Great video. A question, would it be ok to say mix 200gr of bicarbonate of soda with 260gr of citric acid, then use just the stated 400g of this mix with the 300ml of water?
Hiya, if I understand correctly, you want to know if you need to change the amount of water or not. The water is simply an agent to mix the reactants, so you are fine to stick with the 300ml of water whilst increasing the citric acid. Glad you enjoyed the video! 👍
@@AquariumShed No, the water side of things is the same. I was just wondering if the Soda to Acid ratios would remain the same, by that I mean would 400g of the mix work. I was thinking about knocking up batch and storing it in an air-tight container and using when needed.
200 + 200 is the manufacturers recommendation anyway, so yes, that'd work. I wouldn't mix the dry ingredients together tho until just before prepping the reaction.
One of the best tricks I learned with this is to add the water first and then freeze the container without the top screwed on. Wait until the water is frozen solid, then add the other stuff and put the top on at your leisure. It takes a bit longer to build pressure because you have to wait for the ice to melt, but you lose no CO2 at all doing it like this and you don't have to be stressed out trying to get the top screwed on fast.
I do something similar ... but add the ice as loose pieces rather than freezing the tank. I have ruined 2 expensive stainless steel water bottles that got distorted when freezing. And yes, I would freeze only small amount without the lid on, but somehow the bottles still got bent and distorted. My fear would be compromising the integrity of the pressure vessel by freezing the water inside it. It may be a small risk, but I’m risk adverse. LOL
Finally i found a video which gives real information! Thank you. I just wonder if those bottles are safe. They hold high pressure comparable to proffessional CO2 bottles, but those must be checked every 10 years here in Germany.
Hi Andrew. No I've not tried it I'm afraid. I can't see too many problems with giving it a go since there's a safety release valve, but I find it lasts long enough as it is and the monthly routine works well with my maintenance schedule. 👍
I got my system ( F-Zone version) immediately after seeing this excellent review. I've run my system for some months now and love it. Not having to worry about sourcing a refill every time the gas runs out is a bonus. I have found that if you fill exactly as Owain describes i.e. with tilting the bottle and getting the valve sealed quickly it works well, however you can lose gas if like me you fumble when getting the thread to start.😊. One way to minimise an instant reaction when pouring in the water, is to chill the cylinder and water first. Being cold the reaction is slowed. It does take longer for the gauge to register but when it does you'll always have a full cylinder. I get 5 weeks at 1 bps.
Really pleased you are getting on so well with it. I discuss a bunch of things like this in my top tips video. Similar to what you mentioned about chilling the canister, is to use ice cubes instead of water. Slower to get up to pressure but zero loss of co2! 👍
@haitch04 I have the Fzone DIY CO2 kit as well, when using a ceramic spiral diffuser does it have to be soaked in water for a week to get the diffusing going? My pressure gauge that has the green area is showing around 200 psi and the other is hanging around 51 psi that should be well enough pressure to diffuse correct?
@@destryl1076 I have only ever used the Twinstar Neo diffuser with my FZone. Great little ceramic diffuser giving a very fine mist for aquariums up to 120l and available here in UK for £12 GBP.
Thank you for this owain, I first properly understood the diy soda bottle technique from you and now getting this cylinder because of how easy you make it sound. My plants and I thank you for this amazing content.
I have struggled to get the regulator / bubble counter / solenoid screwed on fast enough and not lose tons of CO2. I did things like mark the canister and top with marks to line up the screw threads. I even took extremely find sandpaper and softened the threads on both the male top threads and the female bottle threads. This helped some and screwing things together got a little easier. But I was still losing a lot of gas trying to put this thing together fast enough. Then I figured out the perfect solution!!! I ordered, from Amazon of course, a long ice cube stick mold. (Interestingly, a mold holds the exact amount of water needed for the CO2 generator,.) These molds are used for making ice cubes that will fit into water bottles with openings less than an inch wide. When the system needs recharging, I’ll do it in the early afternoon after, the CO2 cycle is done for the day. After the dry ingredients are added, instead of water, I add the ice sticks - no immediate reaction! The ice melts over the course of the afternoon and evening, slowly starting the reaction. When the solenoid opens at the correct time, the ice has completely melted and the system is on its way ... fully charged with gas!!! Remember folks, I thought of it first!!! LOL
🤣🤣🤣 This is the most bizarre time to get this comment. I'm literally just editing an update video about my top tips for this system, and these ice moulds are number one! Bit spooky tbh.... Totally agree with you. Fantastic tip. Thanks for sharing. 👍
i found pouring the water in wastes so much co2. I have pre-planned my re-fills and instead of pouring water in I measure my water then freeze them in small ice cubes that will fit through the opening. as the ice melts over night the tank is pretty much ready for the next day. no waste.
01:54 'difficult looking equations' that is the wonderful things about all fields in which you can deepen yourself in. at first it always look like magic but those tend to be the basic classes
Hello Owain! I am back after 9 months using this kit. I just want to say, that this kit is worth every single penny I paid for. I will absolutely positively, never ever going without CO2 in a planted tank ever again. I will say this, using this kit on a 55gal/208L tank is fine but it was lasting me about seven days @ 6hrs x 8-10 bubbles per second before I would have to refill. This is in no way a knock against the kit but just a heads up for someone looking for an inexpensive solution. I think I was overly optimistic about how long the CO2 would last me, before having to clean and refill the tank with the bicarb/Citric acid again. I dealt with cycle for many months, then I grew tired of refilling and let it go for two months. After two months without CO2, I was absolutely bedeviled by old man black algae. So I saved and saved and I have since purchased a new aluminum 10lb cylinder from eBay, along the a decent two stage regulator and I love it. I just wanted to say to those who are considering this kit, please keep in mind the size of your planted tank. My 55Gal/208L tank was too big for this system but with smaller tanks BUY THIS KIT NOW, this kit is a bargain. PS, you should have way more subscribers, keep up the good work.
Hi Greg. Thanks so much for your kind words. I totally agree that this kit is much more suitable for smaller Nano tanks, but really pleased it served as a good entry point for you to explore co2 and its positive impact on your plants and whole ecosystem. Very jealous of the size of your tank, sounds epic. But at least I have something to look forward to when we move to a bigger house! Good luck with everything! 👍
Hi again. Noticed your other comment on my EI video got removed by UA-cam, I think because of the ebay link. Anyhow, I got an email notification so was able to read it. I've been considering a similar pump, but one from Jebao that has WiFi and you can set up the dosing via an app. Not done it yet tho because I have so many tanks I'd need two pumps! 😂😂 Let me know how you get on! 👍
This is amazing! So simple. I've been avoiding messing with co2 because it seemed like such a fiddly thing and like so much could go wrong (like suffocating your fishies). 😳 But with your explanation and this kit it's far easier than for example baking a good sponge cake 😂 THAT is complicated chemistry let me tell you.
My sponge cakes certainly reveal my poor chemistry way more! My belly is probably grateful..... 🤣 Glad the video was helpful, good luck getting everything set up. If you are starting to explore healthy plant growth, I'd definitely recommend my other videos on estimative index and siesta lighting! Cheers. 👍
😂 This does look really good and I want to try it. I hope a brand comes out with a version because I'd be worried about this Ebay thing exploding one day. But yeah I can't wait to get one.
I've had this cylinder for few years now and yes it's nice .. also nice to know you can also make the c02 the other way with it .. If you want too also very cheap maybe cheaper ...some were about 5 cup of Suger you can disolve with warm water or not then about tea spoon of active dry bakers yeast from super market cake section refrigerate yeast container after you open ... But the just fill the rest of container with water not all the way leave room for reaction it's going to make brown bubble like crap you don't want going up I to the hose or tank so maybe three quarters full at most with Suger tea spoon active dry yeast and rest water seal it wait ten min and that amount of about check online for exact if you care .. on that note you can make any amount less Suger and just a pinch of yeast so on and so forth .. fact the more yeast you use the faster and more pressure from c02 . Less yeast or more Suger slower to start but can last for months .. oh this method will never gain same kind of pressure to move guage... Don't worry bubble counter and the C02 will be there ...for long long time thats how I use it sometimes citric way both get food for plants and work great . I would argue Suger method is little cheaper last longer or same for sure and we always have that stuff around .. Good luck 🎉
I use that thing at home. I live in Indonesia and here it costs less than 500 000 IDR plus 120 000 for a solenoid. So far it works great. No need to look for a cylinder refill station. It's amazing. To me it has no flaws.
This system is really professional looking. Really worth the money for what you get and how cheap co2 will cost you to make over the years vs buying co2.
Totally agree! Since making this video I've actually adapted the system so I can use it on two tanks. Still working amazingly and saving me so much money! Thanks for watching. 👍
alternatively you can put the mixtures sealed in water soluble dissolving bags, then put them in the cyclinder and add water, the reactions will be slow enough for you to slowly fit the regulator
I've never tried this, but all over ebay and aliexpress you can buy PVA bags that dissolve in water. It's intended to dissolve in water for using bait while carp fishing. Maybe that could help with the narrow time slot
Interesting idea. Ice Cubes are also a good trick. Tho tbf, it's really not all that hard with the tilt method. You don't lose much gas and you get a pretty instant supply!
This video was great! Before watching, I was being pushed into buying a disposable CO2 kit for $150 from my local aquarium. They said it was the easiest option, but this? I bought the kit off Amazon for $160 and 5KG each of citric acid/bicarb for $80. Set a reminder on my phone to check it every few days and yeah... Also don't feel terrible about all the cannisters I'd be potentially consuming!
Hey hey, glad it was a useful video. You'll see with my other co2 buyers guide - ua-cam.com/video/EQAvUrEvQgs/v-deo.html - that I'm on a bit of a mission in relation to the disposalable canisters. They are terrible for the environment and just a straight up rip off to boot! Glad you are finding the generator a good setup. Let me know if you think of any other topics I should cover! 👍
Thanks for the info. Now my understanding is sodastream cans refilled with dry ice are a more economic method. 1kg of dry ice costs 2.5€ (in Brussels, Be) and fills 2 Sodastream cans (425g each). So theoretically, you'll get almost 8x more C02 for the same price. Of course there's also an entry cost; used empty sodastream cylinders sell for around 7€/p and you have to add the sodastream adapter (35€) + CO2 pressure regulator (around 45€).
Thanks for sharing, this dry ice refill method is totally new to me, but from what I have read so far it sounds like you are spot on in terms of the costs. Have you tried it yet? I wonder how much hassle the method is?
@@Aaron9581I reckon you could, if you could get the maths right regarding pressure. However as a kid I put dry ice in a bottle of water and it exploded my hand 😂
Hi there excellent video was perfectly explained and looking to get this system just wanted to know what size tubing fits this canister. Cheers and keep up the excellent videos
Seriously considering converting my 75 into a high tech planted aquarium. I first tried my hand with live plants on a 10 gallon without c02 and the results aren't horrible but less than satisfying. I just get overwhelmed with the co2 articles because I have no idea what they're talking about. I'm sure it's not as complicated as it seems tho.
