CO2 EXPERIMENT: WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO ADD CO2 IN OUR AQUARIUM?

What is the best way to add CO2 into our aquarium? That's what I'm curious to find out. So in this video we are going to compare the CO2 reactor vs the in-line diffuser vs the in-tank diffuser.

In-line diffuser
In-tank diffuser

👉🏻 Use Code ''amsterdam'' for 10% off CO2art products

👉🏻Destroy ALGAE with my FREE ebook 📖

#plantedtank #aquascape #mjaquascaping

[MJAquascaping]

What is you preferred way of injecting CO2? Also don't forget to like the video, it helps more than you know! 🙏


👉🏻Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel: YouTube.com/mjaquascaping


👉🏻 Use Code ''amsterdam'' for 10% off CO2art products

👉🏻Destroy ALGAE with my FREE ebook 📖

👉🏻10% DISCOUNT on buceplanet.de with code: Amsterdam10

[__-htbw]

Thanks MJ for the thoughtful experiment and for having a great channel. I would like to say that I think the results are misleading even though you partially addressed the issue of regulator pressure. I believe that there is more to account for when you change between the low-pressure reactor and high-pressure in-line diffuser.

Boyle's law describes the relationship between pressure and volume of a confined gas (bubbles are confined within the liquid in the bubble counter and stay intact from surface tension). Two bubbles of the same volume under different pressures will contain different quantities of gas. Think of pumping up a bicycle tire - once the tire fills to size, you can keep pumping air into it increasing the pressure, but the size/volume does not increase much. With the low back pressure of the reactor, the bubbles in the bubble counter contain some amount of gas. With the high back pressure of the in-line diffuser, the bubbles in the bubble counter are compressed and therefore contain more gas per bubble assuming they reach the same size before they break away and float up. I think that matching the bubble rate in the experiment was a fatal mistake. Flow rate is the important variable, whereas bubble rate can be used as the proxy for flow rate only if pressure, temperature, and bubble size stay constant.

To sum it up, I think you were injecting more CO2 with the inline diffuser than the reactor, giving false results. The reactor when working correctly results in complete dissolution of the gas. The in-line diffuser releases bubbles into the display that will eventually reach the surface and off gas prematurely, meaning that it should always be less efficient than the reactor. There is a separate issue of whether the microbubbles in the display tank are advantageous over the reactor since they can attach directly to the plant surfaces. But since your experiment looked specifically at pH, I think the results are specifically wrong. You could either use a flow meter instead of a bubble counter, or you can measure the back pressure after the regulator for each setup and approximate the flow rate based on bubble count.

[kellygordon]

Thanks for taking time to do this experiment. I think a better way to normalize each systems performance would be to either tune each system so each reaches the same target and is stable, then compare the CO2 flow rates of each. The system that maintains the target with the lowest consumption is the most efficient. The alternative would be to use a fixed CO2 injection rate for each system and the system that results in the greatest pH decrease would be the most efficient system. Once you start adjusting the CO2 working pressure, you introduce gas density changes that have an effect on the total mass flow rate of CO2 injection. Matching bubble counter flow at different pressures won't yield the same mass flow rate of CO2.

[devachapman]

great video man. but I wish you got some B roll f the tank with the inline and reactor so we could really get an idea of the mist you where talking about.

[RWAquariumPages]

i just got the inline co2 atomizer, first time using it and it seems ok so far, going to check the pH drop shortly. love the experiment it's very insightful and useful. I've used the reactor and the in tank type before, but the inline makes the tank look so much cleaner. great video!

[endoglewoh]

This channel provides easy-to-understand information and some experiments which I think are very interesting to know, greetings from Indonesia

[akifhafie]

Holy hell the tank at @2.00 is a work of art! I love that little sand path through the middle. Definitely be stealing that idea.

[martinwelters]

Personly I like inline diffusers, because the micro bubbles also attache to plant which give them the opportunity to get CO2 this way.

[williamwescott]

A quick way to judge your actual CO2 delivered with a low-priced CO2 gauge instead of a probe is from the 2Hour Aquarist. You pull out some water after your CO2 had been on long enough to reach maximum dissolution--say two hours after it turns on. You measure the pH, pour the water into a small jar and shake it vigorously for five minutes steadily. That should degas all the CO2 you put in artificially. Now you measure the pH again and look at the spread between that value and the previous onw.

[ampac]

Great experiment. Bu you should repeat it with the same CO2 operating pressure, since you increased the pressure with the diffuser. The results you obtained are not directly comparable. If the amount of injected CO2 were the same, then the reactor would have achieved a higher CO2 concentration, since a reactor will achieve a higher CO2 dissolution rate than an inline diffuser.

[kitekatka]

Thank you! I am installing inline diffuser today on my new 75gal.

[EvilInAWaffle]

Thanks so much! This was very informative! I've been researching how to get into CO2, and the more I learn, the more questions it raises. Great job!

[ahmedihusaan]

To be honest you’re best aquascaper i have ever known.. 👏🏾

[galacticnemesis]

Thanks for sharing this great insight. In my opinion there are benefits to have both 100% dissolved reactor CO2 as well as a small amount of suspended dispersed CO2 bubbles from an inline injection system. However for personal taste and the benefit of having extremely clear water in order to enjoy the viewing more. I would just go with a good quality reactor. That should support the plants adequately and provide a fantastic viewing experience. Thanks for sharing this inspirational and informative content. 😎👍👊🇦🇺

[prinsTobi]

If you prefer an inline system; qanvee is really great. It's the same as the co2art, except a lot cheaper (aliexpress). Thank me later.

Oh and a tip against leaking gas, use Vaseline on al the connections

[jeffkropp]

MJ, nice experiment. Have you ever looked at how pH responds when co2 is injected 24/7 without a controller or solenoid? That is how I've been running my tank for ~24 years. Local water is soft. I set a constant bubble rate ~1 bps. Ph drops to low 6s overnight and rises to nearly 7 towards the end of the light period. Pearling starts soon after the lights turn on and slows several hours before end of light period. Fish are especially active in the afternoon. They do not seem to mind nighttime lows. Having never used a controller or solenoid, I also wonder why you let pH rise overnight rather than maintaining the same level 24/7.

[NightFlight]

Have you tried putting your in-line diffuser on the intake of your canister filter? That's what I do, the canister itself works well enough as a reactor / diffuser combo. I don't run close the same bubble rate you do in your demonstrations - so it is fairly efficient.

In fact I removed the ceramic part, its not required. I've been turning on my C02 3hrs prior to lights on to land a target of 30+ppm (KH/PH of 5/6.6 =~ 37ppm). I get plant pearling about 3hrs into the photo period. I don't use a PH controller, but thinking on that. I'm still adjusting so I may start backing off during the photo period with timer controls if the CO2 starts to climb too high.

I use a smart power bar for all the items I need to control, its convenient and I can control the items from my phone or google home by shouting at it. :)

[Mus.B.E.]

Combine an inline diffuser to a reactor. Only the tiniest of bubbles would be able to leave the reactor and those tiny bubbles would take a long time to break the water surface

[ReaLityBlue]

Very very good explanation. Thanks very much. Subscribed.

[matthoskin]

Never seen your channel, until this VERY SECOND. I HONESTLY have to say that the tank behind you is incredible...Subbed....