Don't Get Duped! Watch This Before You Buy Aquarium CO2!

[@AquariumShed]

If you found this video useful, you might also get value from watching my Aquarium CO2 Injection 101 video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4Okd3eBg9iZd9E

[@FoXMaSteR001]

3:45 Actually there is a simple trick ^^ Option 1 : Just open the bottle at night, but only enough to release the pressure, this way the air won't enter the bottle since the pressure inside it is still higher than the outside, the same way you slowly open a bottle of coca cola, then the next day you close the bottle. Option 2 : If you do no want to touch the bottle you can add another hole in the bottle cap with a short tube, during the day you close this second tube with a clothes peg, at night you remove the peg, as the tube is tiny and as the CO2 will take it's route first at night (as the pressure underwater is higher) the air won't go in the bottle. Option 3 : If using a peg is still to annoying you can use a mouse trap that you stuck with glue to the aquarium to be sure the wooden part won't move, you just need the spring, then you put the second tube inside it, you make a corner in your tube and then you compress it in the mouse trap, this way you can open/close the tube when you pull or push it (which fix the corner in position, so the CO2 can't take this route during the day). Option 4 : If you have an auto-timer for your light that is rotative you can use it to pull/push the system, as the system rotate you can attach some sticks on it, the first one will rotate and push the tube, you just need to add an handful on the tube that will move inside the mousetrap, than to pull it back later you use a swing-lever on the system, half of the time it will push, half of the time it will pull. If your auto-timer isn't strong enough you can reduce the force of the mousetrap and use a longer second tube, this way the force necessary to move it will be weaker. Of course it requires some engineering. Option 5 : As you are using a bottle and as this bottle produce CO2 and pressure you can use this force to automize your own system, I'm currently working on it. The idea is when you close the system the bottle swells, so it would be possible to put a relief valve around the bottle and use the fact the bottle swells to trigger the valve, this way you could just block the main CO2 tube at night and the bottle wouldn't explode, I calculated that the pressure inside the bottle of 1L water will chimicaly produce 6 bars in 12 hours, wich is too much for most bottles. Of course you could just add a valve a block the main tube, but I'm trying to find solution that doesn't require anything. I'm also working on a system with a baloon that could keep the CO2 of the night, to reuse it during the day, which could double the duration of the yeast system. I'm also thinking about a light solution, with a system that would release CO2 only when a certain amount of light is in the tank, some plants can change their shape with light, so a system could use this natural ability to trigger the system.

[@alastairrathie8073]

Thank you for creating this very in depth video. After 4 or 5 years fishkeeping without Co2 and one or two species of plants thriving but others failing I was about to bite the bullet and buy a disposable starter kit but you have changed my mind and I think I will go with the DIY steel can, after checking it your in depth video.

[@JamieVauxnut1]

I use the sugar and yeast system on both my 60L tank and 350L tank with great success. On my 350L I run 3 x 2L bottles and have figured out a way to stop introducing co2 at night. I run a multi air valve and have a empty 500ml bottle connected, at night I simply turn the valve from the diffuser to the empty bottle and let it fill over night in the morning I simply switch back to the diffuser. Currently working on having it automated. Downside is you have to release the excess co2 if you don't have a use for it in another aquarium, I fill a small reservoir in my 30L Dutch aquarium so it doesn't all go to waste

[@AquariumShed]

Wow, that's such a cool sounding solution you've worked out, thanks for sharing. 👍

[@JamieVauxnut1]

@@AquariumShed not ideal in a large aquarium like you say but it's working for me with plants that aren't too demanding like crypts, ferns, pistia, mosses and vallis. I really enjoy seeing professional setups but it's great to see how everyone does DIY differently

[@ahero971]

That 3rd bottles a great idea. I just set up my first diy system yesterday and felt weird just letting it waste over night. Question though. Do you squeeze the empty bottle first? or do you leave it filled with air?

[@jonteh8120]

Amazing idea Jamie. What components did you get to make the multi valve system? (Just trying to DIY one myself and trying to visualise your setup)

[@arunrajanbsnl]

Same 2 u

[@aaronmcleland4772]

I'm so glad I found this video. I'm in the typical scenario of being a newbie with a 37l tank and realizing I need CO2 and just being completely unsure how much to invest. I started with a DIY sugar/yeast setup and have been going back and forth on going all-in or getting the mix-at-home tank. You're the only video I've found that succinctly gave an overview of each option, who it works for, and cost/benefit. Thank you so much for putting this together.

[@AquariumShed]

Hey hey! No problem at all, very happy to help. It's definitely a very confusing marketplace with some really big rip offs. I like to steer the conversation towards affordability and accessibility. Glad that I seem to be achieving that with this video. Good luck with your new tank! 👍

[@xmanu100]

buddy I use a co2 fire extinguisher co2 cylinder.. 2kg 4k and 6kg and they cost really less fortunate to get the investment low as I kept procuring cylinder for my self over the years now I have cylinder for myself.. only the refills cost me.. but it's the best economically❤

[@riodji]

Same for me, CO2 from reform extinguisher is way cheaper, works like a charm with an Aliexpress regulator.

