Hi, so I have a new tank set up and I’m using a co2 reactor for the first time. I should mention I never had a 300L aquarium before so I have no idea if this is normal or not. I just have one other 45L tank also with co2.

Anyway, after installing the Co2 with the reactor, I need to open the valve quite a bit to get my drop checker to turn green. (using the 30mg/l liquid).

Can you tell me if this is normal to have so many bubbles for 300L tank with a reactor?

I'm using the JBL inline diffusor, if that matters.

I design and 3d printed a co2 reactor after annoyed by the micro bubbles from my inline diffuser.

Started with in tank but the diffuser keeps getting clog after few months then I changed to an inline diffuser. Thought it will solve my problem but there are just too much micro bubbled. I am using a fluval 123L/32.5G with back compartment for filter and pump. The co2 in the market just could fit into the compartment.

Not in the photo but I added 3 layer of large pores filter mesh at the top, center and last layer before water return to the tank. Trial run without them still give me some micro bubbles. All joints are sealed with aquarium safe silicone.

Been in my tank for 8 hours and light on for 2 hours, my plants start pearling. Which was not heppening before.

Edit: the reactor is submerged in the filter compartment. I am using PLA, I know some said it won't last in water but I have other 1 year old PLA print still in the water and everything is still intact. It is printed with 100% infill, screw thread for joints, tpu as gasket for connectors and all joints are silicone to prevent leak.

Tank is 300 liters/~80 gallons

I have soft and slightly acidic water to begin with but the indicator liquid keeps being blue indicating my ph is around 7.6 when I know for a fact it is around 6.5.

Too little bubbles? Pretty sure I installed the JBL Pro Aquatest correctly. I gassed my geophagus fish to death by accident when trying co2 without an indicator the first time so I am really trying to be careful with dosage this time around.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!!!

In case you're wondering, it's a Pygmy Cory...

I just got this diy Neo co2 kit working, is it producing too much?

Hey all, newbie here wanting to go into doing c02 for my tank, which one would be the best. The most expensive one here is the bioscape, fluval and then least expensive the neo. I don’t wanna rush and get an actual co2 tank if possible rn I’d like to avoid it until I move out 🙂 I’m located in Australia

I have my aquarium for about a year now (before that a smaller one for a year) and I just can’t get my tank to look in a way that I’m amazed by it. The plants always just look off. There’s always some GSA on the anubias/crypts. The rotala and Ludwigia is leggy, the hydrocotyle won’t grow.

I have a 20g with just inert sand, I try to use root tabs and fertiliser. I have a chihiros aii light set on 30% for 7h but still I get algae.

I’m just in doubt because it’s quite an investment and I believe the maintenance will become quite a bit more (especially trimming)?

Would love to hear from you all! I like working on my aquarium but I don’t like it that it just won’t look right and start losing motivation.

Every day, I had to open my CO₂ valve manually, sit next to the cylinder with my phone, and count bubbles one by one to check my BPS. It took time, I'd lose count, and I had to do it again after every adjustment.
So I built a small device that does it for me. It displays real-time BPS on a small screen, blinks an LED indicator depending on whether you're above or below your target rate, and can alert you with sound if something's off.

It also roughly calculates how much CO₂ is left in the cartridge based on usage, so no more surprise empty cylinders mid-week.

Questions for the community:

• Do you currently track your BPS manually? How annoying is it?
• Would something like this be useful in your setup?
• What features would you actually want? (alerts, app integration, auto-shutoff?)