Hey there! Quick question - the mix of 200g citric acid and 200g baking soda lasted you 33 days, right? Wondering, did you use a solenoid valve to turn it off at night? I'm looking to buy a smaller version with 100g of each with a valve for overnight breaks. Planning to do half-days of CO2. Think it'll last around the same? Appreciate your input
I think your spot on in terms of the value of the big extinguishers and the additional outlay of the regulator etc. would soon pay for itself. The reason I didn't go down this route is that I couldn't find anywhere in my area that wouldn't lock me into a credit agreement with monthly charges on top of the deposit and bottle cost. But I totally appreciate that for some people, the pro route is a better option. I think I will switch eventually, and probably do some videos about my thinking...... Thanks for watching!
@@AquariumShed th extinguisher were had on leboncoin our French main second hand website. You should have an equivalent and on it you find extinguisher older than the homologation limit of 10 years. In this case they are sold like you'd pick up apples. No need to be a pro or to be identified and no extra cost. 10 bucks was the total price if the bottle + the co² inside.
This is very insightful. I was planning to buy a similar canister but am hesitant. And I am also in doubt whether the by product of baking soda and citric acid is good enough for the planted aquarium. This video is really awesome, two thumbs up!
This is a really interesting point. I don't really know know much about the impact of other hydrocarbons which would be the main impurities, but I'll look into it. Thanks for watching! 👍
Hi, can you please provide a link to that co2 splitter, I'm interested in getting one for my system. Also amazing vids as always, the ice refill method is very efficient :)
Hiya - really glad you are enjoying the videos - there are links for the Splitter in the description of my latest Co2 video here - ua-cam.com/video/EQAvUrEvQgs/v-deo.html Cheers!
@@AquariumShed I can't get what the pressure cat it hold on inside? I'm searching sm construction that can hold onto 15 pressure inside and be safely for my family.
Sorry, that's not my area of expertise either I'm afraid. All I can say is that I've never had any issues, and the safety release valve is in place should pressure build. 👍
Nice video, just what I was looking for. Is it possible to turn it off over night? Do you leave on at night and if you do, doesn't that produce too much co2 to hurt the fish?
Hiya. You can use a solenoid valve with this system and some of the models actually come with one pre installed. This will allow you to add a timer and turn it off at night. You don't need to worry about about pressure building up, there is a safety release valve! Glad the video was helpful! 👍
I fill the cylinder up with hot tap water and let is stand for a bit before emptying, add 200g citric acid and shake the cylinder on a flat surface, add 262g baking soda, again shake, add 300ml hot water, yes it does start reacting quickly, but not a problem. Fill the sink with hot water and place the cylinder in it. 2 hours later you have 24kg/cm2 of co2.
Hello, a question, when should I turn on the CO2, when the adjuster arrives at 10 or 20 where is the green of the pressure watch, and how long can the charge last, the one I bought is the one with 100gr 100gr 150ml, thank you a greeting.
Hi. It's fine to turn off at night. The bottle is rated well above the working pressure, and also has a safety release valve just in case. So, you are fine to switch this off. In fact, a lot of newer models have a solenoid valve built in. Cheers.
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Hi Andy, there's really no limit to the size of tank it would work on, it will just deplete much quicker depending on the bubble count required for your tank. I'd use a aquarium co2 calculator to work out what bubble rate you need (UKAPS have a good one), and then you can work out how long it will last for your purposes by cross referencing with my figures of 33 days co2 at 1 bubble ever 2-3 seconds. For example, if the calculator says you'll need 1 bubble every 1-2 seconds this will last you about 16 days. Hope that makes sense. 👍
Aah it's so annoying, I think I was very lucky to have got mine last summer when they weren't so popular. I've recently been purchasing from Aliexpress, and because you can checkout with PayPal it feels pretty secure and I've not had any issues so far 🤞. They have the same 2l model in stock for $57 which is not dissimilar to what I paid on Ebay. The Ebay listings mostly ship from China anyway so there's not much difference in delivery speed etc. Definitely worth checking out. Good luck! 👍
@@AquariumShed did yours take ages to arrive? Though tbf I can see they estimate around a month, so it's not the very worst, I've had stuff arrive from China at much longer before haha
@@manufacturer3602 ha, yeah patience is key. I think my co2 kit arrived in two weeks. I've recently ordered a set of stainless steel lily pipes from Aliexpress and they took about 3 weeks. I've been pretty impressed so far, I'm becoming a bit of an Aliexpress addict. So many different aquarium products you don't see in the UK. 👍
Good video. I have the system you forgot to mention that on the bottom of the regulator that is in inside of the metal can. There should be a black plastic part mounted with a white filter on its end (located in the same package as the regulator comes in). That should be filed with water 80% then screwed into the bottom of the regulator. Maybe these kits comes with different parts.. Anyway there is at least 4 different models sizes of this (look at AliExpress). One, two, two double and four liter cans. It took me a while to figure out what the difference is between a 2L and a "2L double".. It turns out that they are the same in size. But the 2L double is made of thicker stainless material so it can withstand more pressure when it then is rated to use twice "double" the amount of bicarbonate and citric acid.. (Never use more ingredients than recommend for the type you bought!) But the new and more exact ratio is interesting when it then should get a more complete reaction and less waste. Thanks for the information!😍✨
Thanks for watching. Totally spot on with what you've said, I've learnt a lot about this system since making the videos! Glad you found the ratio information useful. 👍
Hi. I think the filter is just to ensure that no residue from the reaction passes through to your co2 diffuser and into the aquarium. I've seen some of these units with water filters, and some with a compact sponged filter. 👍
Great vid, but help me out if you don't mind. I have a question on actual costs. I may briefly touch on some things you have already covered, bare with me... Goal: trying to determine the most cost efficient co2 system. This Study: Buying refills of compressed co2 versus a chemical reaction of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to produce co2. I've read 200g of citric acid plus 200g baking soda in a compressed environment will produce 104g of co2. 104g of co2 converts to 2.363 moles of co2 A 20lb co2 refill costs approx $35.00 (I believe 20lbs of co2 is 206 moles, approx. Or 9000 grams, approx.) Vs. ---citric acid, if I buy a 50lb bucket, then it's $1.01412642841 per 200g ---baking soda, if I buy a 50lb bucket of baking soda, it's $0.79366416136 per 200 grams So... $1.80 per 200g of citric acid (CA) & 200g of baking soda (NAHCO3) So... $1.80 = 104g of co2 or 2.363 moles 1 mole of co2 should cost: $0.77 approx If there is 206 moles of co2 in a 20lbs tank, that would cost $158.00 roughly to produce with citric acid and sodium bicarbonate. This means it's not cheaper. Do I have this all correct? I have heard people say this is cheaper than buying refills but the math doesn't add up. I have several grow tents of various sizes that I'm trying to achieve 1000ppm in each. I have experience with compressed tanks and burners but I'm very interested in chemical reaction produced co2 systems. I'm aware you can achieve the same reaction with yeast and sugar but I'm focused on learning citric acid and baking soda methods for now. Below is the URL for the system on Amazon. There are many kinds out there but they all work the same. You put water, baking soda, and citric acid in the metal cylinder and put the lid on quick (think elementary science class volcano experiment). It's like $100 bucks. www.amazon.com/dp/B083NBVZHB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glc_fabc_NZZBEAFYT4H6CXPQWKHB?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 I'm also aware there are cheaper systems that use plastic 2 liter bottles. I'm considering trying one of these as well. Here is the URL for that one. www.amazon.com/dp/B08NW35724/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glc_fabc_ST34T8QR52V1DA9YK70M
Hi Joseph. I think your maths is spot on, buying a 9kg Co2 bottle is going to work out cheaper per gram/moles of co2. Altho in the UK at least we also need to factor in deposits and rental costs so the co2 bottle price can fluctuate depending on how long between refills etc. This might not be the same elsewhere. For my comparison in this video I was really looking at the the disposable bottles that are common in the Aquarium industry where a 95g refill bottle will set you back around £15. This is far more expensive than the citric/bicarb systems. So yes, I think your analysis is spot on. This system sits in the middle in terms of cost effectiveness, but for people with small Nano Aquariums, lack of space, and a desire to steer clear of rental agreements etc. the citric/bicarb system is probably still the best solution in a lot of instances. Hope that makes sense? 👍
@@AquariumShed hey thanks for the reply! That does make sense then. Still a very interesting topic but for my grow tents I guess I'll be sticking with compressed co2 for now. Again, great vid. It really helped me understand the process.
Base on redit calculation, shouldn't we add a bit more Sodium Bicarbonate to use up the excess citric acid powder? Assuming citric acid is more expensive.
Yes that's what I recall. If you make citric acid the limiting reagent, then you can achieve optimum efficiency at a rate of 1:1.3 I believe. But tbf, your talking about very small degrees of efficiency so I've never actually bothered after the first couple of times since I just find it more convenient to go through the ingredients in equal quantities in terms of resupply/storage.
I use ice water to avoid loosing so much CO2... got a kids toy for bubbles(search for bubble wand) and filed with water, so I can insert that ice stick into the bottle with the components and close without hurries. Any water quantity will do, it just takes more time for the pressure to build up.
I need co2 for my 55 gallon to grow my Monte Carlo on my bonsai tree. Will this be a good investment? It around $115-$135 I want to be able to turn it off at night but I can also do that with the diy co2 soda cap regulator kit for $30 and buy the diffuser and stuff? What do you recommend, splurge or stick with the smaller system. Don’t have many plants(probably 6 new plants) besides the large amount on Monte Carlo
Thank you for this video! Should I be concerned about end of tank dumps for this type of setup? If so, what should I be looking for? Thank you in advance!
Hiya, do you mean the crystallised remnants at the end of the reaction? There's no issues but it can get quite tough to remove so needs a good soak in boiling water. Then it just pours away no problem. I do this each time I refill the system as I've heard the crystallisation can damage the ceramic filter if it got onto it. Hope that helps. 👍
@@AquariumShed I've heard that CO2 tanks do an end of tank dump toward the end of their CO2 supply. I am not sure if this is something that can happen with this system 😅. I am just getting into this stuff, I just don't want to kill my fish!
@@Crete32 I see, that makes sense. I'm afraid I'm unsure really. My understanding was that this sort of dumping is related to when the pressure reduces on a single stage regulator attached to a normal high pressure canister which is generally around 800psi and regulated down to around 20-30psi. Given that this system only achieves around 20kg/cm2 (equivalent of 284psi) I think the system would never have the rapid fluctuations because it does not achieve anywhere close to the pressure of a regulated co2 system anyway. I could be totally wrong, but that would be my logic and it is certainly not a problem I have encountered. When the pressure drops on this system you just see it slowly pitter out over a day or two, no fluctuations or rapid dumping. Hope that helps.
