DIY CO2 and Animals

Not A Big Concern

Hi,

Yes, it is possible to harm or kill critters with diy CO2. I have not heard it being that big of a problem, just use a little less yeast, pay attention to your critters and have a small air pump on hand, you can put it on a timer.

Unless you have ferns, mosses and/or hornworts, Excel is an excellent alternative.

On the other hand, talk to Left C and he can explain how to slit CO2 from your 55-gallon tank.

Biollante

 

Yes, DIY CO2 can kill, I am quite sure I had an oto die because of it
(BPS was too high, not by duration though). So any CO2 system can kill.

When I used DIY CO2, I disconnected the hose at night and reconnected it
before light on. But I couldn't keep up with this schedule, my wake-up time
didn't match light-on time. So I switched to pressurised system with solenoid
eventually.

 

Just run an airstone or something similar when the lights are off. This should help to avoid a high CO2 concentration at night and have it available for the plants when the lights are on. You can even use a staggered "air period". Turn the airstone on a hour or two before the lights go off and have it go off an hour or two before the lights come on. This will give you more CO2 and O2 when you need it.

 

What Left C Says

Hi,

I have kept three of my tanks continuously for over six years, have kept diy CO2 off and on since the 70’s (19, not 18) and more or less continuously from ’86 or ‘87 and continue to keep tanks, including a couple of 10-gallon tanks, diy CO2. :gw

I have low critter mortality rates and none I could attribute to CO2.

I am not sure of Nipat’s methodology in eliminating all other possible causes of death to his poor unfortunate Otto. Ottos are notoriously sensitive to water conditions. Nor as I said in my earlier post do I deny the possibility that do-it-yourself carbon dioxide could cause deaths to your critters.

Personally, I think our critters are at far greater risk from CO2 related death with the use of pressurized systems.

In a heavily planted tank, at night I suppose there is a possibility, if it concerns you, a small air pump and air stone on a timer will take care of that. If your tank is so lightly planted that you fear the CO2 in the daytime, I would not use any.

Biollante

 

Well, it's embarrassing to admit. But it's true.

That (male) otto had been very fine before I connected another bottle of CO2 to test BPS rate. 3 hours later it's dead.
At that time I still was very new to CO2 that breathing at the surface was the only symptom I knew of about CO2 toxicity.
And the otto just stayed in the bush of tenellus, out of my distant observation, until it died.

I don't think pressurized systems are safer. So no disagreement here.

 

Insightful Sort!

Hi Nipat,

Not trying to create an argument, you are one of the most insightful people I have met online, but as "they" do say however, "correlation is not causation."

It happens a lot.

Biollante

 

It's not good to turn a filter off for extended periods. The aerobic bacteria need O2 24/7 or they die.

BioWheel's are noisy. Try the Eheim Liberty series. I'd get the 200 for your 10g. You can throttle it back with its valve to a trickle and still have a lot of media in it. The 100 and 150 models will work on a 10g, but the 200's have more media (sponge) room.

Liberty 200 with large sponges


large sponge


The large sponges are washable over and over. Good product for planted aquaria!


Links
http://eheim.com/base/eheim/inhalte/index8dac.html?key=liniendetail_27852_ehen
http://eheim.com/base/eheim/inhalte/index28c4.html?key=liniendetail_27413_ehen
http://www.bigalsonline.com/edealinv/servlet/ExecMacro?omni_scAdd=scAdd&nurl=control%2FBrowseCatalog.vm&eurl=control%2FBrowseCatalog.vm&rurl=control%2FBrowseCatalog.vm&ctl_nbr=3684&queryType=0&path=&offset=&hits=&sortby=&query=liberty&submit.x=16&submit.y=10

 

What Left C Said!

Hi,

There are plenty of quiet little filters and pumps for a 10-gallon tank.

A little pump and sponge filter ought to be sufficient. Just aim some of the out flow up and agitate the surface. :gw

It really does not take much.

Biollante

 

I have both the 100 and 200 Liberty filters. Both are on separate 10g aquariums. I've have had 0 problems with them and I've had them 7 years. They still have the stock impellers.

The Liberty filters come stock with thin sponge(s) and 3D carbon insert(s). According to Eheim, one or two large sponges come with the filters which is new to me. The large sponge inserts just came out a little over a year ago.

If you order media for them, get a 12 pack of 3D carbon inserts and 1 or 2 large sponge inserts. You will be good to go for a long time. You may or may not need a spare 2 pack of thin sponge inserts.
http://www.bigalsonline.com/edealinv/servlet/ExecMacro?omni_scAdd=scAdd&nurl=control%2FBrowseCatalog.vm&eurl=control%2FBrowseCatalog.vm&rurl=control%2FBrowseCatalog.vm&ctl_nbr=3684&queryType=0&path=&offset=&hits=&sortby=&query=liberty&submit.x=16&submit.y=10

Another nice feature they have other than an adjustable flow is that they can prime themselves which is handy at times. AquaClears can't do this.

If you decide to go with an AquaClear, get a 50 or 70 (200 or 300 gph) and I'll tell you how to grind away an intake stop so that you can lower the flow. Get a box of sponges. A 100mL Purigen bag is optional.
http://www.bigalsonline.com/StoreCatalog/ctl3684/cp18423/si3568923/cl1/seachem_purigen__100ml?&query=purigen&queryType=0&hits=12&offset=0

 

The 150 should be fine. I like the 200 because of the extra media room and twin returns. Their flow adjustment works really well. If you don't have one already, pick up a flexible wire brush to clean out the inside of the intake and output tubes.

I haven't used that particular prefilter. I use a replacement sponge prefilter for a Marineland 660R powerhead that I cut in half and rinse out in aquarium water when it is dirty.

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/214002/product.web
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001F976PW/?tag=barrreport-21

 

I'm glad that you like the Eheim Liberty. It is a great HOB filter that few people use. The AquaClears are popular too, but since Eheim made the large sponge for their Liberties the AC's have no advantage in this aspect.


I'm not familiar with the particular APC thread that you mentioned. Anyway, there are two tubes going into the top. The intake goes into the water in the BC/separator. The output is shorter and doesn't go in the water.

 

More Than One Way To Skin The proverbial Cat!

Hi,

I am not sure I understand the question or how we confused you.

Most folks like a ‘bubble counter’, keeps a certain amount of yeastie beastie parts and wastes from fouling diffusers and entering the tank.

If the message has not yet arrived, as with skinning the proverbial cat, there is more than one way to accomplish most tasks. Most of us are on more than one site and know people who absolutely disagree with our very existence. If you have to have absolute agreement on everything, you are not going to accomplish much.

Biollante

 

I can't hardy reach up from the floor to hit the enter key because I am laughing so hard.