CO2ing! 🤘
I must tell you that I've been debating co2 for about a year..fighting algae, melting plants etc throughout the year.. I came across your video and you got me over the fence! I just hooked up my zrdr 4l today! I was super nervous to add the water into the canister but with ur tips...no problem, no leaks! Now I just need to wait until the a.m. to make sure all is well! Thank u!!
Awesome. Glad the video helped you out and if you want to see a little more info, I also have a follow up CO2 video on the channel. You’ll find it in the video list. Happy CO2ing! 🤘🤘🤘
Great video.
1) How long does this system last before needing to replace ingredients?
2) does drop checker turn back to Blue each morning when no c02 pumped into tank?
3) how long does it take to get your drop checker to turn from blue to green?
1/2 hour, 1 hour, 2 hours?
Thank you.
1) 3-4 weeks depending on BPS.
2) Most drop checkers will remain dark green - blue green overnight.
3) Depending on BPS and aquarium size; roughly 2-3 hours.
Pro tip: set your smart socket or timer to have the CO2 turn on 3 hours before lighting once you’ve dialed in your co2 BPS. Off 5 hours before lights. I found this to be the best cycle.
Gave me a chuckle when you converted ml to oz. The metric system works perfectly for water because it was based on water. 900ml equals 900 grams (except for instances where saltwater is used). So all you had to do was measure out 900 grams of ice and you know you have 900ml of water because the volume of ice is different but the weight stays the same.
Yes, my most famous moment. 🤣
I have since learned the simple metric system and use it more in my hobby now than imperial. 🤘
Also when initially charging your lines (like the start of the day) it will take a minute or 2 to get the pressure to build to get past the diffuser, meaning the bubble counter is null until you actually have co2 passing through the diffuser which is when you adjust the bubble counter
Great tip. I learned this as well. The drop checker takes forever to react as well so it’ll take a day or two in order to dial it in perfectly.
Thanks for adding this tip Ken!
I make mine by mixing the water with citric acid first and put baking soda in a dissolvable bag then stuff the bag in the canister. Takes about an hour for the bag to dissolve but you don’t lose any gas. It’s a bit of an overkill.
That’s just….sweet! 🤘🤘
Link to bags?
Do you get any residue/crystals in the bottom with this method?
What is the bag called?
A brilliant informative video the likes of which you rarely see on You Tube, based on the video I'm getting one
Dave the Brit
Thank you. I appreciate the support! 🤘
My friend, nice video. I am brazilian, and would like to ask for some tips, please. I just got a R20-2L. It came with two pressure gauges. One of them measures as kg/cm2 and the other as PSI. Do you know which of them mesaures the pressure inside the bottlle? And which is the ideal pressure. The black regulator on top hs to be loose so it is closed right?
Thanks
Black regulator knob loose is closed, correct. Turn to the right to increase regulated pressure. My 2 L systems only came with one gauge, if it is a single regulator with two gauges most likely one is bottle pressure and the other is regulated pressure. If you’re still having trouble, you can send pictures to the email listed in my profile, the about section of my channel. I can try and help from there when I see what’s going on.
Nice job SS thank you for your time I am just setting up my co2 generator. Bonus feature nice job on the kitchen looks great just noticedd because i have redone mine
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the vid. I can’t take any credit for the kitchen though, we bought the house after a fresh remodel so it was already done! 🤣 I appreciate you noticing though!
So i bought this kit after watching your video. and after watching this and reading reviews i never expected to build 400psi. I used the 600g of Citric Acid and the 600g of Baking soda, and 900ml of water as per directions. I let it sit for 4 days with the solenoid off. i was away from home for those for days and i didnt have an auto timer. Well i came home and the sucker was at 550psi. the safety valve is rated for 70kg but i dont trust the tank enough. So i bled off 100psi.
I’ve been told is possibly my brand of baking soda that is causing a lower reaction; something about a caking agent or anti-caking agent. However, the cylinder itself is rated for way higher pressure than you will ever build in the system so don’t worry about an explosion. The cylinder should hold up and the safety valve would be what fails first.
@@ssaquascapes have you ever tried a higher quality regulator on the ZRDR tanks? And the baking soda I used is the boxed kind.
