panaque

O.K. I know that this question is the most asked one on CO2. How do I make my own system. This is the best site I have ever seen on DIY CO2... http://www.qsl.net/w2wdx/aquaria/diyco2.html . This system generally is for tanks under 30 gallons. For larger aquaria I would suggest a compressed system.

Art_Giacosa

Excellent site! I have never read that treatise. Thanks for posting it.

cpr4cpu

Let's also remember Chuck Gadd's info on CO2 setups.
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/diy_co2rig.htm

BobAlston

For pressurized co2 systems, take a look at the information I have collected:

http://members.cox.net/tulsaalstons/...Pressure%20CO2

Update 5/5/2006: My web site is now here:

http://webpages.charter.net/bobalsto...Pressure%20CO2

Bob

gpodio

Here's my take on DIY CO2

http://www.gpodio.com/diy_co2.asp

Nothing that hasn't been said before, John LeVasseur's writeup has been a long time favorite of mine. There are these two other pages from John that are worth reading:

DIY Reactor
http://www.qsl.net/w2wdx/aquaria/reactor.html

This one is very good...
http://www.qsl.net/w2wdx/aquaria/letter.html

Giancarlo Podio

kmurphy

qpodio

The link you put up there doesn't seem to work.

The first link in this thread is a great one. I read it about 3 years ago when I first got into planted aquariums. Still haven't tried the DIY Co2, but am getting very close to.

trenac

Here is the link that I used for my first DIY C02...
http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/CO2/

And here is the one I used to make my DIY pressurized system...
http://sammyxp.tripod.com/html/id23.html

kmurphy

Thanks for that post trenac. You may have just convinced me to go with a DIY pressurized system instead of non pressurized yeast method. The several hundered dollar amount I was seeing for other pressurized systems was not appealing to me.

How big is your tank, what size bottle do you use and how often do you have to get it refilled.

Another question, when you remove the bottle to get it refilled, do you need to be concerned about the loss of Co2 injection while your out getting it filled.

Thanks to all that are taking part in this thread. I am getting very close to adding Co2 to my tank. My plants aren't doing that good right now, to much light, ~3 watts/gallon with no Co2.

All this info is a huge help in my decision making process.

trenac

I put my DIY pressurized system together for $130 total, not bad.

I have a 5lb bottle on a 55G tank. I have not had the tank hooked up long enough yet to see how often I will have to fill it. From others I have heard a fill up should last anywhere between 6-12 months depending on your aquarium size & bubble count.

I found in my area that welding shops only have used canisters (which you have to swap for another) and industrail grade C02. So I went to a store in my area that supplys resturants with C02, there I got a new canister that I can have refilled & food grade C02 which is cleaner (less oil) than industrail grade. Just something to think about.

Also instead of using a spice jar for a bubble counter I use a Hagan Ladder (diffuser/bubble counter) that you can get from Big Als for $10.

kmurphy

Did you happen to check out home brewing supply stores for Co2 cannisters. I imagine they would be about the same price and grade as the food supply stores.

The reason I ask is because there is one right down the street from my house.