Reddit reviews Fluval Ceramic 88g-CO2 Diffuser - 3.1 Ounces

Absolutely. DIY CO2 is ridiculously easy. I’m not that technically inclined so if I can do it anyone can. This may seem like a lot but it’s not as bad as it looks. I used to use the Fluval 88g CO2 system but it was ludicrously expensive to but the proprietary refill canisters. This setup is soooo cheap and completely reliable and produces ample CO2. I’m happy to tell you some pitfalls once you get it set up because it would be hard for you to follow me without having it in front of you.

DIY CO2 Aquarium Plant System https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008CUZJF6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_o0JPDbTTNQCT0

Fluval 88g-CO2 Bubble Counter - 3.1 Ounces https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GCPM6K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_40JPDb482G6RQ

Fluval Ceramic 88g-CO2 Diffuser - 3.1 Ounces https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GCO35G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_-3JPDbJ43F4ZG

Milliard Citric Acid 5 Pound - 100% Pure Food Grade NON-GMO Project VERIFIED (5 Pound) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EYFKNL8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_34JPDb122FQKM

ARM & HAMMER Pure Baking Soda 8 oz (Pack of 6) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00860VYYC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_A5JPDb8FKP7NN

2 x normal 2 liter soda bottles

Step one:

Purchase

• http://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1380759544&sr=1-1&keywords=AQUATEK+paintball
  
  
• http://www.amazon.com/Fluval-Ceramic-88g-CO2-Diffuser-Ounces/dp/B004GCO35G/ref=pd_sim_petsupplies_3
  
  
• Also --> Grab a tank at your local paintball/sporting goods store.
  
  Step two: Put everything together
  
  Step three: Profit!
  
  EDIT: A few extra things that I remembered and also mentioned below. The regulator comes with a bubble counter, but for NOT come with tubing! You will need to buy the tubing, diffuser, and the co2 indicator. Amazon sells everything you need and is free shipping with their Super Saver option.
  
  

40 gallons is going to be pushing on what you can accomplish with DIY, so I would avoid going that route, as you wont wind up happy.

As for what you will need, it is really very simple, but not particularly cheap. You need a CO2 tank, a regualtor, bubble counter, diffusor and gas line.

CO2. Go with a 5 or 10 lb tank. If you can find used even better as most places just swap tanks when you fill them, so you get your new shiny aluminum tank, bring it to get filled, they take it and give you a banged up used one back. A 5lb tank should last 3-4 months depending on how many bubbles per second you are pumping

Regulator with Bubble Counter and solenoid, the solenoid is what shuts off flow of CO2 at night, when plugged into a timer. Plants don't utilize CO2 at night, so continuing to pump it into the tank is just wasting gas. Keep it on the same cycle as your lights, or better yet, and hour behind, so it turns on and hour before the lights come on, and off an hour before the lights go off.

Diffuser, you can spend a little or a lot here. I dont really see the need to spend a ton with this part. You do want to see if the unit has a check valve though, and if not, you will need to add one between the bubble counter and diffuser to prevent a back siphoning.

Gas tubing very important you get tubing rated for CO2 gas. Do not use regular air line of the gas will eat right through it

An airstone doesn't defuse co2 properly, it's very inefficient, I suggest grabbing a DIY co2 regulator, diffuser, and a bubble counter if you wish on amazon, should cost you twenty-five dollars or so, you'll see a huge difference.

DIY CO2 Aquarium Plant System https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008CUZJF6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_bJyuyb1E5K3FV

Fluval Ceramic 88g-CO2 Diffuser - 3.1 Ounces https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GCO35G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ULyuybPW9C6G2

Fluval 88g-CO2 Bubble Counter - 3.1 Ounces https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GCPM6K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_DKyuybDD5AXPX

> Please list ALL the basic equipment for pressurized CO2?

• Cylinder
  
• Regulator
  
• Solenoid Valve - can be bought separately or as a unit with the reg.
  
• Check Valve
  
• Bubble Counter
  
• Diffuser
  
• CO2 resistant tubing
  
• Timer plug
  
  I use a CO2 fire extinguisher rather than a normal cylinder, but it's essentially the same.
  