I have not tried a different regulator. These seem proprietary as the screw into the neck of the bottle. Haven’t seen any aftermarket regulators that have the same design.
@awel69 or @ssaquascapes - how are you bleeding the system? Could you explain or do a video? Mine is at 500psi after 24 hours of setup and I am getting a bit worried on how to release pressure.
@ljmarik
To answer your question: I would plug the solenoid into power and just open the needle valve to bleed pressure to the atmosphere (no co2 tubing on bubble counter). But read on!!
There is no need to worry for your situation. It seems people using a better brand of baking soda are seeing a higher pressure. Think of this as a BONUS!
The safety relief valve is set to blow out at 600 PSI (approximate) so you don’t need to worry about a catastrophic failure. This valve is the screw looking thing on the back of the regulator.
I see different pressures based on different brands of ingredients, inaccurate measurements, barometric pressure, humidity, etc.
nothing to worry about at this time. Enjoy the extra 100psi. 🤘🤘
This design seems ideal for my situation. Though I wonder if the acid will corrode the canister after awhile.
I have had no issues with corrosion as it is stainless steel. There is a follow up video on the channel if you’d like to see more. DIY Co2 Generator for Aquariums | All you need to know | 4 Month Review. Zrdr Co2 Generator System.
ruclips.net/video/iJwK3b3sPco/видео.html
900ml=0.9kg in weight. weight your ice on your scale. Remember that 0.9of ice is slightly more than 900ml so do not measure volume, choose mass is easier
Excellent. Thank you. I did learn quickly from viewers that a ml is equal to a gram.
I am a math idiot for sure. 🤣
I appreciate you taking the time to offer this suggestion. Thanks for the support! 🤘
And this is why the metric system is vastly superior 😂
Beginning to agree with you the more I use it on this hobby. 🤘
Or you could make it real easy. Since the density of ice is roughly the same as liquid water. Fill a jug with 500ml of water and fill it with ice until 1400ml. Pour the ice in and leave the water behind. If some ice melted just pour until the jug reads 500 ml. Life isn't that complicated.
Good video! Ice water is a good idea. When in doubt, just measure everything, including water, by mass. No familiarity with these systems at all, but makes sense from a chemistry perspective. Interested in starting the hobby and looking at what setup cost would be overall. I have a 10gal tank at home, and a 30 gallon at work.
Starting out, I’d recommend focusing most of your money into plants. The plants are the key to an algae free aquarium. Lots of plants. You can go with a low cost internal filter for the 10G like Hygger which is quick and easy to clean. A basic aquasoil like Mr. Aqua aquarium soil will do the job for substrate. To further lower the cost, go out in nature and collect your stones and driftwood. That’s all there is too it!
10 G Filter:amzn.to/3Rz7ud3
Aquasoil: amzn.to/4aAcBCE
@@ssaquascapes Thank you so much!
Dude youre awesome!! Ive been wanting to co2 my tank forever and ran into this kit on Amazon but was scared to try it. After watching this video and your updated video on it, I just purchased the same kit! Excited cause I am struggling to grow a carpet of monte carlo and i hope this was the missing ingredient i needed.
Thank you. I appreciate that! Glad the videos helped you make a decision. Monte Carlo likes CO2 for sure. Mine didn’t grow until I put it in a tank with CO2 so hopefully you have the same results.
So I got mine in and set it up 2 days ago. I woke today and checked the psi inside the tank and the meter is maxed out!! Yesterday it was only at 250 psi. Any idea on if I need to do anything? I mixed the correct amount and gave it a swirl just like you did in the video.
What psi? Over 400-440? I’ve never had mine max out the pressure gauge. That would be 600 psi. It’s possible you have a faulty gauge if your gram measurements are correct. There is a safety valve that will pop if the canister is over pressure so if it hasn’t yet, I guess I’d just run the system and see what it does on the next refill. If same pressure result than it must be an inaccurate gauge if measurements are correct on the ingredients.
@@ssaquascapes it's sitting at 580 or so. 600 psi is the max on my gauge.
There was another commentor on either this video or the other one that said he gets almost 600 psi, but is increasing his ratio of ingredients. That being said, I think safety wise, you’re OK, I don’t think the bottle is going to explode. However, don’t take my word for it and I’m not responsible for it, (disclaimer).
