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trevor
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 Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 10:24 am Post subject: How to jump start your planted aquarium Part 1. |
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Co2 in Fire extinguisher cylinders - Your safest bet. For the Indian planted aquarist. All you wanted to know.
The cylinders.
A carbon dioxide cylinder is made of Manganese steel. It has a seamless robust design. It will or should resist corrosion and withstand high pressure. A test pressure of 250 kgf/cm2 is used to test the cylinder.
The fire extinguisher cylinder will be painted red. The horn and bend is not needed when this cylinder is used for our planted tank application.
The master shut off valve.
The master shut off valve is the wheel valve on the top of the cylinder and has to be turned in the anti clockwise direction to open. The wheel valve has to be opened full in order to make the regulator perform effectively when used in a planted tank. Only when this valve is opened full will the regulator become stable and there will be no leakage. On a cylinder used for gas welding or for making beverages you will have to use an Allen key. The open and shut operation will remain the same.
The regulator and the
gauges.
This above is a single stage with two gauges. The gauge on the left shows the pressure inside the cylinder. The one the right gives you the pressure on your line. These gauges have been with me for about eight years without any problem.
There are two types of regulators in the market. A single stage and a two stage or double stage regulator. A two-stage regulator will cost you double and prevent the end of cylinder gas phenomena called dumping. This happens when 90% of the gas is exhausted. When it nears empty the pressure starts to drop rapidly and the regulator becomes unstable.
The regulator comes with one or two gauges. Some come with protective rubber caps on the gauges.
The pressure.
The normal operating pressure of the cylinder will be around 60 kgf/cm2.
So when you get your cylinder after refilling it at the local industrial gas agency it should show the same on your regulator gauge.
To convert kgf /cm2 into psi multiply by 14.2234.
The diffusion.
The pressure on your outlet line from the regulator going to your diffuser or reactor should be between 1 to 2kgf/cm2. This action of diffusing is the process whereby particles of carbon dioxide gas intermingle as a result of the spontaneous movement caused by agitation. It dissolves in water to form carbonic acid.
The dissolved gas moves from a region of higher to a one of lower concentration.
The gas.
Carbon dioxide is a heavy colorless gas that does not support combustion. It is formed by the combustion and decomposition of organic matter. Plants absorb it during photosynthesis. It leaves no permanent residue in an aquarium.
The capacity.
Fire extinguishers are your best bet when you buy a new cylinder for your planted aquarium.
Indian fire extinguishers mostly come in capacity of 2kg, 3kg, 4.5kg, 6.5kg, 9kg, and 22.5 kg. Approximate weight of the empty cylinder will be 6.2 kg, 9.4kg, 12kg, 17kg, 22kg, and 44kg in the same order. Adding both will get you the total weight of a filled cylinder.
The standards.
Indian cylinders have to be CCE (chief controller of explosives) approved.
They also have to confirm to BIS: 2878.
You will get a lot of unbranded cylinders in the market for a cheaper price and the salesman will try to convince you that its just the same.
It may look the same and you may make a costly mistake if you fall for it just to save a few rupees.
The refilling.
Here are photographs of the Co2 refilling operation carried out in some shady joint. Many of our planted aquarists do not know where their cylinders are getting filled. Cheers  Hope no one has a quick departure.The bigger cylinder is used to fill. The cylinder to be filled is kept in the flat horizontal position on a weighing scale. When the required weight is reached the valve on the bigger cylinder is first shut off.
To be continued. 
Trevor Menezes
Hon. Secretary
The Aquarist society of Karnataka. |
Last edited by trevor on Wed Aug 06, 2008 1:20 pm; edited 3 times in total |
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ravi
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| Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 11:19 am Post subject: Re: How to jump start your planted aquarium Part 1. |
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Hi Trevor,
Excellent article !
Recently, my 9 kgs co2 cylinder was recharged by this "shady" method. Unfortunately, only 1 to 2 kgs was recharged instead of 9 kgs. But they charged me for 9 Kgs ! |
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Maxv
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| Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 11:44 am Post subject: Re: How to jump start your planted aquarium Part 1. |
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Hi Trevor,
I want to ask a dumb question, if we have a soda maker at home, why not add a glass of soda water to planted tank just before lights on, will it have any effect? Has anyone tried this approach? |
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harshal
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| Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 12:34 pm Post subject: Re: How to jump start your planted aquarium Part 1. |
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Hi trevor!
I need help with a problem I have faced and not resolved for a while now. I want to use 1 cylinder to power 2 tanks, I tried doing this with a "T" and seperate needle valves for both the cylinders but was not sucessful in maintaining the bubble rate to what I desired in both the tanks.