Hi! I really enjoyed your video and I went ahead to buy one of these kit as my first venture into CO2 in aquariums. I’m a complete novice to aquariums and it’s like 2 months into this hobby for me. After running the kit for about 3 weeks. I noticed this morning that though the solenoid was activated, there wasn’t any bubbles coming out of the diffuser and the pressure gauge reads about 10. Does it mean that the pressure has fallen too low to operator the regulator? If that’s the case, is it safe to unscrew the regulator from the cylinder to refill the chemicals? Thanks in advance.
I found the problem. Silly me. They provided a metal female to female connector which I thought was just for joining 2 hoses together. Turns out that it’s actually a 1 way flow control valve which I accidentally connected in reverse when I was tidying up the pipes.
Hiya. I touch on this in my buyers guide here - ua-cam.com/video/EQAvUrEvQgs/v-deo.html - basically, it will work just fine but you'll be refilling the cylinder much more regularly. I think these are better suited to Nano tanks. Hope that helps. 👍
Hiya. No, the only other method I've tested was sugar and yeast which didn't work. I think vinegar and bicarb would work fine, but the tricky bit would be sealing the unit quick enough. I'd probably stick with citric acid and use ice instead of water. 👍
@@AquariumShed i am new and climbing my way up in CO2 .. currently i ordered a diy kit while i am using my remaining co2 pellets and still waiting on the diffuser for now .. the thing about DIY CO2 amazes me is the experience as i have to try it for my self ... I have a fully planted tank that i would like to get a full styrogen carpet out of it in the next two months hopefully :)
Hiya. We're not sure yet. Another subscriber called Chea is going to test this out tho, you'll see we've been discussing it on another thread below. Theoretically I'd imagine it should work as this cylinder simply contains a reaction. But we're not sure what quantities would be required and how quickly / if a usable pressure would be created. Sorry I can't be of more help at this time. 👍
Hi this seems to be the solution for diy co2 systems. I was wondering how you clean and refill the canister after use. Also what size canister and bubble count would you recommend for a 55-gallon tank? Also what would a solenoid do and where would you install it on the system?
Hi there - my cleaning regime is pretty simple, just a good soak in some hot water to get rid of some of the crystalised build up on the bottom, and then a refill as I explained in the video. Some people have been saying that ice makes it even easier to refill since the reaction doesn't start straight away, so I might give that a go next time. In terms of which canister to buy, the larger the capacity, the less often you'll be refilling it, so I'd buy the largest capacity you can afford. I'd reccomend you use a Co2 calculator to check what bubble count you need as I'm not an expert (just Google "Aquarium Co2 Calculator" and there are tonnes), but my guess would be 2-4bps. Glad you found the video useful, and thanks for watching!
I'm no expert, but my guess would be that this wouldn't really help. The main absorbtion route for co2 is via leaves and given that in hydroponics your leaves are out of the water, the only real benefit of co2 injection would be if it was well absorbed by the roots too. Although I think roots will absorb some co2, I don't think it would have any major impact. But, if you find answers to the contrary let me know. I'm no expert.... 👍
ordered a 5L directly from amazon for just over 100 Cad with free shipping. already had the 600/600/900 ratio explode in my face because i didnt tilt the bottle enough.... maybe because the bottle is so wide the reaction happens so fast... guess im going to have to invest in the cylinder ice trays lol
🤣🤣 At least your face will be nice and clean. The ice trick is great, but I honestly don't think you loose much gas once you get the knack of the quick tilt and seal. Just takes a bit of practice. For the ease of immediately having gas, I tend to not bother with the ice so much these days! Good luck with it all. Hope my videos were useful! 👍
Hello! when the pressure gauge slowly starts to go down, do you see the bubbles coming out of the diffuser becoming less and less? I'm really thinking about this one. Since you said it lasts for 33 days- I was thinking that on it's 33rd day, was the working pressure for the diffuser is the same as if it was the first time setting it up?
Hi there. Afraid I don't know any of the dosing requirements you are after as I only know about aquariums. Like I said in the video, this is creating 105g Co2 so you'd have to use that as your starting point and calculate from there. Sorry I can't be of more help.
I'm not entirely sure I'm afraid. Being in the UK it's not something I know much about, but I know that some subscribers have spoken about it in the comments before. My guess would be yes, but it it entirely depends on the release mechanism which I know nothing about but I'm sure could be adapted to your needs. The takeaway from this video is you get 105g co2, and now you need to do a bit of research about how long that will last you and how you adapt the outtake to meet your needs. I hope that helps and makes sense! 👍
Hiya. Yes, you just need to give it a little rinse and empty out the leftover liquid and sediment from the previous reaction first. Then you are good to refill as shown in this video. I've also done a little update video with some top tips that might be useful - ua-cam.com/video/MFVwd-nWJek/v-deo.html 👍
@@AquariumShed thanks for the reply pal! its a shame the cheapest i can find is £80 delviered in the UK... I've decided to go bottle method with an electric shutoff vavle for night time. hopefully it wont exsplode lol. but for £80, i may as well save up a little more and get a proper system around £150
Great video! Very informative for sure. My Generator comes tomorrow and can't wait to set it up. This video was perfect timing! I have watched it twice and especially liked the info on the citric acid and baking soda. Moving forward are you going to use the 200g each ratio or do the more efficient ratio 1:1.3 that confusedsquid 23 provided?
Hi Scott. Thanks for watching, very happy to help. Since making the video I've tried out the 1:1.3 ratio and it worked just fine, the system didn't overpressurise and I got roughly five extra days out of the system. There's just one very simple reason I've reverted to the normal 200g of each method - which is that I get through my supply of ingredients evenly so it just makes my ordering and storing system a bit more streamlined. I like organisation..... Lol. 👍
@@AquariumShed Thanks for the speedy response. I plan to use the 1:1.3 ratio to start with. I will keep you posted with my progress. This is my first planted tank and first crack at CO2. Back in the day I had saltwater reef tanks. Looking forward to this experience!
@@boarder081 that's awesome. Happy I could help as you get back into the hobby. I'd love to have a saltwater reef someday. Probably need to get out of my tiny basement first tho..... Good luck with the new setup! 👍
Hi there, nice video; i've been using the 2L+ version for almost a year now and i like it very much; however i just noticed a hard paste at the bottom of the cylinder that can't get out, it's like hard rock and stuck to the bottom; im afraid that if left there, it'll keep growing and could cause pressure issues as there'll be less available volume, any idea of what it is and how to get rid of it? thanks.
Hi Luis, yeah this is a crystallised build up that is a bi product of the reaction. I believe it is also an indication of lower quality ingredients, but seems to happen for most people. I soak in boiling water for about ten minutes and give the cylinder a good swill and that does the job. Just be careful, the cylinder gets really hot so you'll need some oven gloves! Hope that helps. Thanks for watching! 👍
Hiya - no the pressure is stable until the last couple of days when it starts to reduce and I tend to bother with adjusting cos I am a cheap skate and like getting every ounce of Co2 out of it. lol. But for 30 days it it is very consistent.
Hi. Great video by the way. I have the same item but its the 1 liter version. If i may ask, i am wondering if you would know if the 2 liter version will last longer than my 1 liter version? Mine used 100g of each ingredient and 150ml of water. And it last around 1week with 2-3 bps setup. Was considering to buy the bigger version if it would last longer. I understand from your video that based on the calculation, of course the bigger ingredient volume will generate more gas. Curious as mine also has max 20 kg/cm shown on the output meter.
Hi Mew. The 2 litre version should last twice as long. I'm curious why your system is only lasting a week tho, I'd expect it to perform better than that. It may be that you are losing co2 during the initial reaction. Another subscriber suggested using frozen water which I think sounds like a great tip to decrease initial loss of gas. In terms of the pressure gauge, I guess they are rated the same but the capacity means you can produce more gas before over pressurising. Hope that makes sense? 👍
@@AquariumShed thanks for the reply. I suppose i can first check if theres any leakage in mine. And yes i have been using cold water and it really reduce the initial reaction time. Thanks for your time :)
I’ve just ordered the same one (1l version). What if you put 200ml of baking soda and 200ml of citric acid to it? Will it blow up? As technically it should genarate the same amount of co2 as 2l one.
Hi there! Good video, also good info when answering the questions. What do you think on running DYI CO2 24/7 something like 15 bpm (Is that even possible??)I have issues with fluctuations on the pH.
Hiya. Whilst chemically speaking this would work to decrease the pH, it is definitely not a good idea for your fish. My advice would be to try using peat moss within the filtration!
@@AquariumShed thanks. My issue is that I have a really low KH (2dkh) another option I was thinking was to add sodium and potassium bicarbonate but not so sure to play around with the water chemistry.
Sorry for the late reply, been visiting family. Afraid I've not had much experience with the issue you're describing. I tend to keep fish that suit my natural parameters. If I were in your position, I'd be tempted to try Seachem parameter and buffer products. But you'll have to keep using them at water changes etc. so it'll become a bit of a hassle. Good luck!
Is the 33 days of co2 for a 30 liters tank? I'm thinking of trying this out on my 112l tank. But not sure how long it would last. It definitely seems more safe than using soda bottles especially if you are solenoid and turning it off at night.
Hi there - this is achieved on my 55l Dennerle Scapers Tank using it at 1 bubble ever 2-3 seconds. I'm guessing you'd need more like 1-2bps so it'll probably last half as long. But yeah, definitley feels much safer than the soda bottle kits and I am loving it since I hooked up a solenoid. Hope that helps. Cheers for watching!