[@xmanu100]

@riodji don't forget the solenoid valve.. and needle vale to adjust the bubbles

[@riodji]

@@xmanu100 all in 1...

[@JoeMama-bk7rd]

Best plant growth if under your gravel do a 1 inch layer of that coconut dirt bedding. Awesome.

[@mercury00169]

Regulating yeast CO2 is actually really simple. Once you get your recipe right and switch bottles before they start to die off, you'll get a pretty stable supply of CO2. Gelatin is key here, not providing the yeast access to all the sugar at once. With a stable supply it's a matter of adjusting your diffuser position in the tank to get the right diffusion rate. Switching off at night is very simple as well. You could use a Y connector (or a separate hose from the reactor) and a solenoid, setting the solenoid to release the gas at night, hogging all the pressure and not letting any CO2 in the tank. But an easier and cheaper solution is to run an air pump on a timer to agitate the water and gas off excess CO2 when the light is off. Bonus tips: 1. Use wine yeast instead, it's not expensive and can withstand higher concentrations of alcohol which means you can have a longer fermentation; 2. I found that the shape of fermentation bottle can help stabilizing the CO2 production, a thin and tall bottle, uniform in size, is what works best for me. This is also what you find in commercial bio co2 systems.

[@moiraperry5095]

Is there any way you can visualize this for me? I’m a bit confused but really want to try it

[@besthobbit]

I actually use an air pump control valve thing for my diy yeast/sugar method to adjust the flow and close it at night. Manually of course. :) It is doing ok in my 30g (that's like ~113 liters). 2 2 liter bottles for the yeast generation (with gelatin) and a 1 liter to run the CO2 into before it goes to the tank. I do have to adjust the valve throughout the day because the pressure is -not- consistent. I was kind of resisting an actual CO2 system, this diy method was meant to be temporary because I had set up a new tank, but it is making me seriously consider an actual CO2 system.

[@isbiome]

i like how you think about the people rather than basing your opinion on your specific situation. everyone that has a big pressurized system says that they're way cheaper, but not everyone has tons of money to drop on the start up costs and realistically the disposable systems are way more expensive. really helpful video, also id like to add i havent bought a system yet but in my situation the steel diy system seems like the way to go especially because im broke lol.

[@AquariumShed]

Thanks for the positive feedback, really happy I could help! 👍

[@douglaswesley2203]

😢 hi, there are people who,1 got the money I'm the middle that's why l research lot of experience OUT THERE.

[@MacTX]

The refillable (pressurized) CO2 system cost can vary greatly depending on your location/refill access. Where I'm at, it only makes sense for larger systems, 55 gallons (200 liters) and up. For my 29 gallons (130 liters), the initial cost of the steel CO2 generator was 1/4 of a refillable CO2 system while the consumable costs per year ($40 for gas vs $50 for reactant materials) was close enough that it would take years to break even. Also, the big industrial place near me will only handle CO2 tanks of 20 pounds and higher so to get a 5 pound CO2 tank filled, it would be an almost hour commute (one way) to a place that will fill it. I have considered just jumping into the pressurized CO2 setup with a 20 pound CO2 tank, could probably go years between refills but that initial cost always brings me down to earth.

[@bobbysauer7826]

my jaw hit the floor this year, 2 paintballs tanks to fill $40... not affordable, i switched my tanks too diy

[@MacTX]

@@bobbysauer7826 Those tiny paintball tanks are not economical at all. If people are going to do pressurized, they're better off going 5 pound cylinders at a minimum. 20 pound cylinders are an even better refill value if they can find cylinders to buy to get you started. There seems to be a shortage of them lately where I'm at and I've been told the problem is US wide.

[@vassetz]

Great video! It clarified a lot of things for me in this vast realm of CO2 injection in aquariums! Thanks for the information and congratulations on a job well done!

[@mikes.tank.syndrome8401]

Fantastic information, detail, and data. you have a keen detail for every part of production, from the narrative, to editing. i really appreciate how thought out your content has been, you're about to bridge a serious gap for new hobbyists to find this info/success sooner!

[@AquariumShed]

Thanks so much, really appreciate the positive feedback. Great to hear the extra effort in the edit is paying off. Fingers crossed this proves useful to others too! 👍

[@michaelfarmer537]

Great video! You just saved me a good deal of money and waisted time on a generator kit for my 283 liter tank. ❤🇺🇸😅

[@schizobipolarjoe]

Good video . I agree it all comes down to size and budget. I bought a used citrus and baking soda 2.5 litter bottle kit today for $20.00 usa

[@richardcunliffe]

Another quality video from the shed. Glad I made the right call last month selecting a system. The doubling of the price on steel generators really did throw a spanner in the works. I would recommend people to look out for second hand parts to bring the cost of pressurised systems right down. Guess I'm an unusual one finding the channel via your excellent tweezer review haha

[@AquariumShed]

🤣 🤣 🤣 Aah the tweezer review, what a classic!! I still get the occasional flashback to the taste of Crocs.... Glad you liked the video, Co2 systems are a bit of a minefield so I'm really happy I can help! 👍

[@ObsidianFPV]

What timing!!! Have been going back and forth on what system to start with and ended up going all in for the "pro grade" setup. Phew, glad that's what your conclusion was as well. lol

[@AquariumShed]

Ha. Yeah, it's not really a competition once you assess the long term costs for a larger tank. Glad you found the video useful, and good luck with sorting out your setup! 👍

[@alanreid498]

I bought my co2 cylinder outright (fire extinguisher) and just use a local fire extinguisher supplier to fill it up when you run out. No monthly fees. Was suppling a heavily planted 100litre tank with a year of co2 for a tenner.

