air stone or glass diffuser? - DIY Aquarium Projects

DVS Moss · 06-04-2009, 05:26 AM

maybe a silly question, but i have to ask after reading the sticky and getting all excited for the second time.

would a glass diffuser work better with DIY Co2 then one those '' thumb sized '' air stones?

cell · 06-04-2009, 08:09 PM

The glass diffuser is better because it makes smaller bubbles. However it needs a lot of pressure to force co2 out.

I have a ladder kind of diffuser. It works. Plus, the top part of the ladder acts as a CO2 bell. CO2 tubing was provided as well! With it, I recommend also using DIY Jelly-CO2 recipe.

DVS Moss · 06-04-2009, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cell

The glass diffuser is better because it makes smaller bubbles. However it needs a lot of pressure to force co2 out.

I have a ladder kind of diffuser. It works. Plus, the top part of the ladder acts as a CO2 bell. CO2 tubing was provided as well! With it, I recommend also using DIY Jelly-CO2 recipe.

would a glass diffuser work in a DIY CO2 system like the one suggested in the stickies?

or should i just use an air stone?

Shad0w · 06-04-2009, 09:32 PM

glass diffuser have fine holes, take lot of CO2 pressure. With DIY CO2, it make take a while before it has the pressure to push CO2 through.

DVS Moss · 06-04-2009, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shad0w

glass diffuser have fine holes, take lot of CO2 pressure. With DIY CO2, it make take a while before it has the pressure to push CO2 through.

are u saying it wont work good or that it will work but may take some time?

would a small air stone be better?

Philosophos · 06-05-2009, 12:30 AM

Go with the air stone. Issues with diffusers on DIY are pretty much infamous because of the pressure issues. For the price of a mid-range diffuser, you could do a needlewheel with a cheap submersible pump, then use a timer to control the on/off for the pump. Kinda works like a DIY solenoid because when it's off, the bubbles directly from the CO2 line are too large to diffuse effectively.

-Philosophos

WhiteDevil · 06-05-2009, 02:52 AM

get a ceramic air stone.

I had regular air stones they crumble with CO2, I got a glass diffuser that pressurized air cant even get through. I recommend a ceramic stone. a 2" ceramic by me is $3.99

cbwmn · 06-05-2009, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DVS Moss

maybe a silly question, but i have to ask after reading the sticky and getting all excited for the second time.

would a glass diffuser work better with DIY Co2 then one those '' thumb sized '' air stones?

DVS
I have two tanks w/DIY CO2 and a 46 gallon w/pressurized CO2.
I use a hard plastic tube and inject the CO2 directly into the filter intake.
It works great on the 46 which has an XP2 canister filter.
On the other tanks, I have HOB filters which cause more water
turbulence and a lot of the CO2 is gassed off.
Everything being considered, I believe your best bet would be to inject
through your filter intake.
On the HOB filters, you do hear a “spitting” sound from the CO2 being injected.
With the XP2 it is completely silent.

With DIY, I had NO success with air stones or ceramic diffusers.
They both required a lot of pressure build up which caused leaks in the system.
The CO2 ladder does work also, but not as well as injecting through a filter.

Good luck
Charles

DVS Moss · 06-05-2009, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbwmn

DVS
I have two tanks w/DIY CO2 and a 46 gallon w/pressurized CO2.
I use a hard plastic tube and inject the CO2 directly into the filter intake.
It works great on the 46 which has an XP2 canister filter.
On the other tanks, I have HOB filters which cause more water
turbulence and a lot of the CO2 is gassed off.
Everything being considered, I believe your best bet would be to inject
through your filter intake.
On the HOB filters, you do hear a “spitting” sound from the CO2 being injected.
With the XP2 it is completely silent.

With DIY, I had NO success with air stones or ceramic diffusers.
They both required a lot of pressure build up which caused leaks in the system.
The CO2 ladder does work also, but not as well as injecting through a filter.

Good luck
Charles

how would i incorporate ur method with an Aqua clear 20?

thanks

Philosophos · 06-05-2009, 10:28 AM

Getting good distribution with an AQ 20 through this method seems like a pain. CO2 rises, and those trickle filters just lay the new water right out at the top gently. I picked up a RIO 180 for $12 and pulled a needle wheel mod in less than an hour; distribution beats anything I've used.

-Philosophos