Hi there. Your videos are good and this one was very informative. However, I was confused at 2:33 when you share Confusedsquid23's awesome info. He wrote that we can use a ratio of 1:1.3 (bicarb:citric) But then he goes on to write, "so you could add a little more bicarb to make sure the citric acid is all used up." This had me confused a bit because that now sounded a bit contrary to me and that we should be using more bicarb to citric. I tried this ratio in my DIY plastic bottle setup. It lasted about 8 days and the bicarb ended up being used up well before the citric acid/water catalyst transferred from bottle A to bottle B. Hence, this made me realize that more bicarb could be used and if Confusedsquid23 wrote his description backwards where it should be 1:1.3 (citric:bicarb) instead. So I looked it up and viola, 2 sites that I referenced have it just as that! So, if were using 200gm each of citric acid and bicarb, with a ration of 1:1.3(citric:bicarb), we can use 200gm citric to 260gm of bicarb - not the other way around. Next time I refill the DIY plastic bottle setup, I'll try this and I'm guessing that I won't have any left over water/citric acid catalyst left. But, I did end up buying the Fzone 2.5l bottle and I hope you got credit for it. Currently I have 200gm of bicarb and 230gm citric with the 300gm of water. BTW, the narrow ice cube method is fantastic. This formulation creates much much more pressure than the plastic bottle setup of mixing water/citric and mixing that with the bicarb. With the plastic bottles, we can achieve just over 2kg/cm3 or over 28/29psi. In the metal bottle, mixing all the ingredients together at once, that bottled is currently pressurized at 400psi!!!!!! I don't think we need to over think the math here on which method is going to last longer and have more bang for the buck. I've had the DIY kit for 2 months now so I can't return it for my $20. But I did think I was going to spend the $20 to experiment. Now that experiment is done and I'll probably stick with the metal bottle. Time to make my comparison video which I'll post on one of my other YT channels. Here are the two sites I referenced describing the 1:1.3 (citric/bicarb) vs (bicarb:citric) ratio. scienceline.ucsb.edu/getkey.php?key=7129 and www.pasco.com/resources/blog/68 Footnote: I realize I made a mistake on my bicarb/citric measurements. I ended up using the ML measurement cup supplied by Fzone to measure the bicarb/citric. Using that ends up with much more ingredient but I kept to the ratio. So I created more than enough supply. However, density of each ingredient also matters. So to make things a bit easier in the future, what I found is that 200gm of bicarb is ~.38 cups or 6.08 tbsp and 230gm of citric is ~.51 cups of 8.16 tbsp. That's going to be much less than what I used in the ml measuring cup! Fun with home chemistry!
@@noobaquarist279 Hi Jo, thanks for watching! The version I have is the 2l. I've noticed recently on Aliexpress thar there is a new 1l version which is much shorter. There is also a 2l double which is the same size as mine but with thicker steel to withstand greater pressure. You can buy solenoids specifically for this system, as part of a kit, or like me you can attach a standard solenoid (I happened to get a Colombo in the bargain bin of my LFS) by using normal co2 tubing. I've also attached a splitter to use this on multiple tanks. Hope that helps. 👍
@@AquariumShed thank you sir for the quick response. It really helps a lot to the people that's just starting aquascaping. Your video is one of the most detailed I've watched. Thank you thank you.-from Abu Dhabi🥰
@@noobaquarist279 No problem at all, happy to help and really pleased you found the video useful. What sort of style did you go with for your first aquascape? What fish do you have / are planning to get?
@@AquariumShed I was about to go for iwagumi style for my 45cm tank. but I was really amazed by how you guys do this aquascaping, so I add an additional rotala green and cabomba,aside from my eleocaris acicularis.planning to add some s.repens soon.so I end up researching on diy co2. Luckily I found your channel. Thank u so much. It really helps alot🙂
Great, thanks for the reply. I’m thinking of getting this system for a 20L nano tank and was wondering if the needle valve is fine enough to achieve 1 bubble every 10 seconds?
I think you'd struggle to get 1bp10s with this valve. I have it on a 55l at 1bp3s and the valve is literally just on. At best you might achieve 1bp5s. Hope that helps. 👍
@@matthewnesbitt2646 no problem. I'm actually changing the needle valve soon as I've ordered a triple valve so I can use this on multiple tanks. I'll let you know if it's any better. You just need something more high precision for your purposes.
It all depends on the tank capacity. If you Google 'co2 bubble rate calculator' then there is a good calculator at Aquarium Info. Usually the top search result for me. 👍
I asked a similar question about the quality on Reddit but didn't get any clear response I'm afraid. I wouldn't recommend it tho. Anyhow, I think the main issue is that you won't have sufficient pressure to carbonate the water effectively. 👍
Hiya. Thanks for watching. Yes, that's correct. You want to aim for between 15-30ppm and this will be safe for the fish. You don't want to go higher than 35ppm tho. You can use a co2 calculator to determine the correct bubble rate for your tank, and you can also use a co2 drop checker with a colour changing solution if you want added assurance. Hope that helps! 👍
Maybe a comparison between this system and JBL Pro Flora bio 160 would be good. The price it is similar for the parts, but the price for refilling components it is diffrent.
Aah yeah, that's a pretty good shout. My main reason for choosing the pressurised cylinder over the yeast types was the that I can switch it off at night and have much greater control over bubble rates. Imo there's a pretty big difference and I'd say this system is a great middle ground between the more DIY'ish systems like yeast bottles and citric/bicarb soda bottles, and the more professional/expensive setups like the Proflora M501 and similar.
Not with this system. It has a safety release valve, and I've never seen the needle go above the green zone even when I had the system switched off for a few days. It's very impressive. 👍
Doesn't the Pro Flora use the upside-down cup method? I've never been able to get even a small tank into the CO2 green zone with upside down cups. Maybe if you put the CO2 directly into a pump or power head, that would be your best bet for that. I tried a number of methods and my opinion is that this chemical reaction CO2 generator is far better than anything else other than the standard pressurized tanks that you have to get refilled.
@@randyhaight7202 JBL Pro Flora is more than nothing. But is not enough for a 60-70 litters aquarium. For a large aquarium it is not a smart choice. So, I can confirm what Randy Hate write: on a 70 litters Dennerle Scaper’s Tank (medium planted), JBL Aquatest CO2/pH Permanent Test it is always blue (not enough CO2 in aquarium).
You won't damage tank with use great answer that this guy gave you it will just protect you to waste ingredients 1 to 1.3 mean just use 200g one igredient and 140g-150g of other one it will make bit less co2 or the same amount without waste 😊 use it guy was very good at chem so why waste 2£ when you can pay only 1.5£😂
Hiya. Not my area of expertise I'm afraid. But I imagine it would just come down to what kind of adapter you need and the pressure you require in order to refill them. This safely operates at around 20 bar. 👍
Confused about which Co2 system to buy? Watch my Aquarium Co2 Buyers Guide before making any purchases - ua-cam.com/video/EQAvUrEvQgs/v-deo.html
Great video. A question, would it be ok to say mix 200gr of bicarbonate of soda with 260gr of citric acid, then use just the stated 400g of this mix with the 300ml of water?
Hiya, if I understand correctly, you want to know if you need to change the amount of water or not. The water is simply an agent to mix the reactants, so you are fine to stick with the 300ml of water whilst increasing the citric acid. Glad you enjoyed the video! 👍
@@AquariumShed No, the water side of things is the same. I was just wondering if the Soda to Acid ratios would remain the same, by that I mean would 400g of the mix work. I was thinking about knocking up batch and storing it in an air-tight container and using when needed.
200 + 200 is the manufacturers recommendation anyway, so yes, that'd work. I wouldn't mix the dry ingredients together tho until just before prepping the reaction.
@@AquariumShed Ah, ok, so no point in doing what I was thinking then, thanks for that.
One of the best tricks I learned with this is to add the water first and then freeze the container without the top screwed on. Wait until the water is frozen solid, then add the other stuff and put the top on at your leisure. It takes a bit longer to build pressure because you have to wait for the ice to melt, but you lose no CO2 at all doing it like this and you don't have to be stressed out trying to get the top screwed on fast.
Well this is marvellous. Makes total sense and is an excellent tip. Thanks so much for sharing! 🤘
Very clever.
I do something similar ... but add the ice as loose pieces rather than freezing the tank. I have ruined 2 expensive stainless steel water bottles that got distorted when freezing. And yes, I would freeze only small amount without the lid on, but somehow the bottles still got bent and distorted. My fear would be compromising the integrity of the pressure vessel by freezing the water inside it. It may be a small risk, but I’m risk adverse. LOL
Do you turn off the co2 at night?
Yes it's on a timer in line with my siesta dual lighting period! 👍
Bought one, but couldn’t find a good video about it. But this is it, great video man thanks! All info you need.
Finally i found a video which gives real information! Thank you. I just wonder if those bottles are safe. They hold high pressure comparable to proffessional CO2 bottles, but those must be checked every 10 years here in Germany.
I am only a minute into this video and I already know it's exactly what I was looking for! Thanks!
Glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching! 👍
@@AquariumShed Did you end up trying the 1.3 ratio?
Hi Andrew. No I've not tried it I'm afraid. I can't see too many problems with giving it a go since there's a safety release valve, but I find it lasts long enough as it is and the monthly routine works well with my maintenance schedule. 👍
Can it works to release co2 in a grow tent?
I got my system ( F-Zone version) immediately after seeing this excellent review. I've run my system for some months now and love it. Not having to worry about sourcing a refill every time the gas runs out is a bonus.
I have found that if you fill exactly as Owain describes i.e. with tilting the bottle and getting the valve sealed quickly it works well, however you can lose gas if like me you fumble when getting the thread to start.😊.
One way to minimise an instant reaction when pouring in the water, is to chill the cylinder and water first. Being cold the reaction is slowed.
It does take longer for the gauge to register but when it does you'll always have a full cylinder. I get 5 weeks at 1 bps.
Really pleased you are getting on so well with it. I discuss a bunch of things like this in my top tips video. Similar to what you mentioned about chilling the canister, is to use ice cubes instead of water. Slower to get up to pressure but zero loss of co2! 👍
@@AquariumShed hey mate maybe a silly question, when using ice cubes instead of water, do you weigh the ice cubes (ie 300grams of ice cubes)?
@haitch04 I have the Fzone DIY CO2 kit as well, when using a ceramic spiral diffuser does it have to be soaked in water for a week to get the diffusing going? My pressure gauge that has the green area is showing around 200 psi and the other is hanging around 51 psi that should be well enough pressure to diffuse correct?
@@destryl1076 I have only ever used the Twinstar Neo diffuser with my FZone. Great little ceramic diffuser giving a very fine mist for aquariums up to 120l and available here in UK for £12 GBP.
Going to use this idea for my homebrew beer. Cheers!
Thank you for this owain, I first properly understood the diy soda bottle technique from you and now getting this cylinder because of how easy you make it sound. My plants and I thank you for this amazing content.
Hiya. So pleased that I could help! Once you get into co2 you'll never look back! 👍
I have struggled to get the regulator / bubble counter / solenoid screwed on fast enough and not lose tons of CO2. I did things like mark the canister and top with marks to line up the screw threads. I even took extremely find sandpaper and softened the threads on both the male top threads and the female bottle threads. This helped some and screwing things together got a little easier. But I was still losing a lot of gas trying to put this thing together fast enough.
Then I figured out the perfect solution!!! I ordered, from Amazon of course, a long ice cube stick mold. (Interestingly, a mold holds the exact amount of water needed for the CO2 generator,.) These molds are used for making ice cubes that will fit into water bottles with openings less than an inch wide. When the system needs recharging, I’ll do it in the early afternoon after, the CO2 cycle is done for the day. After the dry ingredients are added, instead of water, I add the ice sticks - no immediate reaction! The ice melts over the course of the afternoon and evening, slowly starting the reaction. When the solenoid opens at the correct time, the ice has completely melted and the system is on its way ... fully charged with gas!!!