[@AquariumShed]

Great shout, didn't realise you could get the fire extinguisher refilled. Thanks so much for sharing! 👍

[@AT-nj9kr]

Do you know where I can go to get fire extinguisher cylinders refilled? Especially in London I can’t seem to find any

[@jbmurphy4]

I got a full 2kg fire extinguisher cheaply (€15) off a 2nd sales website. I was happy until I ran out and realised my extinguisher was 11 years old and so it needed to be retested & certified to get it refilled. I went and bought a new extinguisher for €60 instead. I think I'll need to have a spare cylinder to tie me over whenever it runs out next time. My tank has become overgrown with algae in the meantime!

[@AquariumShed]

Thanks so much for watching, I really hope you found this video useful. It's great to see it doing so well! Over the years I have made quite a few projects, and I am really excited to share them with a wider audience. My most relaxing video is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/haquhmZumpx-hMU My most interesting video is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIqbi5R4gbKZi5Y My oddest video is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hp-qiGumd5x2hMk The video I enjoyed making the most is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnKtgpiOl7ymqKc

[@yahi06]

I got a DIY kit definitely will use it for a a year and check if I don't get alge i will upgrade

[@afafaa3302]

CO2 tank refills can be cheap if you have a brewing supplies store that does CO2 refills, I have a 30 gallon tank that runs in 5lbs of CO2 it usually last Me about 4-5 months and I only pay 10$ in refills (they do tank refills and you use your own tank, no tank swaps or anything like that). Edit: I'm from the states so ymmv if your from the UK or other places

[@riodji]

Should talk about Sodastream canisters or replicas. Small size, 425grams of CO2, refill available in any supermarket.

[@peter70eg]

Not sure why but this video left me more confused than before watching it ,

[@insomniacraccoon]

Hello! I'm planning on getting back into the fishkeeping hobby after years and I've decided to try co2 this time around. I don't have as much space as I used to so I plan on getting one or two nano aquariums (3gallons/11liters to start and eventually upgrading to one or two 6gallons/22liter tanks). I'm not sure if I'll be back long term though due to health issues. Hence going nano despite larger aquariums being easier to maintain. Easier to dismantle and move if it comes down to it. I am incredibly intimidated by the prices of proper co2 equipment though because I'm worried that if I have to leave the hobby again that I won't get any of my money back. The steel canister DIY seems like the best option for me but they seem just as expensive as normal pressurized co2 systems at the moment. DIY seems like the way to go but I'm afraid it will either: 1. Explode 2. Smell really bad (tank will be in my bedroom and ive heard diy can be smelly?) 3. Gas my shrimp overnight I've also seen/heard about people using paintball co2 canisters with an adapter but those also need the pricy normal regulators it seems. Any advice? This is a lot of stuff to learn when I just want some nice green lush plants lol

[@Honda_Hooligan]

I use a 2KG fire extinguisher system. Costs me about £20 on eBay for a replacement tank, which lasts for months in my 100L tank. They're out of date for commercial use, but perfect for aquariums. Once you've bought a regulator / solenoid, you're good to go. It's a no-brainer.

[@justin94431]

You not worried about them blowing up

[@Honda_Hooligan]

@@justin94431 why would I be worried? They're fully pressure tested like any other gas cylinder.

[@justin94431]

@@Honda_Hooligan they are outdated cylinders right?

[@Honda_Hooligan]

​@@justin94431 only as far as commercial certification goes. Perfectly serviceable for aquarium use.

[@arkansasboy45]

A very good review on the different CO2 methods. I've tried diy citric acid and bicarbonate on my 55g. I will be going with a refillable tank with regulator from now on. Thanks!!!

[@AquariumShed]

Really pleased I could help! Thanks so much for your positivity! 👍

[@baileyf1998]

Haha, I used a c02 generator on my 7G and it lasts about 2mo. I knew immediately the pressurized cylinder was the only option if I wanted c02 on my 55g. It now has its own system and has me wishing I never bought the generator lol. The clylinders last so much longer and require less maintenance.

[@ravagedcore131]

Lol the openong of the video. You googled and a bunch came up and now youre here! YEPPERS !!!!

[@goodmuffin3542]

I went the sodastream rout! Where i live you can get a 1kg sodastream bottle for 28 pounds and then you can turn it in for a new one for 12 pounds. It lasted for 2 years some how on my 60p tank

[@AquariumShed]

Oh wow, that's not bad value tbf. Here in the UK I can only get 425g Sodastream refills for a similar price. But, it does still work out cheaper to get my 6kg tank refilled (£25 + monthly rental fee). But I can see the appeal of Sodastream since it's more easily available. Didn't know they did 1kg bottles. Thanks for watching the video, hope you found it useful!