I would just give it another shot after this one is used up and see if you have the same results. If so, and you want to play it safe, decrease your ingredients by 20%. I guess you got a really good swirl, and the entire reaction fired off at one time.
I laughed a lot while learning. Great video!!
Thank you! 🙇♂️
If you start with a volume of water, say 400 grams and freeze it, the volume will change but the weight will remain the same.
::::lightbulb moment::::🤣🤣
For the price of this I could get a pressurized system made of recycled fire extinguisher tanks. But the ease of refill is my biggest concern, I haven't been able to find anywhere that would refill my tanks. A reactor like this is going to be 100 times easier to refill. Question is, how does this measure up to a pressurized system? How long would one tankful last for?
Also I can't believe I haven't thought of counting 1-thousand-1 1-thousand-2 to determine how many bubbles per second. Thanks for the tip!
I have had no experience with a regular pressurized CO2 system so I could not speak of comparison unfortunately. Depending on use this DIY system can last between 1 month and 3 months. I actually did an detailed update video on these systems recently. I have 3 of these and show you the pros and cons. If you’d like to check it out, here is a direct link ruclips.net/video/iJwK3b3sPco/видео.html or you can find it in my video list titled “DIY Co2 Generator for Aquariums”.
Hope that helps you make a decision on these systems.
@@ssaquascapes actually after thinking about it, who cares if it doesn't last as long as a regular pressurized system. The ease of refilling makes up for it. Just pop off the cover, fill in the reactant stuff, pop it close again, and bam you're back in business. With pressurized system even if I could somehow find someplace to fill it back up, I still gotta take the time of the day to drive up there and drive back home again. So yeah still worth it I think.
Exactly. I love just ordering citric acid and baking soda from Amazon, it shows up at home, and I just make CO2 when needed. Takes about 5 minutes once you have done it a few times. If you do get one off Amazon, I think I have a quick link in the description. 🤘
Thanks for the support!
I'm worried about the suction cap losing it's suction on the drop checker fluid and getting into the tank.
No worries. It’s not toxic and I have not had one come loose.
I thought you might be interested that Walmart has Borax baking soda in the pool supply section. 10 pounds for 12 bucks.
Sounds like a deal! Thanks for sharing! 🤘
Hi thanks for the video. I have a similar system, should there be an o-ring in the cap for the bubble counter? I mean the but you unscrew in order to fill it with water? I have air leaking from there but I can't see any damage. Thanks!
I have 5 of the screw top bubble counter’s and the ones I have DO have a flat o-ring to seal it. Here is a direct link to the screw cap ones I use. Note the o-ring on picture 3 I think.
amzn.to/44xzRgW
Just got one of these. The instructions are pretty minimal. Thanks for making the video.
My pleasure. Thanks for checking out the vid. I have a follow up video as well if you need a little more info. ruclips.net/video/iJwK3b3sPco/видео.htmlsi=eqyiejCyED0iaaA_
Thanks, friend. Appreciate the reality of your presentation.
Thank you! I appreciate you watching and I’m glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for the comment!
Hello sir, how long does it take for the co2 to change colour and how long is the co2 last? Thanks
Your drop checker should change color in about an hour. But, start slow and increase every few hours on startup if you have livestock in the tank. You don’t want to gas the tank as the drop checker is delayed.
Co2 longevity will depend on how large the tank is and how much co2 you’re injecting. The bottle could last 3 weeks or 3 months based on those factors.
Will i able to install splitter on this model?
@vichope6408 yes I run splitter on these units.
I’m wondering why the bass isn’t eating the smaller fish or does he and just isn’t hungry? I used to keep a bass that size when I was a kid and he would eat anything he could get into his mouth.
He knows his buffet can’t swim off and eats at his leisure. He’ll eat a few every night; his favorite time to hunt.
How many weeks this last? Have you tried Yest or citric acid is better?
For me, the 4L system last about five weeks. The 2L system lasts about three weeks. I have not put sugar and yeast in the system as it is designed for citric acid and baking soda.
@@ssaquascapes thanks, just watching your 4 months review
I appreciate it! 🤘
Saya belajar banyak darimu.. Video ini begitu bermanfaat. Saya berlangganan disaluranmu 🙋🏻♂
Thank you. 🙏
Can this setup be used in a grow tent,what else needs connecting to convert it to suit use in a tent etc?