Remember folks, I thought of it first!!! LOL
🤣🤣🤣 This is the most bizarre time to get this comment. I'm literally just editing an update video about my top tips for this system, and these ice moulds are number one! Bit spooky tbh.... Totally agree with you. Fantastic tip. Thanks for sharing. 👍
@@AquariumShed As they say, “great minds!”
i found pouring the water in wastes so much co2. I have pre-planned my re-fills and instead of pouring water in I measure my water then freeze them in small ice cubes that will fit through the opening. as the ice melts over night the tank is pretty much ready for the next day. no waste.
Yeah this is a great tip, thanks for sharing. 👍 I actually highlighted this in my top tips update here - ua-cam.com/video/MFVwd-nWJek/v-deo.html
Brilliant!
Was just looking this on Reddit and now I found the video crazy 😂😂
01:54 'difficult looking equations' that is the wonderful things about all fields in which you can deepen yourself in. at first it always look like magic but those tend to be the basic classes
Hello Owain! I am back after 9 months using this kit. I just want to say, that this kit is worth every single penny I paid for. I will absolutely positively, never ever going without CO2 in a planted tank ever again. I will say this, using this kit on a 55gal/208L tank is fine but it was lasting me about seven days @ 6hrs x 8-10 bubbles per second before I would have to refill. This is in no way a knock against the kit but just a heads up for someone looking for an inexpensive solution. I think I was overly optimistic about how long the CO2 would last me, before having to clean and refill the tank with the bicarb/Citric acid again. I dealt with cycle for many months, then I grew tired of refilling and let it go for two months. After two months without CO2, I was absolutely bedeviled by old man black algae. So I saved and saved and I have since purchased a new aluminum 10lb cylinder from eBay, along the a decent two stage regulator and I love it. I just wanted to say to those who are considering this kit, please keep in mind the size of your planted tank. My 55Gal/208L tank was too big for this system but with smaller tanks BUY THIS KIT NOW, this kit is a bargain. PS, you should have way more subscribers, keep up the good work.
Hi Greg. Thanks so much for your kind words. I totally agree that this kit is much more suitable for smaller Nano tanks, but really pleased it served as a good entry point for you to explore co2 and its positive impact on your plants and whole ecosystem. Very jealous of the size of your tank, sounds epic. But at least I have something to look forward to when we move to a bigger house! Good luck with everything! 👍
Hi again. Noticed your other comment on my EI video got removed by UA-cam, I think because of the ebay link. Anyhow, I got an email notification so was able to read it. I've been considering a similar pump, but one from Jebao that has WiFi and you can set up the dosing via an app. Not done it yet tho because I have so many tanks I'd need two pumps! 😂😂 Let me know how you get on! 👍
This vid came out the first on my list and it’s exactly what I wanted to see as I want to buy one soon. Nice work
Happy I could help. Thanks for the nice words! Cheers. 👍
thank you i just bought the cylinder and will set up on sunday.
This is amazing! So simple. I've been avoiding messing with co2 because it seemed like such a fiddly thing and like so much could go wrong (like suffocating your fishies). 😳
But with your explanation and this kit it's far easier than for example baking a good sponge cake 😂 THAT is complicated chemistry let me tell you.
My sponge cakes certainly reveal my poor chemistry way more! My belly is probably grateful..... 🤣
Glad the video was helpful, good luck getting everything set up. If you are starting to explore healthy plant growth, I'd definitely recommend my other videos on estimative index and siesta lighting! Cheers. 👍
😂 This does look really good and I want to try it. I hope a brand comes out with a version because I'd be worried about this Ebay thing exploding one day. But yeah I can't wait to get one.
I've had this cylinder for few years now and yes it's nice .. also nice to know you can also make the c02 the other way with it .. If you want too also very cheap maybe cheaper ...some were about 5 cup of Suger you can disolve with warm water or not then about tea spoon of active dry bakers yeast from super market cake section refrigerate yeast container after you open ... But the just fill the rest of container with water not all the way leave room for reaction it's going to make brown bubble like crap you don't want going up I to the hose or tank so maybe three quarters full at most with Suger tea spoon active dry yeast and rest water seal it wait ten min and that amount of about check online for exact if you care .. on that note you can make any amount less Suger and just a pinch of yeast so on and so forth .. fact the more yeast you use the faster and more pressure from c02 . Less yeast or more Suger slower to start but can last for months .. oh this method will never gain same kind of pressure to move guage... Don't worry bubble counter and the C02 will be there ...for long long time thats how I use it sometimes citric way both get food for plants and work great . I would argue Suger method is little cheaper last longer or same for sure and we always have that stuff around .. Good luck 🎉
I use that thing at home. I live in Indonesia and here it costs less than 500 000 IDR plus 120 000 for a solenoid. So far it works great. No need to look for a cylinder refill station. It's amazing. To me it has no flaws.
This system is really professional looking. Really worth the money for what you get and how cheap co2 will cost you to make over the years vs buying co2.
Totally agree! Since making this video I've actually adapted the system so I can use it on two tanks. Still working amazingly and saving me so much money! Thanks for watching. 👍
@@AquariumShed how did you adapt it to work on 2 tanks??
Hi Andrew - I've attached a Co2 three way splitter. Cost about 12 quid and I have a spare line for another tank!
alternatively you can put the mixtures sealed in water soluble dissolving bags, then put them in the cyclinder and add water, the reactions will be slow enough for you to slowly fit the regulator
I've never tried this, but all over ebay and aliexpress you can buy PVA bags that dissolve in water. It's intended to dissolve in water for using bait while carp fishing. Maybe that could help with the narrow time slot
Interesting idea. Ice Cubes are also a good trick. Tho tbf, it's really not all that hard with the tilt method. You don't lose much gas and you get a pretty instant supply!
Nice video. You have convinced me to buy this co2 system.
Happy to help! Thanks for watching. 👍
Good video, just ordered one. Fwiw: Small ice cubes rather than liquid water will make the initial loading FAR easier, though the wait will be longer.
No problem, glad it was useful. Yes, couldn't agree more about the ice cube trick. Works a treat! 👍
Thats a really good idea
This video was great! Before watching, I was being pushed into buying a disposable CO2 kit for $150 from my local aquarium. They said it was the easiest option, but this? I bought the kit off Amazon for $160 and 5KG each of citric acid/bicarb for $80. Set a reminder on my phone to check it every few days and yeah... Also don't feel terrible about all the cannisters I'd be potentially consuming!
Hey hey, glad it was a useful video. You'll see with my other co2 buyers guide - ua-cam.com/video/EQAvUrEvQgs/v-deo.html - that I'm on a bit of a mission in relation to the disposalable canisters. They are terrible for the environment and just a straight up rip off to boot! Glad you are finding the generator a good setup. Let me know if you think of any other topics I should cover! 👍
Thank you! This video was perfect. Straight to the point and very thorough.
Thanks so much. Glad you found the video useful! 👍
Thanks for the info. Now my understanding is sodastream cans refilled with dry ice are a more economic method. 1kg of dry ice costs 2.5€ (in Brussels, Be) and fills 2 Sodastream cans (425g each). So theoretically, you'll get almost 8x more C02 for the same price. Of course there's also an entry cost; used empty sodastream cylinders sell for around 7€/p and you have to add the sodastream adapter (35€) + CO2 pressure regulator (around 45€).
Thanks for sharing, this dry ice refill method is totally new to me, but from what I have read so far it sounds like you are spot on in terms of the costs. Have you tried it yet? I wonder how much hassle the method is?
Could you not just put some dry ice in this canister as well?
Where do you buy dry ice?
@@Aaron9581 it'd be a pipe bomb then. Don't do it. If you place too much dry ice, the valve can't take the pressure and the unit will explode.
@@Aaron9581I reckon you could, if you could get the maths right regarding pressure. However as a kid I put dry ice in a bottle of water and it exploded my hand 😂
Your explanations are so clear and so concise!! Love this, subscribing! :D
Aah thank you, I really appreciate it! Thanks for watching! 👍
thanks for the video, now I have a 1L bottle for my aquarium and made an adaptor to make soda diy at home, super cheap! thanks!
Glad you found the video useful. Thanks for watching! 👍
Thanks, you've helped me make a decision about this product.
Really pleased I could help. Thanks for watching. 👍
Got one after seeing this. Loving it.
That's great to hear. Really happy I could help! 👍
Thank you for taking the time to make the video, very helpful and well done.
No problem at all, glad you found it useful. Thanks for watching! 👍
Hi there excellent video was perfectly explained and looking to get this system just wanted to know what size tubing fits this canister.
Cheers and keep up the excellent videos
Seriously considering converting my 75 into a high tech planted aquarium. I first tried my hand with live plants on a 10 gallon without c02 and the results aren't horrible but less than satisfying. I just get overwhelmed with the co2 articles because I have no idea what they're talking about. I'm sure it's not as complicated as it seems tho.
Hey there! Quick question - the mix of 200g citric acid and 200g baking soda lasted you 33 days, right? Wondering, did you use a solenoid valve to turn it off at night? I'm looking to buy a smaller version with 100g of each with a valve for overnight breaks. Planning to do half-days of CO2. Think it'll last around the same? Appreciate your input
I've been seeing this on the web. Thanks for the info. Liked and subscribed.
Thanks Terry, really appreciate it. Glad you found it useful! 👍
This is amazing. Thank you for your video.
No problem at all. Happy to help! 👍
Thank you for the video. How do you know when it's time to refill?
Hi, thanks for watching. There's a pressure gauge on the unit so you'll see this reduce and then it's time to refill! 👍
Awesome video thank you.
Could you add a solenoid to this system to turn it off at night and set it within timer
Yep, it works great. I was lucky to find a Colombo solenoid in the reduced to clear section at my LFS and it works great with this system.
@@AquariumShed good to know thanks mate
2kg extinguishers can be had for 15€.
So 19x the amount made here for 7x (or less depending on exchange rate) the price and without the hassles.
I think your spot on in terms of the value of the big extinguishers and the additional outlay of the regulator etc. would soon pay for itself. The reason I didn't go down this route is that I couldn't find anywhere in my area that wouldn't lock me into a credit agreement with monthly charges on top of the deposit and bottle cost. But I totally appreciate that for some people, the pro route is a better option. I think I will switch eventually, and probably do some videos about my thinking...... Thanks for watching!
@@AquariumShed th extinguisher were had on leboncoin our French main second hand website. You should have an equivalent and on it you find extinguisher older than the homologation limit of 10 years. In this case they are sold like you'd pick up apples. No need to be a pro or to be identified and no extra cost. 10 bucks was the total price if the bottle + the co² inside.