[@goodmuffin3542]

@@AquariumShed I got the problem that i can't find a place that refills the co2 for me. Only thing besides sodastream bottles are those 2kg+ bottles you can get from any aquarium store but then i have to buy a new one every time which is 90+ pounds here in Sweden 😅

[@AquariumShed]

Ouch! Sounds like you have the best solution for your situation. I'm very lucky to have a gas supplier just ten miles from the house! I paid a £60 deposit and now it's £25 a pop for 6kg of Co2. I'd love to visit Sweden again. Last time I was there was for Midsummer on the Stockholm Archipelago in 2007. It was awesome!

[@goodmuffin3542]

I would love to visit England aswell! Seems like you have some beautiful aquarium stores over there. Here in sweden. most pet stores are generic stores with a small aquarium section and a larger section for cats,dogs etc. I do have a good aquarium store but its like an hour away with a bus so i don't visit that often

[@Frnk100]

just my personal onion, i have two steel co2 gens and honestly i hate it. I was running them on a 10g and 20g or 37L and 75L aquarium and i just found them to have too many issues to my liking. Even though they were from the same brand the amount of time they lasted were inconsistent. I found that they never lasted more than 1 month and having to empty out, clean them out, dry them out and regenerate the gas is just too cumbersome. Keep in mind once a month you have to detach everything from the tank and re-attach it. Also a few times i accidentally hit the release valve causing alot of the gas to fizzle out.

[@Kris-vk2hp]

for the yeast and sugar method could i move the tube to another aquarium in the evening and then switch it back to my main aquarium in the morning

[@baileyf1998]

I would argue that pressurized c02 cylinders are the most beginner friendly. No chemistry, no searching for citric acid, no measuring all the ingredients, no potential mess, no cleaning the clylinder. You simply hook it up to the regulator like you would hooking up propane to a grill, then you dial in the c02 using the bubble counter( you have to do on any system) and enjoy. When it runs out, you swap it out or have it refilled, and you are done. Not to mention, a 10lbs tank would likely last past a year or more on smaller aquariums and 3-6mo on large aquariums. As for locating a tank provider. Just google welding supplier and a whole bunch of welding supply stores will show up. I bought my 10lbs c02 tank for 174$ with the refills being 23$.i will continue to use my DIY c02 generator on my nano because i already bought it, but I will never go back to anything else moving forward.

[@kumarmalhotra5547]

Hi this is super helpful. Have 75 l tank and possibly up sizing in near future so really good advice here!

[@alexanderr4475]

I am doing the 2 bottles with citric acid and baking soda, but i am here because i am not satisfied. When i lift up the thing to stop the reaction at night it doesn't stop immediately. The remaining pressure still needs some time to finish. But the bigger problem is that the next day when i want to start the reaction again it doesn't work anymore. I would have to shake the bottle rigorously and it still doesn't work as well as the first day anymore. Finally, each refill only last me 6 days until the water runs out.

[@MaybeTiberius]

i am curently trying out the yeast method simply because my tank really needs co2 and i cant afford a real setup for now. i hope it keeps me afloat for 2-3 months so i can safe up. what i will probably do, and it depends on where you live but here probably the most efficient way to do pressurized co2 is to buy all the gear you need like normal but then you get an adapter for the bottle and put those co2 bottles in you buy for sodastreams to make soda at home. you can get them everywhere. every supermarket has them and one of the bottles lasts roughly 3-4 months. and once its empty you just trade it in for 5 bucks on your weekly grocery shopping. its literally the exact same than big co2 bottles with the difference that you dont have to pay like 100-200 upfront for the bottle and its super convenient to change

[@AquariumShed]

Woah. I wish sodastream refills were that cheap here in the UK. It's so expensive that I've even hacked my Sodastream too work off a large 6kg bottle I keep in the cupboard below. £20 for about 8 months supply of sparkling water for the family.

[@MaybeTiberius]

@@AquariumShed luckily i cant drink sparkling water. or how i call it ''fart water'' . could never wrap my head around why people want gas inside their belly. just turn on the tap water and you have unlimited water for pretty much free

[@AquariumShed]

🤣🤣🤣

[@MaybeTiberius]

@@AquariumShed well technicly the sodastream bottles dont cost 5 bucks but 20. but they do cost 5 in the end still. you buy one for 20 and then you own that bottle. and when you then go and buy a new one you only pay 5 and trade in your old and then you own the new one so technicly you re paying 5 bucks for a refilling every couple months. i think its quite reasonable especially since its also convenient ontop.

[@daskallu]

Does it makes sense to "regulate" the yeast solution by lowering or raising the difuser in the aquarium? I'm thinking that less time for the CO2 bubbles to reach the surface and break, less CO2 dissolved. If you can find the sweet spot with a drop checker, then I think you can guarantee the concentration in the tank. Other than that, I think you can also get an estimate of CO2 per hour from the reaction with the sugar gel method, based on the section size of a the bottle used (wider bottle, more CO2; narrower bottle, less CO2) .

