quick Co2 Question

[camtang]

I am under the impression that the longer the Co2 bubbles are in the water the better they disolve and work, correct?

If the answer is yes, my question is if it was to attach a milk bottle lid above air stone to trap all the bubbles in one spot then releseing a bigger bubble again into the water would this help disolve the Co2 as it is in the water for a longer period? (DIY set up)

[SamH]

You're talking about a CO2 bell? Ideally no bubbles would rise to the surface, you want them diffused as much as possible into the water. Some people inject all their CO2 into the bell at the beginning of the day and there's none left at the end of it. Considered a CO2 reactor?

[calculator]

The amount of CO2 dissolved is proportional to both the surface area of the CO2 bubble and the amount of time it is in contact with the water.

I have read that as you saying 'what would happen if it was released as one big bubble' (correct me if I have read that wrong), that would decrease the amount of CO2 dissolved as it would have a relatively small surface area of the bubbles in contact with the water for the amount of time it takes to travel to the surface.

If you are talking about a Bell like sam mentioned, it would increase the amount dissolved as it would be in contact with the water for a large amount of time.

[camtang]

@Sam I hadnt heard of a co2 bell but after a quick google yeh basicly a rangied up one of them. whats co2 reactor?

@calculator, not like a big bubble at the start, was more looking at a third or half the way up the bubbles treck to the top it kinda being stopped and gatherd up in one place until there was an overflow effect. make sense?

Part of the reason I ask as the tank height is only 250mmish high so it quickly gets to the surface

[F15hguy]

maybe try a CO2 bell with a small diffuser above it to trap the air and slowly release it again?????

justa random idea

[SamH]

A reactor goes inline with a filter and mashes the CO2 against media like a sponge or wool like this:

[calculator]

That might work, my only thoughts on it is that the surface area of the CO2 when it is in the lid would be relatively low, and the bubbles that come out would be relatively large, so unless it was held in the lid for a long time it probably wouldn't increase the amount dissolved.

I could be wrong, that is just me trying to think how it would work off the top of my head, and I would need to do research to know if I was any where near correct, but well done on trying to think up ways to use more of the CO2.

@sam: I do like that idea, it looks like it would greatly increase the amount dissolved.

[camtang]

maybe try a CO2 bell with a small diffuser above it to trap the air and slowly release it again?????

justa random idea

Where do I find bells or is diy good ?

@sam would I need to use anoth power head or could I use the existing internal filter in the tank? tank space is of a premium on this tank, I dont know what the definition of a Nano tank is but this feels like one to me so its a very foregin thing. both plants co2 and small tanks

but well done on trying to think up ways to use more of the CO2.

I actual sore that happen in my first ever planted tank when I had even less of a clue of what I was doing with, fish plants and co2. the bubbles got stuck under a leaf of a crypt from memory and everynow and then a big giant bubble came and said hello from under it. When this was happening not all small bubbles were being caught maybe a 50/50 ratio.

[camtang]

looking at that diagram was thinking it would be a good way decressing current in the tank, of which I think i have a little to much. if i could find a small enough drink bottle I could make that work well enough, just need to find a very small botle

[SamH]

In a high tech planted tank, you can never really have too much current (unless you're blowing the substrate and plants around the tank :lol: ) but I think for a DIY tank on a budget, a reactor is much better than a bell.

[camtang]

Its not at the stage nor high tech :sml1: but it is pretty strong for the tank that its in. had a look around home thinking about converting an old food contaner into a reactor. but they still might be to bigand take up over a third of the tank. any ideas for a small plastic bottle/container?

[SamH]

What about the end off an old gravel vac? Maybe a large pill bottle?

[F15hguy]

usign currents you can suspend the smaller bubbles in the water for a lot longer, just have a downward current where the majority of the bubbles are rising near the surface