Just to let you know the situation with both the tanks. One is a 275lt and the other is 75lts.Both the tanks are not at the same level, the 75lt tank is kept at a lower level. Its about 18inches lower. Am using a 7kg cylinder. Using a reactor in the big tank and want to use a diffuser in the small. If you could please help me out with how to go about setting it up it would be very helpful, will appritiate any guidance from you.
Thanks a lot!
Regards
Harshal. |
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vraghu
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| Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 3:27 pm Post subject: Re: How to jump start your planted aquarium Part 1. |
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Hello Harshal ,
I was also using a 9kg Cylinder earlier , and iam supplying CO2 to 2 seperate Tanks , i used Pneumatic T Connector , Needle Valve , and Bubble Counter then lastly the CO2 Reactor .. All supplied by Rufus , and it works Exellent without any problems..
Its like this for 2 Tank Setup :
CO2 Regulator ----> Needle Valve fitted with a Pneumatic Connector on the outlet of the Regulator , then leave the CO2 Tube for the length halfway between 2 Tanks ====> Then another Pneumatic T Connector , from here it goes to the Tank 1 & Tank 2 , ====> then a Needle Valve ===> Bubble Counter ======> and lastly to the CO2 Reactor, same applies for the second Tank.
Hope this helps.
Regds
RaghuV. |
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trevor
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| Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 9:04 pm Post subject: Re: How to jump start your planted aquarium Part 1. |
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nytyn
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| Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 11:26 pm Post subject: Re: How to jump start your planted aquarium Part 1. |
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Maxv, the method you have mentioned doesnt really work as well as the cylinder thing. Its very harsh on the plants and fishes, as it plays havoc with the pH of the water. If you could add a glass of carbonated water in 30 minute gaps, for the entire photo period, it might work! but I am sure you have better things to do.
Huge pH swings arent good for fishes, and plants.
Save the soda for the whisky, buddy! |
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venket
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| Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:44 am Post subject: Re: How to jump start your planted aquarium Part 1. |
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Awesome work Trevor. Keep this going. No wonder you were online most of the time on sunday.
Venket |
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suuresh1
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| Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:53 am Post subject: Re: How to jump start your planted aquarium Part 1. |
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Hi Harshal,
I too have a 7 Kg cylinder running two tanks. But I dont have the problem you mention.
I did see some new cylinders at Rufus's place they come with ISI marks & all sorts of certificates guaranteeing the product.
Suuresh |
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venki25
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| Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 11:18 am Post subject: Re: How to jump start your planted aquarium Part 1. |
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trevor
great work. THis thread needs to be sticky. Had this post was up three weeks earlier, i could have handled my "eagle" regulator easliy and saved the guages.
Now both the guages are not working, but co2 is comfortably diffusing.
thanks again for your inputs |
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vinven
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| Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 12:32 pm Post subject: Re: How to jump start your planted aquarium Part 1. |
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Wow...Great article Looking forward to Part 2.I need to go to that shady place now to fill my cylinder  |
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gokulin
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| Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 12:41 pm Post subject: Re: How to jump start your planted aquarium Part 1. |
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Trevor,
Can you provide the approx. cost of the cylinders (may be on capacity basis), of the gadgets and proper sources to buy them? |
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harshal
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| Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 1:07 pm Post subject: Re: How to jump start your planted aquarium Part 1. |
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hi
Thanks trevor, raghu and suuresh for the info. Unfortunately have done the set up in the same way but not able to control the bubble count to desired levels in both tanks. I am guessing that tanks being at diffrent levels dose not matter, is this true?? Also wanted to add that the co2 cylinder is placed higher than the smaller tank. Will be looking forward to your suggestions.
Thanks
Regards
HArshal. |
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suuresh1
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| Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 2:19 pm Post subject: Re: How to jump start your planted aquarium Part 1. |
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Hi Harshall,
Come on over & see what I've done. I've 3 needle valves. One at the cylinder output & one each at each tank. The most important valve is on the cylinder itself....this one has to be completely opened.... not half.....not quarter. You then rough control the output preassure with the T - tap on the regulator, ideally the indicator on the dial away from the cylinder should be in the blue area marked "welding" . You then further regulate the pressure with the first needle valve & fine tune the preassure with the individual valves. hope this helps you.
suuresh |
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rgg
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| Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 3:22 pm Post subject: Re: How to jump start your planted aquarium Part 1. |
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great work trevor,
Helps a newbie a lot.
Raghu |
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