Tristan Johanssen Vargas 6-Faber

DIY CO2 REACTOR

FOR PLANTED
AQUARIUM
CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

The single most important nutrient for plants is carbon dioxide (CO2). Half of
a plants mass is carbon, and so without sufficient CO2 in your aquarium
water, aquatic plant growth will inevitably be stunted.

CO2 in planted aquariums comes from three sources:

The air, via gas exchange at the water surface, just as with oxygen
Respiration by fish and other life, including plants when not lit
Deliberate CO2 fertilization to encourage plant growth

Co2 is a useful element in an aquarium. It helps your plants grow, but can be
expensive and sometimes even harmful if too much is added. BUT having lots
of plants and good lighting and fertilizers will help keep your aquarium in
balance and reduce algae.

Because for the typical freshwater aquarist who wants a pretty tank with
growing plants, fish and no plague algae, adding CO2 via a yeast-based system
offers a good balance of effort to reward.

B. Statement of the Problem

What are the methods of increasing the CO2 level, in a planted aquarium:

Aerosols, liquids or tablets that release CO2 into the water

A DIY or shop bought yeast-based CO2 reactor and diffuser
A pressurized CO2 system, with solenoid, bubble counter and tubes

The first method is not recommended for long term applications, only a short-
term solution

Yeast-based CO2 systems work well in smaller tanks, though they do require
some maintenance. You can buy them , but theyre easy to make, especially if
you dont care too much what they look like.

Pressurized CO2 systems are the best choice for larger planted aquariums.
They enable you to control very precisely how much CO2 enters the tank, and
unlike with a yeast-based system the supply is completely consistent. The
downside is mainly cost. The other problem is general hassle more
technology always means more things going wrong.
 C. Hypothesis

Seeing that we have a problem economically, the best way to increase the CO2
level in an Aquarium setting, without high cost, easy maintenance and readily
available sources would be to build a DO-IT-YOURSELF CO2 reactor, using
ordinary everyday materials.

We can see the importance of this project as a way to provide the typical
freshwater aquarist a safe and economical way to maintain and beautify
his/her aquarium setup without having to much cost on their part. This way,
they can have their dream aquarium without spending a lot of money.

D. Significance of the Study

The benefits of co2 in an aquarium

What is co2?
Co2 also known as carbon dioxide, is the combination of 1 carbon 2 oxygen
atoms. Humans also produce co2. co2 is also one of the gasses in our
atmosphere along with many others like nitrogen.

How does co2 work in an aquarium?

When co2 is injected into an aquarium with the use of a kit, it dissipates into
the surrounding water. From there the plants use it for Photosynthesis which
is the process of making food for the plant and converting it into oxygen (o2).
Your fish will benefit from the oxygen produced, as they will use it up.

I have too much co2 in my water. Now what?

Surface agitation will help in reducing the amount. If possible stop the co2
from going inside the aquarium. Using an airstone or a powerhead or even a
filter adding bubbles and moving the water will help decrease the amount of
co2 in your aquarium.

How do I add co2 to an aquarium And for how long?

Using modern kits like fluval co2 system 88, You can inject co2 to an aquarium
20 gallons or larger. Using a DIY co2 kit you can inject co2 to an aquarium of
any size, but in small amounts. Your kit should be on all day as long as your
lights are on. It WILL NOT harm your fish at all as long as you have water
movement and lot of plants.

Can i measure the amount of co2 going into my tank?

Yes. co2 can be measured in ppm (parts per million) by using test kits made
special for co2. These can be bought online or at your specialized Lfs. Be sure
to buy a reliable kit because the cheaper ones may not be as effective.

Common questions asked about co2 in an aquarium.

Does co2 really work?
Yes it does. A study by many aquarist from all over america shows that their
plants increased in growth. 80% said their plants grew strong and very
healthy. 10% said their plants saw little improvement, 5% said their plants
showed no improvement. And 5% saw reduced plant growth. co2 is also
known to help plants like cabomba and ambulia flower.
Definition of Terms:

1. Carbon Dioxide - (chemical formula CO2) is a colorless and odorless gas

vital to life on Earth. This naturally occurring chemical compound is
composed of a carbon atom covalently double bonded to two oxygen
atoms. Carbon dioxide exists in Earth's atmosphere as a trace gas at a
concentration of about 0.04 percent (400 ppm) by volume

2. Aquarium - (plural: aquariums or aquaria) is a vivarium of any size

having at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or
animals are kept and displayed. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish,
invertebrates, amphibians, aquatic reptiles such as turtles, and aquatic
plants

3. Aquarist also known as fishkeeping is a popular hobby concerned with

keeping fish in a home aquarium or garden pond. There is also a
piscicultural fishkeeping industry, as a branch of agriculture

4. Yeast - are eukaryotic, single-celled microorganisms classified as

members of the fungus kingdom. The yeast lineage[which?] originated
hundreds of millions of years ago, and 1,500 species are currently
identified.

5. Fertilizer - A fertilizer (American English) or fertiliser (British English)

is any material of natural or synthetic origin (other than liming materials)
that is applied to soils or to plant tissues (usually leaves) to supply one or
more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants.

6. Photosynthesis - is a process used by plants and other organisms to

convert light energy into chemical energy that can later be released to fuel
the organisms' activities (energy transformation). This chemical energy is
stored in carbohydrate molecules, such as sugars, which are synthesized
from carbon dioxide and water

7. Air stone - An air stone, also called an aquarium bubbler, is a piece of

aquarium furniture, traditionally a piece of limewood or porous stone,
whose purpose is to gradually diffuse air into the tank, eliminating the
noise and large bubbles of conventional air filtration systems, and
providing other benefits to the health of the fish

8. Aerosols - usually refers to an aerosol spray that delivers a consumer

product from a can or similar container. Other technological applications of
aerosols include dispersal of pesticides, medical treatment of respiratory
illnesses, and combustion technology

9. DIY (Do-it-yourself) - Do it yourself, also known as DIY, is the method

of building, modifying, or repairing things without the direct aid of experts
or professionals

10. Aquatic plants - are plants that have adapted to living in aquatic
environments (saltwater or freshwater). They are also referred to as
hydrophytes or macrophytes. These plants require special adaptations for
living submerged in water, or at the water's surface