Any plant tank enthusiast will say the main ingredient for success is CO2 and lots of it. So here is what I did:

My current setup utilizes this simple easy to make reactor for diffusing CO2 into the water column

Parts used: Powersweep 228 automatic self-rotating powerhead wavemaker 270gph ($22 from petsolutions.com), and a Rena 2" ceramic Micro Bubbler ($4 from petsolutions.com).

Not sure if I needed the micro bubbler, just a regular airstone might work as well since the impeller of the powerhead is doing most of the breaking down of the co2 bubbles, but I opted for the Rena. In the event the powerhead were to fail, I could place the micro bubbler near my canister spraybar and the fine bubbles would still get sent around the tank, whereas a regular airstone wouldn't produce small enough bubbles to dissolve very much at all. Also I tend to slack off on cleaning the prefilter which often clogs and the flow rate slows way down. I am not sure if the impeller is doing much in this case or not, but by using the micro bubbler I am still getting very fine mist out of it even when the water is barely flowing out of the unit. The powerhead not only serves to introduce co2 but also extra water circulation which is welcome. This unit also features a rotating output so it creates a rhythmic wave effect and also helps to send the co2 mist to both ends of the tank. The prefilter was included. I must admit thought that I am slightly disappointed in the quality of the powerhead - with respect to the rotating nozzle anyhow. It seems that it often freezes up and points in one direction. Sometimes it starts moving again but has frozen up for days before. No big deal, in the vent it freezes up it acts like a normal powerhead.

There were 2 mods I performed. First, a hole was drilled into the endcap that goes at the base of the prefilter so that the fitting on the Micro Bubbler can be pressed through it. Secondly, I had to cut the multi-size adapter off the base of the powerhead. The 2" bubbler was to long and hit the base of the powerhead before the clear plastic tube piece engaged. So I cut off all the adapter that was smaller than the one I needed for the included intake filter. That provided enough clearance for everything to fit.

My opinions on the setup: it produces a very fine mist and is strong enough to throw the mist a good ways toward both ends of my 75G tank. It did increase my co2 ppm slightly as opposed to a 4" Micro Bubbler placed under the outflow of another powerhead (the way I was doing it before using the Powersweep). I have been running about 3bps co2 and last I checked was maintaining 30-35ppm co2. Getting lots of pearling starting about half way though the day.

Here is the other half of the co2 system: the tank and regulator assembly. The tank is from a local welding supply store. Its a 15# tank and has lasted my 75G over a year on its first fill (have yet to refill it so not sure how long it will actually last yet). I opted to get the food grade 'spec gas' which means its certified for human consumption. This means they bake and clean the tank out basically. On a regular cylinder used for welding who knows what rust and other gasses are in there. Same goes for the gas, I purchased the Food Grade co2. It cost about $10 more to fill but my piece of mind knowing there isn't any toxic gases is well worth $10, especially when that lasts well over a year. The regulator assembly is just a cheapie JBJ unit which many enthusiasts dont like. I haven't had any problems yet, and it was very inexpensive and easy to setup since it all came as one pre-assembles piece with everything you need... dual gauges, regulator pre-set, electric solenoid, needle valve, bubble counter, and check valve. The only thing else I had to get was tubing. You shouldn't use regular air line since co2 will actually seep through it and you'll end up wasting half of your co2. They sell co2 airline at some places online but I just bought polyethylene tubing at Lowes which is excellent for co2 and cheap but it is very stiff and doesn't come in a variety of colors (at least at Lowes is doesn't). The needle valve on these cheap units are touchy... kind of like when you go to turn it up or down you barely apply any force and you went to far. But you only have to adjust it initially and then it should be good to go.

If you are going to refill your co2 tank rather than swap it in, you may want a nicer aluminum tank. Check out Beverage Factory for their inexpensive aluminum co2 tanks http:/www.beveragefactory.com/draftbeer/tanks/co2.shtml my next upgrade I plan on getting two of their 20# tanks and selling my 15# tank.

This webpage originally created on 10/28/06. Last updated: 10/28/06

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