Ok, after seeing the response from Trena in another thread about the incredibly inexpensive CO2 regulator, I have a question.
Can someone give me a rough idea of how long a bottle of CO2 will last? For the sake of discussion, let's assume a 5 pound bottle, with no solenoid/controller. Yes, I know it hinges on bubbles per minute, so let's add some more parameters...
55 gallon tank, Emperor 400 filter. Air curtain at the back of the tank (non-negotiable - my wife said so!) Hagen bubble ladder, fed by Tygon tubing (essentially impermeable to CO2). (I'm going to be building a wet/dry filter, and have designed in a powered CO2 injector in the sump, just before the return pump, for more efficient dissolution. Let's leave that out of the equation for now.)
When the DIY twin-2-liter setup works (it's "between batches" now - I screwed up the setup last weekend - sigh!) the plants apparently get some sort of benefit from the CO2, despite the air curtain - better color, phenomenal growth, etc. There isn't an appreciable impact on pH, though this tank is kept at pH6.5, and the kH is only about 0.75 degrees. The bubbles hit the Hagen ladder at a rate of probably 8-12 per minute, and dissolve almost completely before they hit the top of the ladder. I've stuffed a shaped piece of foam at the top of the ladder to catch the remaining bubbles and give them more chance to dissolve further.
Again, for the sake of discussion, let's assume I keep the bubble rate at 12-ish per minute, 24/7. How long should a 5-pound bottle last me? Translated, how much will it cost long term - I may be able to convince my wife to let me get a <$100 setup, unless it'll cost $50 a month for CO2 - ale yeast and sugar are cheap!
Thanks for your help!
Glen
Can someone give me a rough idea of how long a bottle of CO2 will last? For the sake of discussion, let's assume a 5 pound bottle, with no solenoid/controller. Yes, I know it hinges on bubbles per minute, so let's add some more parameters...
55 gallon tank, Emperor 400 filter. Air curtain at the back of the tank (non-negotiable - my wife said so!) Hagen bubble ladder, fed by Tygon tubing (essentially impermeable to CO2). (I'm going to be building a wet/dry filter, and have designed in a powered CO2 injector in the sump, just before the return pump, for more efficient dissolution. Let's leave that out of the equation for now.)
When the DIY twin-2-liter setup works (it's "between batches" now - I screwed up the setup last weekend - sigh!) the plants apparently get some sort of benefit from the CO2, despite the air curtain - better color, phenomenal growth, etc. There isn't an appreciable impact on pH, though this tank is kept at pH6.5, and the kH is only about 0.75 degrees. The bubbles hit the Hagen ladder at a rate of probably 8-12 per minute, and dissolve almost completely before they hit the top of the ladder. I've stuffed a shaped piece of foam at the top of the ladder to catch the remaining bubbles and give them more chance to dissolve further.
Again, for the sake of discussion, let's assume I keep the bubble rate at 12-ish per minute, 24/7. How long should a 5-pound bottle last me? Translated, how much will it cost long term - I may be able to convince my wife to let me get a <$100 setup, unless it'll cost $50 a month for CO2 - ale yeast and sugar are cheap!
Thanks for your help!
Glen