This is very insightful. I was planning to buy a similar canister but am hesitant. And I am also in doubt whether the by product of baking soda and citric acid is good enough for the planted aquarium. This video is really awesome, two thumbs up!
This is a really interesting point. I don't really know know much about the impact of other hydrocarbons which would be the main impurities, but I'll look into it. Thanks for watching! 👍
Excellent approach of the subject.
Thank you so much. Really appreciate it!
Hi, can you please provide a link to that co2 splitter, I'm interested in getting one for my system.
Also amazing vids as always, the ice refill method is very efficient :)
Hiya - really glad you are enjoying the videos - there are links for the Splitter in the description of my latest Co2 video here - ua-cam.com/video/EQAvUrEvQgs/v-deo.html
Cheers!
@@AquariumShed I can't get what the pressure cat it hold on inside?
I'm searching sm construction that can hold onto 15 pressure inside and be safely for my family.
Sorry, that's not my area of expertise either I'm afraid. All I can say is that I've never had any issues, and the safety release valve is in place should pressure build. 👍
@@AquariumShedOkay, I understand you, but still tell me how exactly this device can withstand pressure?
Hi, the same way a gas canister does, because curved edges have high structural stability enabling them to withstand pressure. 👍
Nice video, just what I was looking for. Is it possible to turn it off over night? Do you leave on at night and if you do, doesn't that produce too much co2 to hurt the fish?
Hiya. You can use a solenoid valve with this system and some of the models actually come with one pre installed. This will allow you to add a timer and turn it off at night. You don't need to worry about about pressure building up, there is a safety release valve! Glad the video was helpful! 👍
@@AquariumShed thank you for the answer. Can you manually turn it off without solenoid valve?
No problem. Yes, you can just turn the main valve off and leave it until the following morning! 👍
I fill the cylinder up with hot tap water and let is stand for a bit before emptying, add 200g citric acid and shake the cylinder on a flat surface, add 262g baking soda, again shake, add 300ml hot water, yes it does start reacting quickly, but not a problem. Fill the sink with hot water and place the cylinder in it. 2 hours later you have 24kg/cm2 of co2.
Hello, a question, when should I turn on the CO2, when the adjuster arrives at 10 or 20 where is the green of the pressure watch, and how long can the charge last, the one I bought is the one with 100gr 100gr 150ml, thank you a greeting.
hello, thanks for the video. I have one question. Can you turn it off at night? Or you need to take out the diffuser? thank you
Hi. It's fine to turn off at night. The bottle is rated well above the working pressure, and also has a safety release valve just in case. So, you are fine to switch this off. In fact, a lot of newer models have a solenoid valve built in. Cheers.
awesome video thanks
No problem at all. Happy to help. 👍
YOU ARE MY GREATEST HERO, MY MAN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!GOD BE WITH YOU MY BROTHER @LIGHT SPEED. PEACE & LOVE J.B GOOD
Do you think this is good enough to increase co2 levels in a 4x4 tent for growing plants
The white crystalline substance left behind is Sodium citrate the result of the chemical action that has taken place.
Amazing. Thanks for sharing Robert. 👍
Hello, inspiring video-thanks. What’s the biggest tank you could successfully use this on please? Thanks
Hi Andy, there's really no limit to the size of tank it would work on, it will just deplete much quicker depending on the bubble count required for your tank. I'd use a aquarium co2 calculator to work out what bubble rate you need (UKAPS have a good one), and then you can work out how long it will last for your purposes by cross referencing with my figures of 33 days co2 at 1 bubble ever 2-3 seconds. For example, if the calculator says you'll need 1 bubble every 1-2 seconds this will last you about 16 days. Hope that makes sense. 👍
@@AquariumShed thanks ever so, yes I see what you mean, I’ll check out ukaps too, regards
Brilliant video, thanks for this, may take the plunge!
No problem at all. Glad I could help! 👍
@@AquariumShed just had a look on eBay, all sold out and price sitting at £84 or so, gutting lol
Aah it's so annoying, I think I was very lucky to have got mine last summer when they weren't so popular. I've recently been purchasing from Aliexpress, and because you can checkout with PayPal it feels pretty secure and I've not had any issues so far 🤞. They have the same 2l model in stock for $57 which is not dissimilar to what I paid on Ebay. The Ebay listings mostly ship from China anyway so there's not much difference in delivery speed etc. Definitely worth checking out. Good luck! 👍
@@AquariumShed did yours take ages to arrive? Though tbf I can see they estimate around a month, so it's not the very worst, I've had stuff arrive from China at much longer before haha
@@manufacturer3602 ha, yeah patience is key. I think my co2 kit arrived in two weeks. I've recently ordered a set of stainless steel lily pipes from Aliexpress and they took about 3 weeks. I've been pretty impressed so far, I'm becoming a bit of an Aliexpress addict. So many different aquarium products you don't see in the UK. 👍
Good video.
I have the system you forgot to mention that on the bottom of the regulator that is in inside of the metal can.
There should be a black plastic part mounted with a white filter on its end (located in the same package as the regulator comes in).
That should be filed with water 80% then screwed into the bottom of the regulator.
Maybe these kits comes with different parts..
Anyway there is at least 4 different models sizes of this (look at AliExpress).
One, two, two double and four liter cans.
It took me a while to figure out what the difference is between a 2L and a "2L double".. It turns out that they are the same in size. But the 2L double is made of thicker stainless material so it can withstand more pressure when it then is rated to use twice "double" the amount of bicarbonate and citric acid..
(Never use more ingredients than recommend for the type you bought!)
But the new and more exact ratio is interesting when it then should get a more complete reaction and less waste. Thanks for the information!😍✨
Thanks for watching. Totally spot on with what you've said, I've learnt a lot about this system since making the videos! Glad you found the ratio information useful. 👍
@@AquariumShed I have never done thison my system - what does it do?
Hi. I think the filter is just to ensure that no residue from the reaction passes through to your co2 diffuser and into the aquarium. I've seen some of these units with water filters, and some with a compact sponged filter. 👍
Great vid, but help me out if you don't mind. I have a question on actual costs. I may briefly touch on some things you have already covered, bare with me...
Goal: trying to determine the most cost efficient co2 system.
This Study: Buying refills of compressed co2 versus a chemical reaction of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to produce co2.
I've read 200g of citric acid plus 200g baking soda in a compressed environment will produce 104g of co2.
104g of co2 converts to 2.363 moles of co2
A 20lb co2 refill costs approx $35.00 (I believe 20lbs of co2 is 206 moles, approx. Or 9000 grams, approx.)
Vs.
---citric acid, if I buy a 50lb bucket, then it's $1.01412642841 per 200g
---baking soda, if I buy a 50lb bucket of baking soda, it's $0.79366416136 per 200 grams
So...
$1.80 per 200g of citric acid (CA) & 200g of baking soda (NAHCO3)
So...
$1.80 = 104g of co2 or 2.363 moles
1 mole of co2 should cost: $0.77 approx
If there is 206 moles of co2 in a 20lbs tank, that would cost $158.00 roughly to produce with citric acid and sodium bicarbonate.
This means it's not cheaper. Do I have this all correct? I have heard people say this is cheaper than buying refills but the math doesn't add up.
I have several grow tents of various sizes that I'm trying to achieve 1000ppm in each. I have experience with compressed tanks and burners but I'm very interested in chemical reaction produced co2 systems. I'm aware you can achieve the same reaction with yeast and sugar but I'm focused on learning citric acid and baking soda methods for now.
Below is the URL for the system on Amazon. There are many kinds out there but they all work the same. You put water, baking soda, and citric acid in the metal cylinder and put the lid on quick (think elementary science class volcano experiment). It's like $100 bucks.
www.amazon.com/dp/B083NBVZHB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glc_fabc_NZZBEAFYT4H6CXPQWKHB?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I'm also aware there are cheaper systems that use plastic 2 liter bottles. I'm considering trying one of these as well. Here is the URL for that one.
www.amazon.com/dp/B08NW35724/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glc_fabc_ST34T8QR52V1DA9YK70M
Hi Joseph. I think your maths is spot on, buying a 9kg Co2 bottle is going to work out cheaper per gram/moles of co2. Altho in the UK at least we also need to factor in deposits and rental costs so the co2 bottle price can fluctuate depending on how long between refills etc. This might not be the same elsewhere. For my comparison in this video I was really looking at the the disposable bottles that are common in the Aquarium industry where a 95g refill bottle will set you back around £15. This is far more expensive than the citric/bicarb systems.
So yes, I think your analysis is spot on. This system sits in the middle in terms of cost effectiveness, but for people with small Nano Aquariums, lack of space, and a desire to steer clear of rental agreements etc. the citric/bicarb system is probably still the best solution in a lot of instances.
Hope that makes sense? 👍
@@AquariumShed hey thanks for the reply! That does make sense then. Still a very interesting topic but for my grow tents I guess I'll be sticking with compressed co2 for now. Again, great vid. It really helped me understand the process.
@@josephnetherland880 no problem at all. Glad I could help! 👍
Base on redit calculation, shouldn't we add a bit more Sodium Bicarbonate to use up the excess citric acid powder? Assuming citric acid is more expensive.
Yes that's what I recall. If you make citric acid the limiting reagent, then you can achieve optimum efficiency at a rate of 1:1.3 I believe. But tbf, your talking about very small degrees of efficiency so I've never actually bothered after the first couple of times since I just find it more convenient to go through the ingredients in equal quantities in terms of resupply/storage.
I use ice water to avoid loosing so much CO2... got a kids toy for bubbles(search for bubble wand) and filed with water, so I can insert that ice stick into the bottle with the components and close without hurries. Any water quantity will do, it just takes more time for the pressure to build up.
Thanks, this is a great tip! I will definitely be trying in next time I refill. Makes total sense why it would help. Cheers for sharing! 👍
@@AquariumShed Hi, how does the second fill go, when everything is damp inside the cylinder?
@@colinl854 Hi Colin. The cylinder is never damp enough to combine the two agents so it usually works just fine! 👍
@@AquariumShed Thanks man, I have just ordered mine from aliexpress, after viewing your video, they've increased in price considerably tho'
Aah that's so annoying that you they've increased in price so much. I'm sure you'll be pleased with the purchase tho! Thanks for watching! 👍
Thanks for this video. Can u please share the link for buying the canister ?
Hi Anvar. Thanks for watching. There are Ebay links for the co2 canister in the video description. Cheers. 👍
I need co2 for my 55 gallon to grow my Monte Carlo on my bonsai tree. Will this be a good investment? It around $115-$135 I want to be able to turn it off at night but I can also do that with the diy co2 soda cap regulator kit for $30 and buy the diffuser and stuff? What do you recommend, splurge or stick with the smaller system. Don’t have many plants(probably 6 new plants) besides the large amount on Monte Carlo
Thank you for this video! Should I be concerned about end of tank dumps for this type of setup? If so, what should I be looking for?