  Only real downside is the ongoing cost. Other thing to think about are balancing CO2 levels when the lights go off, but that's easy enough to accomplish with the timer plug.
  
  Cost for me was about £100 all in, but I got lucky with some cheap CO2..

How high do you have the pressure up to?? The only time mine ever did that is when I got impatient and turned the pressure up a bit too high. I'm not an expert, but it might be time to invest in a regulator.

I use this diffuser with this regulator in both my tanks (a 55g and a 75g). I use the included bubble counter for my 75g and it works great. I've bought way more expensive diffusers and none worked as good as the one I referenced here so don't be tempted to spend more than you need to. I really do suggest a regulator, though. I think you might be having pressure issues.

I said some of this elsewhere but for lighting I have the finnex fugeray in 10" As well as a Marineland Penguin 100 filter. pretty basic, ya know. I have a diy CO2 system going using a fluval diffuser which is a really good diffuser. I also have a sponge wrapped around the intake of the filter to protect my invertibrates

For substrate, I just have some black diamond blasted sand. I have a piece of mopani driftwood that I searched months for! Found it in Petco, funny enough in their reptile section, though it said for aquarium use.

flora includes: Water sprite, Baby tears, Dwarf baby tears, Microsword, Duckweed, and a couple others' whose names I cant remember right now.

fauna includes: 1 oto, 6 cherry shrimp (so far!), one nerite snail, and a handful of malaysian trumpet snails. Very happy crew.

I dose with excel about once a week, and feed the shrimp part of an algea wafer every few days.

Fully agree co2 is great for any level. You can dial back the output via the regulator for your current tank and dial it up if/when you go bigger.

This was my shopping list to get pressurized co2 going:

Empire Paintball 24oz CO2 Tank - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007XKFQCM

AQUATEK CO2 Regulator Mini - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008TJCPSY

Fluval Ceramic 88g-CO2 Diffuser - 3.1 Ounces https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GCO35G (Note you can choose a different diffuser if you want)

AQUATEK CO2-Proof Tubing 16 Feet - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008UCOFJW

Fluval CO2 Indicator Kit - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052M9886

The 24 oz tank lasts for 3-4 months on my 29g at ~3bps

What i use

My setup, excuse the mess, one of the bottles is leaking.

We have a lot of folks on here using the aquatek regulators and they are ok. Those come with a solenoid, so like krattalak stated, you only have tubing(which is cheap on amazon), drop checker, and ceramic diffuser(also pretty cheap). I highly recommend a check valve and use a brass fitting instead of the cheap ceramic ones that tend to warp and compress.

I use disposable pressurized co2 canisters right now with one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Nano-CO2-Diffuser-Reactor-Aquarium/dp/B0058XWDFO/

this is what you're using, right?

http://www.amazon.com/Fluval-Ceramic-88g-CO2-Diffuser-Ounces/dp/B004GCO35G

& I already have the fluval bubble counter!

From what I have heard running your CO2 line directly into a HOB filter will cause cavitation of the impeller and eventually break the filter. I have no clue how long it takes to break a filter this way. For my CO2 setup I am using a ceramic diffuser this one under the intake to my filter. I have not had a filter die on me yet or give any indication of failing but I really haven't had it running that long.

C02 Kit

Bubble Counter

Diffuser

You also need funnels to get everything into the soda bottles, a few check valves to prevent backflow. The reaction uses baking soda and citric acid, I got both from the market so thy are food grade.

looks like "melt"

I advice a simple DIY CO2... seeing what my plants did after struggling for ages is wonderful.

just need a few cheap amazon parts to order and sugar, bit of baking soda yeast and a cpl old lemonade bottles.

You'd be golden and hitting your head why you didn't do this before.

fluval diffuser

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004GCO35G?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00


It's made for nano tanks so i figured I'd give it a shot and I absolutely love it.

I've ran the CO2 tubing directly into the intake of my HOB filter and it did "ok". I eventually got a fluval ceramic diffuser and it's been terrific. I still keep it below the inlet of the filter but the bubbles are much smaller. I also tried using bamboo chopsticks as a diffuser and that worked pretty well but occasionally it got clogged but very inexpensive and easily hidden.