I have no experience with a tent setup. I couldn’t weigh in on that topic with any confidence, sorry. It is a low PSI system (400 PSI max) so keep that in mind for your setup.
How do you clean out the left over residue in the bottom of the canister?
Hot water rinse a few times.
Does co2 2L tank works for a 60 gallons fish tank ..???
Yes. It will just deplete faster and need recharged sooner.
Hey man. I just bought one of these CO2 systems (with dual gauges) I had a question for you.
When you twist the black regulator knob as loose as it goes, does it come off? (Or should it stay on?)
When I twisted mine as loose at it goes, it came off the tank, and I was not expecting that.
I’d return it. There should be a stop when you get to max adjustment. Mine don’t twist all the way off. Sorry you got a bad unit. If from Amazon it should be an easy swap.
@@ssaquascapes Thanks for the head's up. I'll probably return it. I like your channel.
@johndavismit thank you. Glad I could help.
i assume pressurized co2 clyinder with solenoid are way cheaper and less hectic than this one
Thanks for watching and commenting. I’m actually testing pressurized liquid CO2 vs this system as we speak. A long experiment for a video. Stay tuned for the video release stating the results! 🤘
Hey question: is it better to have generator system on larger -120L tank or no C02 at all? (there is no option close enought to me where i could refill co2 tank so generator seems to be only option)
The method of co2 differs as far as how you produce it. But, once sending co2 to a diffuser, they are all the same. So, if a generator system like this is your only option you’ll be fine. You may have to refill it more often the liquid co2, but you can get the same injection dosage for you large tank that you would with any other system.
Hope that long spiel makes sense.
How long does it take to fully pressurize the bottle until it’s ready to use?
It’s useable in a few minutes as it’ll have enough pressure. Full 400psi within 12 hours or so.
@@ssaquascapes hmmm, mine (fzone 2.5L) has been sitting over 12 hours and the needle is still barely in the green. I used Amazon brand baking soda, maybe that’s the problem?
@DavPlaGuiTar many people have commented that different brands do produce different PSI‘s. Millard brand from Amazon seems to work best for both ingredients
Got my 1 litre yesterday and reached 200 in 1 hr then finished at 350 i used warm water, i was just very quick with locking in
Seems about right. Probably lost a little reaction with the warm water. For max results/pressure a subscribed said to use ice instead of water. Works really well and this is the method I use now to get 400 psi every time. No loss of gas! 🤘
@@ssaquascapes ill have to put water in fridge and do it next time and see difference, really good kits considering its 35 usd.
@asustransformer28 I agree on the value!
Hows the unit holding up? I have a tiny little tank that I want to introduce CO2 to so I am looking at the 2L one. Would you still recommend this system?
I would. There are a few quirks to watch out for, but I am still using all three tanks to this day by ZRDR. Here is a follow-up video I made discussing things to consider with these systems.
ruclips.net/video/iJwK3b3sPco/видео.htmlsi=bIl8N_XcrPLBgxCQ
@@ssaquascapes Thanks! I actually found that follow up video and ordered the 2L model. They do offer the 2L model with double-gauge now, for about $20 more... Since i'm just running a 3g tank, i'll be doing 1bp3s or so, I figured the second gauge wouldn't be necessary due to such a slow drain. How long do you think one mix will last at that slow depletion?
I get about 3 - 4 weeks at 1bp3s.
You should be happy with the performance. Congrats on the purchase. 🤘
Heyo, thanks for this great info!
Got 1 question, can I use a inline diffuser with this system?
You should be able to use any inline co2 diffuser. From my experience they all have an airline IN connection where you would connect your co2 line or air line. 🤘
Does the air check valve go right on the bubbler in the tank??
No. Check valve above the water line as near the diffuser (bubbler) as desired. Most insert it in line behind the tank.
Hey, man, 900 ml are 900 grams. I'm answering you but I'm not sure if you're joking with us.
The world may never know….😛
Thanks for the support! 🤘
how is it today, is the co2 system still working? Is it recommended for the price?
