DIY CO2 For Planted Aquarium! (Cheap and Easy)

Are you interested in setting up a DIY CO2 system for your planted aquarium? This complete guide will have you running CO2 in your planted tank for cheap (~$30 or less). There is no doubt that CO2 will increase growth rate, propagation, and overall health of nearly all aquarium plants.

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[AquariumPlantLab]

As mentioned in the video, there are a million different ways to do this. This is what I do. It works well and it’s simple. I like to keep things as simple as possible so that’s what this setup is geared for. Feel free to make this more complicated if you want but you don’t need to 😊

One additional thought! Make sure to place the bottle somewhere where it won’t get knocked over 👍

[SandyAquatics]

best video ever for the CO2 injection system....I thought it was so ur the best.

[reymundorodriguezg]

I tried this after being a bit annoyed from diy co2 and it way better than what I was doing before. The thing that makes it so much less tedious is use one bottle method, and instead of instant yeast use quick rise

[Aleksa]

I started using this kind of CO2 systems about half a year ago and I have seen some improvements with how long it lasts if you put the bottle in a cool place at night, the yeast stops working at night so the sugar stays in the water for longer to be consumed during the day.
I have also seen minor improvements when i switched the yeast during refills for a bit of water from the old system, already established yeast seems to work better.
Hope this helps ❤

[TheNathansblog]

This was such a simple way and explanation for me to understand and simplify this method.

[Michael-docg]

Thanks man, I really mean that. Ive used your videos to turn my basement into an aquatic plant farm.

[realtachyon]

Question. The pressure decreases quite rapidly for the co2 diffuser to work effectively. Any recommendations on the size of diffuser that we should use? I know you are using a large one but will using a nano diffuser make the co2 work longer or large will work better?

[emilynguyen]

You can add gelatine in the mixture, it will last longer maybe 1 month or more, but the amount of co2 out will decrease

[naginideveloper]

If you feed the co2 directly to the diffuser using this method, I have found that it gets kind of clogged relatively quickly. What I do is filtering the co2 through pure water contained in a second bottle.

[JulianTorreas]

Thank you for this. I setup today working a treat, can't wait to see result in a month or 2.

[larslinebarger]

Man I was just about to go out and buy a cartridge setup, this is badass!!!
Thanks for the post!!!!

[j.murph]

very informative video : ) one question I have as a newbie to the hobby: if I want to use a DIY CO2 system for a few weeks while a tank is cycling to help the plants grow faster, but then plan to remove the system before adding livestock, would there be any repercussions?

[defdave]

Do you use fresh yeast each run or take liquid from the last run.... a bit like a sourdough starter?

[melissagough]

I have an air stone running constantly anyway.. would this mean I have to have choose between the two? (Except for at night as you already explained) thank you. This method has made me less anxious about giving it a go myself. Really clear instructions also. Following.

[terra]

thank you for the video. your advice is to close/stop the co2 at night. how? add a valve and close the hose between the bottle and the aquarium? or take the diffuser from the water at night and let the co2 still running? second question: it will be ok leave the co2 running inside the aquarium for 12-16 hrs a day?

[erikm]

Thank you for this. 🙏🏽 …If there’s anyone’s method or opinion I would trust from YT, it would be yours! Simple, consistent & effective explanations! I’ve always thought of doing CO2, but it seems daunting; it seems like trigonometry or calculus or something, while I’m on Algebra 2 w my dirt tanks! Haha. But killing it. So my friend moved away & left me her entire CO2 setup, a solenoid regulator, diffusers/tubing, drop checker, plus a couple of 20 lb. refillable metal tanks, I think—they’re like 1.5’-2’ tall & heavy. But I’ve been so lost w what to do!! I need to pay someone to set it up. Or try the yeast method first.

And tbh, once I saw the “light” with dirt tanks, the use of CO2 hadn’t really crossed my mind again, as the dirt really takes plants to another level; but I know that the addition (a low to moderate amount) of CO2 would be sublime. Still, even with dirt only, I have large Amazon swords; crinums, hairgrass and sagittaria running all over, several crypt species (no melt with dirt for me), plus huge vivid Alternanthera, red tiger & pink lotuses… so I do wanna see what CO2 will do to improve it, even more.

[merty]

Can you replace the cap with a regular cap at night to stop the co2? or take the diffuser out of the water? or ould that kill the yeast?

[lebowskiunderachiever]

Ideal size tank for this setup? I plan on setting up a 29 gallon. Also want to mention that hope to have plants in good condition before adding fish. Thanks, great video

[johnlumb]

Will defo try this thanks. Have canisters etc. but they became ridiculously expensive and the bottle canisters are hard to get.

[coolfinsaquatics]

So u can’t cut it off how do I turn off at night or do I have to keep doing process every time I wanna use co2