Thank you in advance!
Hiya, do you mean the crystallised remnants at the end of the reaction? There's no issues but it can get quite tough to remove so needs a good soak in boiling water. Then it just pours away no problem. I do this each time I refill the system as I've heard the crystallisation can damage the ceramic filter if it got onto it. Hope that helps. 👍
@@AquariumShed I've heard that CO2 tanks do an end of tank dump toward the end of their CO2 supply. I am not sure if this is something that can happen with this system 😅. I am just getting into this stuff, I just don't want to kill my fish!
@@Crete32 I see, that makes sense. I'm afraid I'm unsure really. My understanding was that this sort of dumping is related to when the pressure reduces on a single stage regulator attached to a normal high pressure canister which is generally around 800psi and regulated down to around 20-30psi. Given that this system only achieves around 20kg/cm2 (equivalent of 284psi) I think the system would never have the rapid fluctuations because it does not achieve anywhere close to the pressure of a regulated co2 system anyway. I could be totally wrong, but that would be my logic and it is certainly not a problem I have encountered. When the pressure drops on this system you just see it slowly pitter out over a day or two, no fluctuations or rapid dumping. Hope that helps.
@@AquariumShed this is very helpful thank you for easing my worries a bit!
@@Crete32 no worries. Happy to help! 👍
Great explanations !
Glad I could help! Thanks for watching. 👍
@@AquariumShed I just trying to give inspiration, try the comparisons between all kinds of lilypipe.
I would love to see that.
@@Guest-sl2qb that's a great idea. Thanks so much for the suggestion and for supporting the channel. 👍
Hi! I really enjoyed your video and I went ahead to buy one of these kit as my first venture into CO2 in aquariums. I’m a complete novice to aquariums and it’s like 2 months into this hobby for me.
After running the kit for about 3 weeks. I noticed this morning that though the solenoid was activated, there wasn’t any bubbles coming out of the diffuser and the pressure gauge reads about 10.
Does it mean that the pressure has fallen too low to operator the regulator? If that’s the case, is it safe to unscrew the regulator from the cylinder to refill the chemicals?
Thanks in advance.
I found the problem. Silly me. They provided a metal female to female connector which I thought was just for joining 2 hoses together. Turns out that it’s actually a 1 way flow control valve which I accidentally connected in reverse when I was tidying up the pipes.
Ha. Glad you worked it out and the video was useful! 👍
Hi thank you for the video I’m thinking about the system but I’m not sure they can handle 200l Aquarium what do you think ? THX
Hiya. I touch on this in my buyers guide here - ua-cam.com/video/EQAvUrEvQgs/v-deo.html - basically, it will work just fine but you'll be refilling the cylinder much more regularly. I think these are better suited to Nano tanks. Hope that helps. 👍
Great, I wanna try this out, I can't find the link ,do you have the link for this system,so I can order it,thank you
I'm probably already getting this From a 5l fire extinguisher, one bottle cost £22.50 and still has plenty of life after 4 months usage .
Yeah sounds like your on to a winner. I'm actually prepping a video about this and the various efficiencies as we speak so stay tuned!
hi ... did you try the vinegar and soda bicarb method ?
Hiya. No, the only other method I've tested was sugar and yeast which didn't work. I think vinegar and bicarb would work fine, but the tricky bit would be sealing the unit quick enough. I'd probably stick with citric acid and use ice instead of water. 👍
@@AquariumShed i am new and climbing my way up in CO2 .. currently i ordered a diy kit while i am using my remaining co2 pellets and still waiting on the diffuser for now .. the thing about DIY CO2 amazes me is the experience as i have to try it for my self ... I have a fully planted tank that i would like to get a full styrogen carpet out of it in the next two months hopefully :)
Question can I just use water, yeast, and sugar in there
Hiya. We're not sure yet. Another subscriber called Chea is going to test this out tho, you'll see we've been discussing it on another thread below. Theoretically I'd imagine it should work as this cylinder simply contains a reaction. But we're not sure what quantities would be required and how quickly / if a usable pressure would be created. Sorry I can't be of more help at this time. 👍
@@AquariumShed thanks
Hi this seems to be the solution for diy co2 systems. I was wondering how you clean and refill the canister after use. Also what size canister and bubble count would you recommend for a 55-gallon tank? Also what would a solenoid do and where would you install it on the system?
Hi there - my cleaning regime is pretty simple, just a good soak in some hot water to get rid of some of the crystalised build up on the bottom, and then a refill as I explained in the video. Some people have been saying that ice makes it even easier to refill since the reaction doesn't start straight away, so I might give that a go next time. In terms of which canister to buy, the larger the capacity, the less often you'll be refilling it, so I'd buy the largest capacity you can afford. I'd reccomend you use a Co2 calculator to check what bubble count you need as I'm not an expert (just Google "Aquarium Co2 Calculator" and there are tonnes), but my guess would be 2-4bps. Glad you found the video useful, and thanks for watching!
Awesome video thanks.
Can you add a solenoid to this system so can have it on a timer and turn it off at night??
I have a 4L system and I buy my citric acid and baking soda in bulk on Amazon and it costs me about $1 USD/month for CO2.
Could I add c02 to the hydroponic water, do you think it would help in the growth of plants? Thanks
I'm no expert, but my guess would be that this wouldn't really help. The main absorbtion route for co2 is via leaves and given that in hydroponics your leaves are out of the water, the only real benefit of co2 injection would be if it was well absorbed by the roots too. Although I think roots will absorb some co2, I don't think it would have any major impact. But, if you find answers to the contrary let me know. I'm no expert.... 👍
@@AquariumShed thanks
simply genius ...
ordered a 5L directly from amazon for just over 100 Cad with free shipping.
already had the 600/600/900 ratio explode in my face because i didnt tilt the bottle enough.... maybe because the bottle is so wide the reaction happens so fast... guess im going to have to invest in the cylinder ice trays lol
🤣🤣 At least your face will be nice and clean. The ice trick is great, but I honestly don't think you loose much gas once you get the knack of the quick tilt and seal. Just takes a bit of practice. For the ease of immediately having gas, I tend to not bother with the ice so much these days! Good luck with it all. Hope my videos were useful! 👍
Hello Sir. When you turn off, does the pressure increases, exceeding the green area
Hi there. No, I've never experienced this and there is also a safety release valve as a precaution! Hope that helps! 👍
Hello! when the pressure gauge slowly starts to go down, do you see the bubbles coming out of the diffuser becoming less and less? I'm really thinking about this one. Since you said it lasts for 33 days- I was thinking that on it's 33rd day, was the working pressure for the diffuser is the same as if it was the first time setting it up?
Thank you for this video! Would this work for a small grow room of hemp plants? How long would it last between fill ups?
Hi there. Afraid I don't know any of the dosing requirements you are after as I only know about aquariums. Like I said in the video, this is creating 105g Co2 so you'd have to use that as your starting point and calculate from there. Sorry I can't be of more help.
Ah yes, "hemp plants"
🤣🤣🤣
Will this work for a grow room as well?
I'm not entirely sure I'm afraid. Being in the UK it's not something I know much about, but I know that some subscribers have spoken about it in the comments before. My guess would be yes, but it it entirely depends on the release mechanism which I know nothing about but I'm sure could be adapted to your needs. The takeaway from this video is you get 105g co2, and now you need to do a bit of research about how long that will last you and how you adapt the outtake to meet your needs. I hope that helps and makes sense! 👍
hi from greece you can make soda with this ??
Hello mate. Please can you answer this question... can I refill this bottle doing the same steps when it's empty by just screwing the top off?
Hiya. Yes, you just need to give it a little rinse and empty out the leftover liquid and sediment from the previous reaction first. Then you are good to refill as shown in this video. I've also done a little update video with some top tips that might be useful - ua-cam.com/video/MFVwd-nWJek/v-deo.html 👍
@@AquariumShed thanks for the reply pal!
its a shame the cheapest i can find is £80 delviered in the UK... I've decided to go bottle method with an electric shutoff vavle for night time. hopefully it wont exsplode lol. but for £80, i may as well save up a little more and get a proper system around £150
Yeah, that's a fair shout. When I bought mine a year ago it was half the price. Shame they've gone up so much. Good luck with your project! 👍
Great video! Very informative for sure. My Generator comes tomorrow and can't wait to set it up. This video was perfect timing! I have watched it twice and especially liked the info on the citric acid and baking soda. Moving forward are you going to use the 200g each ratio or do the more efficient ratio 1:1.3 that confusedsquid 23 provided?
Hi Scott. Thanks for watching, very happy to help. Since making the video I've tried out the 1:1.3 ratio and it worked just fine, the system didn't overpressurise and I got roughly five extra days out of the system. There's just one very simple reason I've reverted to the normal 200g of each method - which is that I get through my supply of ingredients evenly so it just makes my ordering and storing system a bit more streamlined. I like organisation..... Lol. 👍
@@AquariumShed Thanks for the speedy response. I plan to use the 1:1.3 ratio to start with. I will keep you posted with my progress. This is my first planted tank and first crack at CO2. Back in the day I had saltwater reef tanks. Looking forward to this experience!
@@boarder081 that's awesome. Happy I could help as you get back into the hobby. I'd love to have a saltwater reef someday. Probably need to get out of my tiny basement first tho..... Good luck with the new setup! 👍
Hi there, nice video; i've been using the 2L+ version for almost a year now and i like it very much; however i just noticed a hard paste at the bottom of the cylinder that can't get out, it's like hard rock and stuck to the bottom; im afraid that if left there, it'll keep growing and could cause pressure issues as there'll be less available volume, any idea of what it is and how to get rid of it? thanks.
Hi Luis, yeah this is a crystallised build up that is a bi product of the reaction. I believe it is also an indication of lower quality ingredients, but seems to happen for most people. I soak in boiling water for about ten minutes and give the cylinder a good swill and that does the job. Just be careful, the cylinder gets really hot so you'll need some oven gloves! Hope that helps. Thanks for watching! 👍
Hey ! Thank you for your video :) Is the pressure stable or do you have to change the settings to get the same amount of bubbles, after a few days?
Hiya - no the pressure is stable until the last couple of days when it starts to reduce and I tend to bother with adjusting cos I am a cheap skate and like getting every ounce of Co2 out of it. lol. But for 30 days it it is very consistent.
Great !!
Thank you for your answer
@@valentinm4627 No problem at all. Thanks for watching!
Hi. Great video by the way. I have the same item but its the 1 liter version. If i may ask, i am wondering if you would know if the 2 liter version will last longer than my 1 liter version? Mine used 100g of each ingredient and 150ml of water. And it last around 1week with 2-3 bps setup. Was considering to buy the bigger version if it would last longer. I understand from your video that based on the calculation, of course the bigger ingredient volume will generate more gas. Curious as mine also has max 20 kg/cm shown on the output meter.
