[ghengis]

Look at this thread: Check out post #89 It works.
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/diy-aquarium-projects/44053-tiny-super-efficient-co2-reactor-9.html

Hey that was my post! Sweeeeet!! However, contrary to the claims made by me in that thread, there really is nothing wrong with the glass diffusors in a DIY situation. It's just a matter of getting it right... Curious, what type of hose are you using? Is it the silicone type or the cheap, stiff hose? I just wonder, because, I can't understand how you are getting leaks around the silicone tube (if that's what you are using). You can also buy CO2 specific hose, if you are prepared to fork out a little more, but the silicone should be fine...

Do a test. Unhook your diffusor and just let the open hose sit in your tank. This is just to see if you are actually getting any gas production at all. If this proves OK, you are one step closer to success. Did you follow my advice in your other Thread (actually,why start another thread on the same topic??) and get rid of all the unnecessary fittings? One other thing. Do you have more than one diffusor? I bought three off ebay, it took me a week to work out that two were, not duds, as such, just less operative. I now just reuse the same diffusor, cos I know it works well.

There really is no reason for you to be having this much trouble. I think you have overlooked something... Just relax and try to break the system down into it's various parts, in your mind as well as hands. Eliminate or fix each area, step by step, and be patient... We don't want you buying fake plants, y'know!!

 

[ghengis]

In my home tank which is a 55 gallon planted, i run Pressurized CO2 and my air line running to the reactor is just regular air line hose. This is "cheap hosing" but it works great. 1bps into my reactor can give me close to 30ppm.

Yes, in your case, regular "cheap" hose would be fine. Why? Because you are most likely using proper barbed fittings to secure the hose, and not relying on the flexibility of the hose to seal itself to the inside of a drilled hole...

Cheap tubing is not the issue here. The issue is not enough pressure and your diffusor.

Again, you might be right. But I am just trying to help this person eliminate all possibilities. As stated above, the silicone tube, being alot more flexible than the cheap, stiff variety, seals better against the drilled holes... The reason for there not being enough pressure at the diffusor is because of leakage. Simple. One could use a 44gallon drum filled with water, sugar and yeast, and still have troubles if the gas is leaking past the outside of the tube. Or somewhere else.

Also, I am not saying that all the problems are stemming from the hose alone, there could be something else that needs attention... It's just one more step in ensuring the system will work. ara, please try the silicone hose, and let us know how you go.

 

[ghengis]

No it's a wooden meat skewer for making shishkabobs (sp?). You can get like 25 of them in a pack for a few measly bucks at the local grocery store.

Ghengis- I love your skewer idea. It works great and is easily hidden. Sometimes high tech gadgets aren't all they are cracked up to be. Sometimes less is more! It's definitely true in this case! I've referred your ingenious "CO2 diffuser" to many people! Thanks!

No, TexGal, thank you! That's very flattering!!

ara, just had another idea. If, after you've had a go with the silicone hose, you are still getting leaks, maybe take one of those little nipple fittings that I told you to throw away (you didn't really throw them away did you? ), push your hose through your bottle lid (about two inches or so, or enough to make it easy to handle), push the nipple into the end of the hose and draw the hose back through the hole, wedging the nipple into place. If that doesn't give you a good solid seal, I don't know if anything will!

Just make sure you try the hose by itself first, and ensure the hole is at least a milliimetre smaller than your hose diameter.

 

[ghengis]

ghengis, how the heck did you get that video in your signature and why can't I double click on it to see it bigger?

I've had that sig for about 3 months, now, and your the first person to ask me about it!! You can't make it bigger, cos I compressed it to fit into the required sig size. Sorry. But thanks for noticing!!

And...

ara35, the part to focus on is the size of the hole that you DRILL into the top of your 3 liter (if you can find them that big, I do recommend that size - buy the soda bottle and dump out or pour out for your kids to drink down). Make sure you DRILL the hole. You want to look at the drill bit and make sure that it is SMALLER than your air hose. DRILL the hole, do not nail the hole - you might crack the soda bottle top. THEN take the air hose and CUT the hose diagonally to make this weird shaped hose with a skinny tip - and then STICK THIS INTO THE TINY drilled HOLE. Here comes the funny part if you are not handy (I am not); take a pair of pliers and PULL the skinny tip of the air hose THROUGH THE drilled HOLE. If done right (not easy for me - I had to redo this a number of times), the air hose will be tightly held by the soda bottle top, the hole in the tubing in the soda bottle top will be narrow - but that is okay you want to build up pressure and you don't want to lose this pressure to leaks from cracks.

...well said. For an Office Jock you're really pretty smart! :biggrin::biggrin: Just to clarify that drill size, I find a bit that'll fit inside the tube, 4.5mm is perfect. Super snug :supz:

 

[ghengis]

Any updates here, ara? Are we winning, yet??

 

[ghengis]

...or just avoid silicone...