Still using all three systems as we speak. Haven’t had any issue with them except replacing the diffuser and check valve. If you don’t have access to liquid co2 filling stations this system is worth the investment
I forget the liter size but it's 200 grams of dry n 300ml water and I actually do the acid 1st and I get like 50/75 more psi than it claims I should. What size tank have you ran this type of system on ? I'm running it in a 20 gallon but it only last a couple weeks at 1/2 bubble per second. I don't know if that's normal or not.
Yeah, it will only last a few weeks at 2 bps. It’s normal based on my testing.
I have the 2 liter version how do you now when to change and when it’s empty the instructions suck
I just wait till the needle on the gauge is at 0. There will always be a little pressure left when you open but not enough to worry about.
Do you think this can be used to make carbonated drinks?
I have no knowledge base on making carbonated drinks but I imagine a machine like “Soda Stream” would be much simpler.
@@ssaquascapes You are right, however, the CO2 canisters are hard to replace and run out quickly. The idea here is to replace the CO2 canisters with some more reliable and available source, like those baking soda and citric acid.
I see. We’ll keep in mind the pressure of this system only reaches 400psi and will decrease with use. I don’t know how much pressure a soda machine needs to carbonate water. But, I have recently switched to liquid CO2 canisters from a local air and gas company. A 5 pound bottle has lasted me months. Might look into a traditional CO2 system and regulator for aquariums in order to maximize your liquid CO2 use. The pressure remains constant until the bottle is empty vs this system.
@@ssaquascapes so, 600 gm of both materials gives you 400psi, this very great, in soda machines it uses nearly 40-50 psi to infuse co2. The liquid co2 is better for dissolving it in water.
Correct.
Hola si era un repuesto el filtro? O se tienen q piner los dos? (Las cosas blancas) Gracias
Came with the kit. Both required for filter.
@@ssaquascapes si el mío lo trae también pero mencionas en el vídeo q trae 2 filtros y q una era repuesto si era repuesto o se ponen los dos una afuera y una adentro?
Minuto 10:30
@@alejklsanchez8360 In the video I was wrong. Put both white filters in the black holder. This is how I have mine.
@@ssaquascapes ok ok esa era mi duda el orificio q trae hacia donde va dirigido?
Good equipment for diy CO2 system
The Bottle look like SS (corrosive free)
But i think, the best system is yourself.
They are SS. Work pretty well so far.
the size of soda and citrun 600g how long can it last?
I've been running a smaller one (2.5l). 200g of each has given me three weeks of 1bps with no noticeable movement on my gauge. I have read that a 200g reaction will give approx ~90-120 days at 1 bps
I will be doing a follow up video. But, now that I learned how to get 430 PSI when I make a batch, I will see how long it lasts. Currently it is on a 75 gallon (300L?) tank at 3 BPS. Needle hasn’t moved much in a week. Still over 400 PSI.
I also have two of the 2L versions and love them as well. After a month of use with ZRDR systems, I think they are worth getting 100%. I’d buy again for sure.
@@ssaquascapes ok we will see,because I'm interested in the tube, but I have to see first how long it can work in one time, mix the cinnamon soda per 200g .
Is there anything else I need to make this system function properly other than a timer for it to kick on and off on schedule? Kind of confused about the plug in thing.
You will need:
Baking Soda, citric acid, and an outlet timer if you want to run the system automatically on a timer. Other than that, the kit comes with all the parts you need.
THANK YOU!
And I called myself reading the instructions and now I have filled the cannister and capped it with no filter on it.
🤣
It’s ok. Just don’t shake the bottle and you should be fine. Just add filter the next time.
Metric system for the win :) 900 ml of water is 900 grams of water.
Yup learned that real fast. Much more efficient
wil it be possible to fill this with dry ice?
No idea and I have no advice for that application.
Can this work in a 4x8 grow tent?
No experience with that. But it is only 400psi. I’d go with a liquid co2 system.
Is this CO2 system sufficient for a 55 gallon aquarium?
Yes. I have it on a 75 gallon aquarium. You’ll just have to fill it a little more often than on a small aquarium.
Looks like a Petsmart tank, Mine is also a Petsmart 29 gal. I can tell by the fat rim and black silicone. I really like the black silicone it looks better than the clear silicone. Thanks for your videos.
Thanks! Glad you’re enjoying the channel content. It is a Marineland (PetSmart) 75g aquarium and stand combo.