[@aquariusgine6829]

This is how I regulate.

[@ironix1]

Thank you, this was excellent and very informative. One question: where would one refill their CO₂, 6kg and what should they expect to pay?

[@AquariumShed]

Hiya - glad you found the video useful. Here in the UK I use a local gas supplier and it costs me around £20 plus a monthly bottle rental of £1 a month. I would search for cellar gas or home bar gas suppliers in your area as they are more likely to advertise like that than explicitly mentioning aquariums. I know that some aquarium shops also do refills, but are unlikely to be as competitive on price. Finally, you can also purchase expired co2 fire extinguishers on Ebay, but it tends to cost around £20 for 2kg since I guess they are factoring in postage. But you might get lucky and find someone selling these locally for less. Hope that all helps! Good luck! 👍

[@ironix1]

@@AquariumShed Thank you for your comprehensive reply. I shall investigate.

[@darcybarnes2716]

Home brew but fly regulators are cheap as chips to add regulation to diy, and can turn of.

[@vijayafernando1]

Thank you for the useful videos. I just bought a colombo co2 profi set but forgot that this does not have a solenoid. Can i fit a solenoid ?

[@MrAlvirostko]

Great information, thank you!!

[@miniscenesgb]

very helpful video thank you. For Nano tanks, what are your thoughts on the CO2 booster tablets you can get?

[@AquariumShed]

No problem at all. Happy to help. I am pretty sure those tablets will be useless. MJ did a pretty useful video about them a while back - kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGXZkoiGpJaHjbs

[@miniscenesgb]

@@AquariumShed Great thanks for replying, I'll go check out MJ's video too

[@roberttomsiii3728]

Looking at I studied through the University of Waterloo by CHARLES PEPIN (STUDENT) AND CHARLES MARZZACCO Titled The fermentation of sugars using yeast: A discovery experiment Data extracted suggests bout 45% of table sugars weight, seems to be converted into co2 So assuming 65.0p/kg ( price found at ASDA, UK Walmart silver spoon granulated sugar ) That is a rate of 450g of co2 for 65.0p or 8.66£ for 6kg

[@scotthosler7242]

I’m scrolling to check out your other C02 videos. This one was ok, for general knowledge, but I’m preparing to set up a 50gal/189 liter South American cichlid biotope tank featuring Angelfish. I intend to use a sump for filtration. What I’m struggling to find information about is “how to and where to set up the C02 discharge or diffusion. Can I run it in the sump, or should I diffuse directly in the tank? Will the C02 dissipate too quickly from the sump before having its effect in the planted tank? Does one of your videos address these concerns? Excellent video. I really appreciate the thoughtful analysis you provided for each system and the pros/cons reviews. I just need more help with a larger aquarium setup. Keep up the good work. I liked & subscribed!

[@BaadMotorFinger]

Regulator and tank is the only way I'd use. Tried the DIY way and you tired of it fast. I want to enjoy viewing my tank not messing around every day with the co2

[@NebulaNestDIY]

I am looking at a steel genertaor, with and without all the bells and whistles for a 15-20 gallon tank. I am just looking to maintain the plants with small growth over time and am generally more concerend about overall water quality. Would you go with a 1 liter or 2 liter? Would you stay simple or go all out and get the electronic device with a special wifi timer?

[@FRETW1ZARD]

Excellent video, thank you

[@TheSunIsMyDestroyer]

you're a hero

[@mauricematla8379]

Well, using the reversed cup methode jou will get some controle with the sugar yeast methode. All of takes really is experimenting and findi g a cup with the proper surfaces area for your tank and run your filter output under it. I get away with between one and 2 percent of your aquarium water area.

[@TheScifix]

Great video 🙌 so how big bottle i need for 160l? When using co2 regulator?

[@AquariumShed]

It all depends on your needs in terms of target PPM etc. And of course, how frequently you want to be replacing the bottle. But as a general rule, in a tank that size I would expect a 2kg bottle to last around 6-8 months at 2-3bps. I probably wouldn't buy any smaller than 2kg as that is generally where you start to get the better value for money. You can pick up old co2 fire extinguishers on Ebay for about £20. Defo get a drop checker rather than just relying on bps calculation as there are so many variables like lighting, ph and Kh, and keep an eye on the behaviour of your fish to ensure they are not gasping for breath at the top! 👍

[@sleepytASMR]

I needed this video, thank you

[@sleepytASMR]

Sorry, just a quick question. I'm wondering if a 2 litre steel Co2 generator will be enough for my 90 litre tank?