Thanks!
Here's a link for the diffuser I'll be switching to maybe you'll like it too

https://www.amazon.ca/Fluval-Ceramic-88g-CO2-Diffuser-Ounces/dp/B004GCO35G/ref=asc_df_B004GCO35G/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=234376523249&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14328734804121458538&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9000020&hvtargid=pla-293946777986&psc=1#immersive-view_1535844498454

I've never used a ladder, but I think that a ceramic diffuser would be better. I've used a fluval diffuser and it seems to work, plus its cheap. There are plenty of more expensive ones out there, but I haven't used them.

All co2 diffusers work by increasing the time and the surface area over which the co2 comes in contact with the water. The ladder diffusers have a few large bubbles that spend a couple seconds in contact, while the ceramic diffusers create hundreds of tiny bubbles that spend a few seconds floating, much more surface area. You can also position the diffuser beneath the return from your filter; it will blow the bubbles around in the tank increasing the time the bubbles have to dissolve.

Very cool write-up, thanks!

Your diffuser is very clever, but even for a DIY system, I personally recommend to buy a diffuser. I tried about half a dozen different DIY diffusers, and eventually decided to just give in and buy one. I am currently using the Fluval Ceramic one, and will never go back:

http://www.amazon.com/Fluval-Ceramic-88g-CO2-Diffuser-Ounces/dp/B004GCO35G

$20 got me the diffuser, plus 3 replacement ceramic disks. Mine has been running for a month, and makes a ton of tiny micro-bubbles. I placed it at the bottom of my tank under my powerhead, and my plants absolutely love it.

The only drawback to this diffuser is your Co2 system needs a LOT of pressure for it to start working. If you use it, make sure you are using thick bottles and well sealed air lines.

http://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1414044611&sr=1-1&keywords=aquatek

I was looking at this, how long does a 20oz tank last you op?


P.s I've used this diffuser and the bubbles are smaller
http://www.amazon.com/Fluval-Ceramic-Diffuser-Aquarium-3-1-Ounces/dp/B004GCO35G/ref=sr_1_11?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1414044741&sr=1-11&keywords=aquatek

I'm using that setup in a 5 gallon Fluval Spec right now. Ditch the diffuser it comes with, its huge. Get the this [one] (https://smile.amazon.com/Fluval-Ceramic-88g-CO2-Diffuser-Ounces/dp/B004GCO35G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486225190&sr=8-1&keywords=Fluval+diffuser)

You can also get threaded mini co2 canisters much cheaper than the fluval brand. $23 for a 15 pack. Each one lasts me about a month on 6 hours a day/ 1 bubble per second. link

Its a bit cumbersome, the valve takes some time to get used to. The slightest twist will either be too much or nothing at all. Its not automatic so you basically have to touch it twice a day, once to turn it on and once again to off. IF you have any questions let me know

Nice tank! Just a suggestion -- I had the same fluval diffuser, and realized it wasn't as effective as the fluval ceramic diffuser which is a lot smaller. Also more effective due to size of bubbles. https://www.amazon.com/Fluval-Ceramic-88g-CO2-Diffuser-Ounces/dp/B004GCO35G

I'm using a fluval diffuser (Fluval Ceramic 88g-CO2 Diffuser - 3.1 Ounces https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GCO35G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_9IeDybVE2XBQ4) and I use 3 BPS. I am switching to inline reactor and attaching it to my fluval 206 - just waiting for the sleeves to come in the mail. Thought I might like the look of the bubbles but it turns it I hate them lol.

What good is a tank without a regulator and accessories? If someone is making the jump, I've got everything they'll need.

Bubble counter/check valve is $8 new.

Fluval bubble counter is only a couple bucks.

Fluval diffuser is
only $5.

Drop checker (which i forgot to mention) is $14 new.

CO2 proof tubing is $10 new, but granted what I've got left is a little cut up.

And each bottle of Flourish is $10 new, and mine are all nearly full.

To get all of it brand new would be ~$300 and you'd have to run all over the place to track it down. If you wanna make an offer, I'll accept anything reasonable.