@@ssaquascapes I was close. I also have a marineland 10 gal half-moon that's 10 years old with a betta in it, still in excellent shape. wish I could send a pic.
Photos can be sent to my email at ssaquascapes@gmail
I am
Can I use yeast + sugar + water in this generator?
I have thought about this as well. My answer, to be safe, is no. They are not designed for yeast/sugar. I would have to experiment with it to see if it can be done and get the measurements correct so it didn’t bubble over into the regulator. Maybe worth a video some day. Heck, try searching RUclips. Maybe someone has done it already. 🤷🏼♂️
Theoretically, there is no such pressure there, until recently I used one 2-liter Coke bottle with 1 liter of water, a teaspoon of yeast, a glass of sugar and a teaspoon of soda. A syringe with linden wood as a diffuser. The bottle was always soft and the mess didn't go beyond the bottle. What do you think about it?
I’m not worried about the pressure. These steel canisters can hold more pressure than you could create with sugar and yeast. My issue is that if it foams, and gets in the regulator, it would clog up the regulator.
You were not seeing pressure on the coke bottle because you had little to no restriction to hold pressure back. If you just put a sealed cap on you would see pressure build up, like in these systems.
Again, with the right measurements to prevent excess foaming, I am sure it could be done in these ZRDR systems. But, until I personally test it, I won’t put my name out there saying it’s ok because I don’t know for sure. 🤘
Trying to find this on Amazon prime day. Would you please help an old guy and send me a link. Have a 65 gallon tank.
James,
The link to the product on Amazon is in the description section of this video. If you’re on your phone, click “more” under the video title and you should see the Amazon affiliate link for the CO2 system there.
My regulator eventually leaked about about six month on one of these. I’m curious if anyone has fitted a more expensive regulator?
I haven’t fitted a new regulator or had a leak so I am no help but hopefully the community will chime in. 🤘
Can you refill 12g refillable co2 cartridges from that tank? ( assuming you get the charging needle adapter)
The max pressure I can get on this generator is 400psi. From my experience with 12g co2 cartridges, they normally hold around 1000 psi of pressure. The system in this video would not produce enough pressure to fill the cartridges to a useable level as they would not even be half full. I also believe they use liquid co2 to achieve the continuous pressure in that small of a cartridge. This system is all gas co2. So, I don’t think you would have any success at all.
@@ssaquascapes thanks for the confirmation.I though that would be a possibility! Very unfortunate for my use case though.
I also bought 2 gadge version but I am not sure it is really necessary or not😂
Not NEEDED on this unit for sure. I have a follow up video on the channel here: ruclips.net/video/iJwK3b3sPco/видео.htmlsi=7ghuNfpq7vnFGXhs
i didn’t get 2 of those hard filters with mine. i had one hard filter at the bottom and one soft cotton like filter that went into the tube. i think they left something out of my kit. also, my c02 hand meter will detect c02 coming out of the line if i put the line “hose” right up to the hand meter but it’s like the tank won’t fill up the room because i can leave it turned up real far inside the grow tent and it won’t detect it. idk if i did something wrong or if the meter is just bad. scares me thinking the meter is bad because i don’t wanna mess anything up and get hurt from c02 poisoning. i’ve got to get another meter i guess
Oh, you’re using it in a grow tent for atmospheric CO2. Yeah, this is probably too small of a system to see any concentration in a room. But I still advise you use caution as it appears you are. Other than that, I couldn’t offer much advice of tent CO2 setups as I have zero experience there.
Looks like you have hygger lights also. Do you use the 24/7 feature or timer 8/10/12 h?
I run all Hygger lights. 8 in total. Some have only the 24/7 - 8/10/12. Those ones I run off a electrical socket timer. 100% intensity on the lights, 6 on/6 off/6 on/6 off. The other lights have a fully automated smart controller built into the light. And are set on the same 6/6/6/6 schedule but the light controls it.
I USED to run the lights on the built in timer at 12 hours. But I am playing with lighting currently for maximum plant growth and algae control.
You need to mix, the proper way to add chemicals is water first then chemicals the water stops the reaction from creating heat or fire depending on the chemicals, I work in the chemical industry and when we mix large batches this is what we do water first, it also contains the powder due to the moisture.l, and yes mix you will have clumps of powdered chemical if you don’t
Doesn’t work in this application. You don’t want the reaction to start (water is the catalyst) before you can get the cap on. You want to trap the reaction.