[@kendraowen2841]

OK well the video did help .... I now know that unless the plants I have fail to thrive I'm not wasting any more time or money. I recently purchased a 55 gallon setup used ... it came with 6 goldfish (which I have rehomed but not before they ate the shrimp I purchased) and a few little bits of plants, because he pulled out what little plants were in it originally. 3 different kinds ... I haven't a clue what they are. So anyway ... I wanted some real plants this time around * instead of fake plastic crap. But ... the plants that came with the tank were really slow growing and I have no patience apparently ... so I set up a small generator with yeast and sugar. I seems to have done the trick.... in just a couple of weeks (first and only fill of the generator) the plants have really grown a lot .. despite the small amount of co2 added. Shrug .... or maybe once they got roots they thrived? The setup I made was really small though ... like maybe the size of two 20 oz. drink bottles (guessing because I didn't use drink bottles). The CO2 never got to appropriate levels, the stuff never turned green in the checker. But I also don't want plants taking over either. So I guess I got what I needed from what little I did. I don't think I will refill it. I think I will just keep the setup as a booster if the plants start to look bad and seem to need a boost. I'm happy with the volume of plants now. They looked fine before, what little there was of them, I was just not happy with the rate of growth. Shrug ... I guess we will see. *I had a total 60 gallons when I was a teenager, split between 4 tanks, one of which was a salt water. For the last 10 years I've had a lowly little 10 gallon. This is the first time I've had one this large and my only regret is not having made the plunge sooner. When I released the fish that had been living in the 10 gallon they were all darting around around like "WTF is this? ... there is so much room! We can do zoomies!!" I guess my question is ... do we think the CO2 really helped or was it just the plants getting rooted? I would note that the substrate was not disturbed in moving and the filter stuff was not replaced either. I did have to shove the bits and pieces of plants down into the substrate.

[@benbrown9158]

Just wondering if dry ice would work in the co2 generator canister

[@willparsons32]

Just wondering... If CO2 Is used, is liquid fertilizer like API Leaf Zone for example, also necessary? ...In other words, could I use both together or either one or the other?

[@filipkarolczyk1045]

Thx Mate ! 🤙🏼 P.S Keep going 🤙🏼

[@vasili1207]

Aqua shed sounds more catchy ..... if you ever mix it up

[@chrisp3193]

How many lb tank do you need for 125 gallon tank?

[@-Awareness]

Would the steel diy canister in the 5L option tick all your boxes… im considering it for a grow tent…

[@bobdole8830]

I bought a Dennerle CO2 budget system that runs on yeast for 15€. It is 100% and absolutely unusable for a Nano tank, it creates so much CO2 you will kill all your shrimp. It is however perfect for a 60l tank, my CO2 levels are perfect for 5-6 weeks and then I just do a self made refill for about 50 cent worth of sugar, yeast and gelatine. I really see no need whatsoever to invest more in a better system for a tank that size. For bigger tanks you surely need to upgrade though. You can control the CO2 by adding less sugar/yeast and if your tank is plant heavy enough having it sit over night usually isnt a problem

[@maximiliany6338]

Highly detailed description with buying links from amazon us and uk and even aliexpress! Great video😊

[@AquariumShed]

Really pleased you found the video useful, thanks so much for the positive feedback! 👍

[@johnthefishermanjohnhoyle5763]

I have a 64 litre tank, could i still use a diy cylinder for it? Or is it just a bit too big, regards.

[@AquariumShed]

I'd say that's the upper end of what this cylinder is good for. Much bigger and you'll be refilling too often.

[@Daaboo]

I have a 450L tank and use 1 moonshine mix for a diffuser and 1 to inject bubbles directly into the blowing to the filter. I still have issues to increase my co2. What co2 system do I need to successfully increase it??

[@roscopeco2000]

I've just got a 360l tank, I really wanted the steel Citric acid system. I'd like to do the refillable system but don't want the hassle of finding somewhere to refill. Surely some CO2 is better than none ?

[@mrh5751]

Could you do the sugar and yest setup in the steel canister?

[@AquariumShed]

I tried it in this video with limited success - kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3e5qJdjo7x9m80si=irak9zcaZE166d0n But tbh, there's no reason it shouldn't work if your patient, I think it just took ages to build up pressure and potentially the canister is too cool for optimum yeast growth. 👍

[@MissChelle]

Brilliant video, thank you so much for sharing. I’m a new subscriber from Australia. I have a question that I’m having trouble finding an answer to. I have a few low tech tanks & am about to set up a 190L . I’m thinking I’d like to add co2 just for the first few months to boost the plant growth but not continue once plants have grown in. I’m guessing it may have a detrimental effect once removed, just don’t know if it’s worth it for the initial boost. Or should I just stick to the good old patience method? I’ll be adding mostly anubias, buce, swords & grasses. Nothing really needing co2 continually. Would love to hear your opinion please. Have a great day ❤️🇦🇺

[@AquariumShed]

Hiya, thanks so much for watching. Glad you found the channel. With the type of plants you are talking about I personally don't see much harm in using co2 for a couple of months. There'll soon adapt to a lack of co2 once you stop using it, and the benefit of having plants grow out really quickly is that they'll out compete algae. If you were going for high difficulty plants and things that really need co2 to flourish such as monte carlo, then my advice would be different. But in your case, I'd say that's a decent plan! 👍

[@BETTASZERO]

Very nice ¡ thanks

[@LeviVanSluijs]

Why would you not be able to ad a valve to a diy yeast and sugar bottle setup?