Hi Mew. The 2 litre version should last twice as long. I'm curious why your system is only lasting a week tho, I'd expect it to perform better than that. It may be that you are losing co2 during the initial reaction. Another subscriber suggested using frozen water which I think sounds like a great tip to decrease initial loss of gas. In terms of the pressure gauge, I guess they are rated the same but the capacity means you can produce more gas before over pressurising. Hope that makes sense? 👍
@@AquariumShed thanks for the reply. I suppose i can first check if theres any leakage in mine. And yes i have been using cold water and it really reduce the initial reaction time. Thanks for your time :)
I’ve just ordered the same one (1l version).
What if you put 200ml of baking soda and 200ml of citric acid to it? Will it blow up?
As technically it should genarate the same amount of co2 as 2l one.
Hi there! Good video, also good info when answering the questions. What do you think on running DYI CO2 24/7 something like 15 bpm (Is that even possible??)I have issues with fluctuations on the pH.
Hiya. Whilst chemically speaking this would work to decrease the pH, it is definitely not a good idea for your fish. My advice would be to try using peat moss within the filtration!
@@AquariumShed thanks. My issue is that I have a really low KH (2dkh) another option I was thinking was to add sodium and potassium bicarbonate but not so sure to play around with the water chemistry.
Sorry for the late reply, been visiting family. Afraid I've not had much experience with the issue you're describing. I tend to keep fish that suit my natural parameters. If I were in your position, I'd be tempted to try Seachem parameter and buffer products. But you'll have to keep using them at water changes etc. so it'll become a bit of a hassle. Good luck!
Hi, colombo now do this product too. Its actually really good.
Yeah I noticed they'd started producing them. Was pretty impressed with the quality of the fittings, tho it's quite a bit more expensive. 👍
Is the 33 days of co2 for a 30 liters tank? I'm thinking of trying this out on my 112l tank. But not sure how long it would last. It definitely seems more safe than using soda bottles especially if you are solenoid and turning it off at night.
Hi there - this is achieved on my 55l Dennerle Scapers Tank using it at 1 bubble ever 2-3 seconds. I'm guessing you'd need more like 1-2bps so it'll probably last half as long. But yeah, definitley feels much safer than the soda bottle kits and I am loving it since I hooked up a solenoid. Hope that helps. Cheers for watching!
@@AquariumShed thanks.
Hi, does this also have a solenoid valve? If not can it be applied afterwards?
you can find the solenoid valve on Amazon for about $20.00
Wow nice.
Hi there. Your videos are good and this one was very informative. However, I was confused at 2:33 when you share Confusedsquid23's awesome info. He wrote that we can use a ratio of 1:1.3 (bicarb:citric) But then he goes on to write, "so you could add a little more bicarb to make sure the citric acid is all used up." This had me confused a bit because that now sounded a bit contrary to me and that we should be using more bicarb to citric. I tried this ratio in my DIY plastic bottle setup. It lasted about 8 days and the bicarb ended up being used up well before the citric acid/water catalyst transferred from bottle A to bottle B. Hence, this made me realize that more bicarb could be used and if Confusedsquid23 wrote his description backwards where it should be 1:1.3 (citric:bicarb) instead. So I looked it up and viola, 2 sites that I referenced have it just as that! So, if were using 200gm each of citric acid and bicarb, with a ration of 1:1.3(citric:bicarb), we can use 200gm citric to 260gm of bicarb - not the other way around. Next time I refill the DIY plastic bottle setup, I'll try this and I'm guessing that I won't have any left over water/citric acid catalyst left.
But, I did end up buying the Fzone 2.5l bottle and I hope you got credit for it. Currently I have 200gm of bicarb and 230gm citric with the 300gm of water. BTW, the narrow ice cube method is fantastic. This formulation creates much much more pressure than the plastic bottle setup of mixing water/citric and mixing that with the bicarb. With the plastic bottles, we can achieve just over 2kg/cm3 or over 28/29psi. In the metal bottle, mixing all the ingredients together at once, that bottled is currently pressurized at 400psi!!!!!! I don't think we need to over think the math here on which method is going to last longer and have more bang for the buck. I've had the DIY kit for 2 months now so I can't return it for my $20. But I did think I was going to spend the $20 to experiment. Now that experiment is done and I'll probably stick with the metal bottle. Time to make my comparison video which I'll post on one of my other YT channels.
Here are the two sites I referenced describing the 1:1.3 (citric/bicarb) vs (bicarb:citric) ratio. scienceline.ucsb.edu/getkey.php?key=7129 and www.pasco.com/resources/blog/68
Footnote: I realize I made a mistake on my bicarb/citric measurements. I ended up using the ML measurement cup supplied by Fzone to measure the bicarb/citric. Using that ends up with much more ingredient but I kept to the ratio. So I created more than enough supply. However, density of each ingredient also matters. So to make things a bit easier in the future, what I found is that 200gm of bicarb is ~.38 cups or 6.08 tbsp and 230gm of citric is ~.51 cups of 8.16 tbsp. That's going to be much less than what I used in the ml measuring cup! Fun with home chemistry!
Totally agree with you, it's 1:1.312 citric acid to baking soda, so about 160g actric to 200g baking soda
Hey, howmany liters of CO2 can you make with the amount of ingridiants you use?
Does it have a pressure relief valve? I know those plastic bottle ones can explode... would this have the same risks?
Hiya, yes it has a pressure release valve so all is good! 👍 Hope that helps.
Can this be used to fill up a BB gum canister? they use CO2 but how would it be applied?
The cylinder that you are holding is the 1L one? Thank you.
Can you also put a solenoid in it as well? Sorry I'm a newbie.
@@noobaquarist279 Hi Jo, thanks for watching! The version I have is the 2l. I've noticed recently on Aliexpress thar there is a new 1l version which is much shorter. There is also a 2l double which is the same size as mine but with thicker steel to withstand greater pressure. You can buy solenoids specifically for this system, as part of a kit, or like me you can attach a standard solenoid (I happened to get a Colombo in the bargain bin of my LFS) by using normal co2 tubing. I've also attached a splitter to use this on multiple tanks. Hope that helps. 👍
@@AquariumShed thank you sir for the quick response. It really helps a lot to the people that's just starting aquascaping. Your video is one of the most detailed I've watched. Thank you thank you.-from Abu Dhabi🥰
@@noobaquarist279 No problem at all, happy to help and really pleased you found the video useful. What sort of style did you go with for your first aquascape? What fish do you have / are planning to get?
@@AquariumShed I was about to go for iwagumi style for my 45cm tank. but I was really amazed by how you guys do this aquascaping, so I add an additional rotala green and cabomba,aside from my eleocaris acicularis.planning to add some s.repens soon.so I end up researching on diy co2. Luckily I found your channel. Thank u so much. It really helps alot🙂
Hey, thanks for the video. Just wondering if this is the 1L or 2L version in your video? Thanks
Hi. This is the 2l standard version. I believe there is also a double version that takes more ingredients and works at a higher pressure. 👍
Great, thanks for the reply.
I’m thinking of getting this system for a 20L nano tank and was wondering if the needle valve is fine enough to achieve 1 bubble every 10 seconds?
I think you'd struggle to get 1bp10s with this valve. I have it on a 55l at 1bp3s and the valve is literally just on. At best you might achieve 1bp5s. Hope that helps. 👍
@@AquariumShed thanks for the helps, sounds like I might have to rethink it
@@matthewnesbitt2646 no problem. I'm actually changing the needle valve soon as I've ordered a triple valve so I can use this on multiple tanks. I'll let you know if it's any better. You just need something more high precision for your purposes.
Hi I am using the 1Lt one how many bubbles should I need I have mine at 2 bubbles per second is that two much cheers
It all depends on the tank capacity. If you Google 'co2 bubble rate calculator' then there is a good calculator at Aquarium Info. Usually the top search result for me. 👍
This is what im looking for....
Can you add dry ice? instead of baking soda, citric acid and water?
I'm afraid I'm not sure, there was some discussion about this in the comments a while ago but no conclusion. Sorry about that.
Can I use this to carbonate water for sodas? Is it food grade?
I asked a similar question about the quality on Reddit but didn't get any clear response I'm afraid. I wouldn't recommend it tho. Anyhow, I think the main issue is that you won't have sufficient pressure to carbonate the water effectively. 👍
Very usefull and subbed
Thanks so much. Glad you found it useful!
Hi I’m new to the channel and to the hobby , I assume while helping he plants this system does no harm to the fish providing the water is oxygenated?
Hiya. Thanks for watching. Yes, that's correct. You want to aim for between 15-30ppm and this will be safe for the fish. You don't want to go higher than 35ppm tho. You can use a co2 calculator to determine the correct bubble rate for your tank, and you can also use a co2 drop checker with a colour changing solution if you want added assurance. Hope that helps! 👍
Maybe a comparison between this system and JBL Pro Flora bio 160 would be good. The price it is similar for the parts, but the price for refilling components it is diffrent.
Aah yeah, that's a pretty good shout. My main reason for choosing the pressurised cylinder over the yeast types was the that I can switch it off at night and have much greater control over bubble rates. Imo there's a pretty big difference and I'd say this system is a great middle ground between the more DIY'ish systems like yeast bottles and citric/bicarb soda bottles, and the more professional/expensive setups like the Proflora M501 and similar.
@@AquariumShedThere is no danger shutt off during night? I have JBL PRO FLORA bio CO2. One refill cost around 8 euro.
Not with this system. It has a safety release valve, and I've never seen the needle go above the green zone even when I had the system switched off for a few days. It's very impressive. 👍
Doesn't the Pro Flora use the upside-down cup method? I've never been able to get even a small tank into the CO2 green zone with upside down cups. Maybe if you put the CO2 directly into a pump or power head, that would be your best bet for that.
I tried a number of methods and my opinion is that this chemical reaction CO2 generator is far better than anything else other than the standard pressurized tanks that you have to get refilled.
@@randyhaight7202 JBL Pro Flora is more than nothing. But is not enough for a 60-70 litters aquarium. For a large aquarium it is not a smart choice. So, I can confirm what Randy Hate write: on a 70 litters Dennerle Scaper’s Tank (medium planted), JBL Aquatest CO2/pH Permanent Test it is always blue (not enough CO2 in aquarium).
You won't damage tank with use great answer that this guy gave you it will just protect you to waste ingredients 1 to 1.3 mean just use 200g one igredient and 140g-150g of other one it will make bit less co2 or the same amount without waste 😊 use it guy was very good at chem so why waste 2£ when you can pay only 1.5£😂
Could this video apply to paintball guns and air rifles that require CO2??
Hiya. Not my area of expertise I'm afraid. But I imagine it would just come down to what kind of adapter you need and the pressure you require in order to refill them. This safely operates at around 20 bar. 👍