You mix chemicals that way to avoid severe reactions that can be dangerous. We actually WANT the rapid reaction. 😉
@gordr8024 can you take a video of you adding the powder baking soda and citric acid mix to the cylinder of water? My email is in my bio. Thanks
Also, I am under the impression that a catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change. Since the water never changes from his physical or chemical property, I would assume it was the catalyst.
what size is that generator?
This is the 4L.
How did this work long term?
Pretty well. I did an update video. It’s in the video list. Title: “DIY co2 generator for aquariums”.
Detailed review there of the 3 systems I own.
FYI: 900ml of water = 900 grams. So you can simply use a scale and weigh out 900 grams of ice.
Yes. God bless the metric system
Can we add a separate needle value for which and the regulator?
The needle valve only controls the bubbles per second,or co2, going into the airline. The pressure regulator limits the pressure from bottle to needle valve. So you do have two valves to control pressure on the 4L size system (the one in this video).
The 2L size system has only a needle valve that holds back all 400 PSI. BUT, you can fit a 4L regulator on a 2L bottle which I may do later (I have two 2L kits). You can buy the 4L regulators separately. Hope that helps.
Lowest bubble count that can be tuned? Can it be tuned for 1 bubble for 4 seconds. Because most of the budget friendly regulators have these issues .
On my 5 gallon tanks I have 1 bubble per 3 sec. You can get slower bubble counts but when tank pressure drops, needle will have to be readjusted to maintain flow.
@@ssaquascapes thanks a lot . This helps a lot as I am trying to buy for my nano tank
I do recommend them. So far I am very happy with all 3 systems I have from this brand.
Don’t know if you will see this i have the same system just a smaller version. Everything is the same and was working great 3bps but now i can not get more than .25 bubbles a second. If i raise the output of the co2 it just burst out the sides of the bubbles counter that is places above the co2 canister. and it is lost co2 i’ve tried for a few weeks and right now i just lost half my co2 tank trying again. any help ?
Sounds like your needle valve is clogged. If you unscrew the needle valve all the way, you should be able to disassemble it and make sure it is perfectly clean. Blow out the hole, orifice, and reassemble. If that does not work, there is a clog somewhere else.
I'm trying to refill but my black filter tube won't screw into the regulator because it is too small and just falls into the canister when I try to screw the regulator on. Has anyone else had this issue?
The black filter holder is plastic and screws into metal. So I have also noticed it to be loose but I have not had it fail yet. See if you can just stick it in there and maybe even super glue it in. once that filter is in the regulator, you have no need to remove it again.
Informative video, thanks
Glad you enjoyed it.
Looking for one right now.@@ssaquascapes
my timer control is built into the light, can I just turn off co2 manually or use an external timer and time it to the light timer, what a pain.
If it is the 4 button controller you can just put it on a timer. It’ll turn on to last dim setting when it regains power. If it has the led screen Smart Control, then no, an external light timer won’t work. It won’t turn on until you set the clock on the controller.
Put the water on the scale then use the same weight of ice.
Good idea!
Well done video. ❤
Thank you. There is a follow up vid on the channel too if you’re interested. 🤘
I’m new to co2 systems and i heard they could blow up or something. I’m planning of getting the same diy co2 system. Just a question, when the co2 plug timer shuts off, how does it stop the flow of co2? Also if it stopped, is the tank not going to explode?
No worries on the cylinder exploding. It holds nearly 2000PSI and you won’t reach that pressure. It also has a safety relieve valve to prevent explosions.
The reaction of the ingredients only produces a set amount of pressure so it won’t continue to climb.
It is shut off at night by the solenoid valve.
Set your fears aside and join us in the world of Co2! 🤘🤘🤘
@@ssaquascapes thank you!
Use the metric system, 900ml of water = 900 grams of ice
Thanks! 🤘
Adding ice rather than ice & water will delay the reaction until the ice melts
Agreed. Now that I know how to measure it by weight, this could be done if desired.
Okay but I'm not wanting to use it in my water I'm wanting to add the co2 to my grow tent
Don’t think it has enough volume for that. But you can try. 😁🤘
were are the plants in your aquarium? u need to heavy plant the aquarium mate.