[@AquariumShed]

Because there is no way to stop the reaction, so the bottle will continue to gain pressure. 👍

[@xt3916]

I just got duped! Someone said to throw citric acid and baking powder into my tank and that's what I did

[@AquariumShed]

Oh no! That's awful. Did you manage to do a quick water change and get parameters back to normal as quickly as possible? This does not sound good for your livestock.... Fingers crossed things are ok!

[@BETTASZERO]

Very good analisy

[@87jonah]

Brilliant video very well explained. Although I am a beginner into co2 not aquariums. The aquarium I have bought for a planted tank is 252 litre. More like 200 with water dispersion. So judging by this video I will have to go into the deep end and get a refillable. There's always KZbin I suppose lol. Any advice is welcome thanks mate. I've just subbed also.

[@AquariumShed]

Hiya. Thanks so much for the sub, really appreciate the support. Yeah, afraid with your size tank the DIY routes are just gona be a hassle as you'll get through it so much quicker and it soon becomes a false economy for larger systems. A good middle ground is that you can get out of date co2 fire extinguishers on Ebay. They work out cheaper than the initial outlay of deposit schemes etc. and ultimately need the same type of regulator so you can upgrade in the future. The only reason I don't recommend them in the video is that its difficult to get refilled so ultimately it can create a fair bit of landfill waste which the proper systems with deposit schemes will avoid. But it is a cheaper entry point for sure! 👍

[@87jonah]

@@AquariumShed thanks for the info mate. 👍🏻

[@87jonah]

Hi mate me again. Have you ever come across the jbl co2 kits. Could you give me some info on them and which one would be best for my 252 litre? Thanks. 🤙

[@AquariumShed]

@@87jonah Hiya - I don't know too much about them I'm afraid as I haven't actually owned any JBL Co2 systems. But my reccollection of their range was that they did both disposable and refillable setups (obvs refillable would be my preference for reasons already stated), but that ultimatley I think they have gone down that classic route of making their regulators difficult to use more universally because of the way that they attach vertically, as opposed to the majority of refillable canisters and fire extinguishers which attach horizontally. Purely so that I didn't get stuck within a system I stayed clear and bough a regulator from Co2 Supermarket that fits the industry standard Co2 bottles. Not sure if I have really helped, but thats by two pennys worth at least.

[@mraquaticnews5676]

Interesting info

[@Good13man]

Agreed!

[@richieanderson6605]

Did you have an issue with the co2 flow stopping after setting the bubble rate with your citric acid/baking soda kit? I recently picked up a kit with the metal connector between the bottles. I get the BPS set and about an hour later the co2 has stopped, but the pressure stays stable on the gauge. Any ideas? Thanks for the great videos!

[@marcrite3435]

Hi enjoyed your video. I was just after your view on a co2 kit. It's called aquario blue professional kit. Wondering if you heard of it and what's your view. ..? Ta

[@robyvk]

the biggest problem I have with the co2 cylinder is that I'm afraid that something bad will happen, I'm afraid that it won't explode, that it won't let go and an accident will happen, I know I'm probably exaggerating, but I simply have that fear in my head

[@AquariumShed]

Hiya - yeah I get that fear for sure. All I can do is reassure you that there is a safety release valve, and that from my research I don't believe the produced pressure can ever come remotely close to actually even needing that valve if you use the recommended amount of citric and bicarb.

[@noodles457]

first timer here using the yeast ,sugar method. could I just remove the diffuser out of the tank at night and put back in in the morning?

[@AquariumShed]

Hiya, yes you could. But your better off just turning off the valve overnight rather than wasting co2. 👍

[@oscarsamazingworldofeveryt7977]

@@AquariumShedI have this system and they don’t have a valve on them

[@AquariumShed]

@@oscarsamazingworldofeveryt7977 Good point. I think I must've misread the original post and thought they were talking about bicarb and citric acid systems. Thanks for pointing this out!

[@sreejithtv6881]

What's the use of this bgm?

[@patmer2087]

Once u try the pressurized beast, u won’t go back to diy yeast!😅

[@MHF22]

Just wanted to say you're fantastic :)

[@AquariumShed]

Thanks so much, really happy I could help!

[@constantinyanicostas4664]

Avoid CO2 systems and grow easy plants, you'll save maney and issues !

[@Chudz_1]

Got this spot on😂

[@AquariumShed]

Happy to help!! 👍

[@timetravellingblockhead2122]

Danke

[@AquariumShed]

Bitte schön! 👍

[@zeans9755]

Hi new subscriber here! What do you think about the DIY Aquario Neo C02?

[@AquariumShed]

Ha. I always found it funny that they use "Saccharomyces Cerevisae" to describe the reaction. Basically just a fancy way of saying brewers yeast. I would save your money and use MJ Aquascapings technique which I mentioned in the video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/haXTl5-qg5ZoY5o . Essentially the same thing and he even uses gelatin to slow the reaction which is exactly how the Aquario Neo system works too! It will definitely work out a lot cheaper! 👍

[@zeans9755]

@@AquariumShed thanks man! I’ll definitely try his method after I get all the materials needed. Will be looking forward to your next video. Keep up the good work!

