Paper on measuring CO2 in marine plant chambers

Nice articles. If the link doesn't work on the second one, then use this:

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/119542823/PDFSTART

regards,
dutchy

 

Interesting. So in a nut-shell, they're just using a coil of silicone tubing as a CO2 permeable membrane and measuring the CO2 concentration of the air inside the tubing.

It's a neat idea. Cheapest NDIR CO2 meter I could find was still $170, so considering a small air pump, silicone tubing, non-CO2 permeable tubing (e.g. copper / PVC / Stainless), time involved... we're looking at about ~$200 for a CO2 meter capable of 5-min time resolution.

I may just build one of these. Wouldn't take me much time at all. Now if I hadn't already blown my aquarium budget on upgrading my filtration system... dag-nabit!!

 

Thanks for the articles Tom. I'm not quit able to comprehend 90% of them I'm afraid.
Oreo - could the CO2 meter be built inside the CO2 reactor or into a surface skimmer?

 

Hi,

I would consider providing the capital for this experiment.....If it works you just need to build ME one too...

Sad to say, I have spent much more and gotten WAY less lol

I don't have the intelligence or the DIY skills to do it, but I can buy parts and have them shipped to you

PM me if interested...

 

You've been PM'd Gerry!

 

I'd consider that. Need to get a prototype built as a proof of concept first. I'm not sure about +/- 1ppm accuracy though. I mean, I'm looking at the least expensive meter on the market. Accuracy will be whatever the meter is capable of.

 

Where can I sign up?

regards,
dutchy

 

Oreo,

Pm replied to! Let's buy a quality meter at least....since it is a prototype we may as well see what we can do for a little more $

I have found that sometimes the price between mediocre or decent and really good is not that large percentage wise...

 

Dutchy, don't get too anxious just yet. If it works & I don't feel like building more, at the very least I'll post a bunch of pictures for anyone else who wants to DIY their own. Of all the complex things I've fabricated I suspect this will be one of the more simple builds.

If other people want me to build one for them we can discuss those arrangements after a successful prototype is completed.

 

I just hope that all those folks will be in line behind me lol

I can see a few folks here going for one...I know I would buy one retail if I could.. $300-600 say doesn't sound bad compared to the $2500 c02 meter Tom uses....

Especially if we can benchmark the results against a meter of this type and they were comparable.....I'd buy one....

Maybe the reef folks would have an interest?

 

GerryD, since you're financing this project you're entitled to the very first one.

PM incoming...

 

Update:

Thanks to Gerry I have built a proof-of-concept prototype and tested for function. The bottom line is that the design works but the sensor we used has too low of a measurement range. Gerry & I are still discussing where to go from here. I'll update again when I have more.