One of the first vids on the channel. Check here for an update. 😁
ruclips.net/video/eQM-Tiu6iK4/видео.htmlsi=7LT9Y2ZAUntixj7G
Pro tip for anyone watching… water weighs the same in grams as it measures in ml
I had to learn metric after this video. 🤣🤣
900ml of ice weight less than 900ml if water cause of air bubble during the ice create so you must check yours elf you can take ice melt it a you will see how much ice make 900ml water❤
Science is too hard for me. 😛
2L system in your country is around 100$, but in India they are selling it for 275$, very sad.
Yes I see the price has come down since I made the video. Can you shop on Amazon USA and pay for the shipping to India?
@@ssaquascapes ya this is so cool, Thanks
Like 200 in Canada 😢
I got one for 60 euros on AliExpress and its exactly the same. These are dropship items haha.
Better deals out there for sure. Also the same product under multiple labels. These are FBA from Amazon though or the couldn’t fulfill 2 day shipping. 🤘
i forgot the filter what now?
No worries. It should be fine as long as you keep it upright and don’t shake it. Just install it next fill up. 🤘🤘
@@ssaquascapes no worries mate she be flowing
900g of ice is 900ml of water melted. One gram of water is 1ml. Metric is easy...
Yup. Learned that shortly after. 😁
Yo How to I release pressure? My first valve is at yellow 😂
I run it all the way down until there is no more bubbles in the bubble counter. Needle in red. Then twist the regulator off the bottle very slowly which will release the rest of the pressure.
If you’re in the yellow and getting no bubbles. Adjust the regulator and needle valve to compensate for the lower pressure in bottle.
The Fzone system has a built in check valve. I didn't know that and attached a regular check valve and the CO2 wouldn't pass through it without cranking the needle valve up full blast.
Might have been a bad regulator. The check valve shouldn’t add much restriction unless installed backwards. 🤷🏼♂️
You have a scale. 900ml of water is 900g.
Yup. Learned that soon after the video. 🤣
How often do you change the blue liquid in the Co2 tester?
I change mine when I feel it stops reading accurately. Maybe every 3 months. I look at it when I do water changes. Lower the water below the drop checker and it will be exposed to atmospheric air changing it to dark blue pretty fast (roughly 20-30 mins). If it doesn’t react that fast I change it out. Probably not the best method but it is my method.
@@ssaquascapes thank you sir
You didnt count for the weight of the cup you used.
I hit tare and zeroed the cup.
👍
🤘
900ml = 900 grams of water and 900 grams of water = 900 gr of ice
Thank you. 🤘
900ml of water= 900g of water, but 900ml water not equal to 900g of ice
Ty. I learned metric soon after this vid was posted due to you awesome people. 🤣
Nice 👍😊
Thanks!
The true measure, for every 600 grams of cítric ácid, you Will needs 785 grams of bakin soda,
I’ll have to try it.
@@ssaquascapes Have you tried it yet 🔥
Did this guy just ask how to make 900 mL of ice like it was a fucking puzzle?! FML
I did! Did it provide you with much entertainment? As this is the goal of YT. 😁🤘😁
@@ssaquascapesgoal accomplished 😂
🤣😛
It did now 😂👍
🤣sweet! Thanks for watching!🤘
900ml of water is is 900g
Yep, I have learned this since this video. Appreciate the watch and the comment. Cheers.
1L of water is 1kg of water...
Thank you. I am learning my metric measurements from all of you guys. It’s starting to make sense why everyone but us uses the metric system. 🤣
900g of ice.... simple math
I don’t math so gooder. 😛
Lol . Your tank doesn't need CO2. Wasted money and time.
Ah…but it does now. 😉
you king 🫡
Thanks (I think) 😐
Seems like you skipped math class often..
I did. I hate math. Useless for video production. 🤣🤣
Too expensive
Yes, it is an initial investment. But there are other CO2 options like the yeast method. Lots of videos on that on YT. I just prefer this method.
Hey man I gave you a view and comment
But this video was really poorly made
Thumbs down
Best of luck
Thanks for the interaction. 🤣
You watched the vid,was the sound up or DOWN,cause he mentions,hes not an experienced RUclipsr lol