[@AquariumShed]

Thanks mate, appreciate the support. Got a few pretty different aquarium projects in the works at the moment, really excited about the next few videos! 👍

[@NaturalBiotopes]

Fine👍

[@XxdSonnz]

What about liquid co2

[@AquariumShed]

Liquid co2 is actually glutaraldehyde - a disenfectant. It creates an environment that enables plants to outcompete algae. It has its place, but wouldn't make sense on this list as it isn't injecting any co2 into the aquarium - just good marketing to make it seem as if it were! 👍

[@XxdSonnz]

@@AquariumShedthanks mate because I was gonna get liquid co2 but now I’ve done lots of research and in my tank it has its own food webs/ecosystem and I would not wanna put a disenfectant in my tank and ruin it 👍🏽👍🏽

[@LivinginHongkong1]

Here i can get a refilliable co2 cylinder for only 35 quid thats 5kg

[@AquariumShed]

Yeah, so much cheaper right! These days I pay about 28 quid for 6kg. Slightly dependent on the length of the bottle rental.

[@xxg-forcexx8734]

liquid Co2?

[@AquariumShed]

.... is a disenfectant called glutaraldehyde. They market it as liquid co2 because it allows plants to outcompete any potential algae. But in itself, it's not comparable to actual injected co2 and therefore doesn't make sense on the list. 👍

[@stonedsasquatch]

I started with the fluval setup and it's absolute garbage. Regulators leak, canisters aren't consistent and a waste

[@AquariumShed]

I think those systems are just designed to hook you in. Wouldn't be surprised if the poor quality was intentional......

[@stephenevans7884]

Boss video

[@AquariumShed]

Glad it helped. What kind of co2 system will you be going with?

[@stephenevans7884]

@@AquariumShed the proper one at the end. MJ aquascaping said the same.

[@AquariumShed]

@@stephenevans7884 That's awesome, definitley a good shout. MJ and I were emailing after our videos went out since we hadn't realised each other had the same content in the works. Turns out they seem to complement each other quite well since there's load of viewer traffic between the two which is nice to see. Thanks so much for watching, hope you enjoy my other stuff too!

[@spyburn007]

Wish I had watched this before buying a co2 system 😑

[@AquariumShed]

Aah, thats a really good point. I will pin a comment to my older video suggesting ppl watch this one before making any purchasing decisions. Sorry about that, I hope maybe you can cancel the order in time if needs be!?

[@Sparkie025]

I get the convenience of the refillable CO2 model but your cost maths make no sense, with the monthly fee you are paying £33 for 6Kg of CO2, the reactor makes 1.04Kg of CO2, assume 70% of the CO2 is used I buy the ingredients for £1.30 per fill on eBay that works out at £11.15 per 6Kg against £33 per 6Kg. For the refillable option to be cheaper I would need to be using less than 20% of the CO2 created in the reactor. Did you pay for the refillable system or did you get it provided for free?

[@AquariumShed]

Hi. I think my maths will be slightly outdated by recent price rises, but I think the reason that your maths doesn't tally is because the reactor makes 104g of co2 not 1.04kg. I paid for my reactor, purchased in 2020 for about £40. I believe they have now doubled in price. 👍

[@jbmurphy4]

The reactor makes 0.104kg per fill not 1.04kg So it is more expensive than refilling but not too much more expensive

[@AquariumShed]

Correct! 👍

[@KeepSycklids]

Thank god I live in America 😂😂😂😂 u got ripped off over thuuuur .. in the words of slingblade.. look like that tank ainmmmt got no gasssinnitt.. mmmmm😂😂... tank over here in San Mateo ,ca at the hydro store cost 150 for the 25 lb tank or was that the 50 pound tank the little scuba tanks .. and the regulator which ever one u get ... can cost whatever one u buy but my point is i only payed 150 no rental fee no deposit or core fees or refurbish fees.. and then the welding yard sells em 50 bucks 60 dollar refurb fee which is still 120 bucks .. 💯

[@markneedham2287]

Why did you discount the cost of a co2 fire extinguisher as we discussed in the comments section of your last video ??? If you're looking for another system at a good price , see what Steve has on offer at Newport Aquatics, he's got an absolute bargain there

[@AquariumShed]

Hey, yeah it's a good point. My bad. I mainly discounted it because the price of a 5kg one online was still more expensive than my 6kg refill and I didn't want to recommend a disposable setup, which is why I put the note in the description. But now that I hear ppl talk about getting them refilled I guess there not as bad an option as I thought. 👍

[@jbmurphy4]

@@AquariumShed just be careful buying an old extinguisher because they are only certified for 10 years. I found that out recently when I went for a refill. My too good to be true cheap extinguisher was full when I got it 7 months ago but it was 11 years old so I couldn't refill it without getting it recertified. I got a brand new cylinder instead.

[@AquariumShed]

My main issue and reason for not recommending them in the video is that the cheap second hand market and liklihood that people will purchase another rather than having it inspected and refilled, is ultimately sending a lot more fire extinguishers to landfill. I'd always recommend that whatever type of refillable cylinder you go for, that you find a safe and environmentally friendly way to do it.

[@visioncorp5228]

Your mic sounds pretty bad

[@mathias7195]

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