DIY CO2 Reactor

We all constantly see beautiful pictures of tanks on internet, at a friends or at shows and wonder how they go about getting their plants to look so stunning. The answer is simple. Provide your plants with their needs. Actually going about that route is the part that is not simple.

There are hundreds of factors that you need to consider, terms you will need to learn and things you will need to do, buy and/or know. This need not be an expensive venture, however, if something does go wrong you will need to rectify it and that can be expensive sometimes.

A planted aquarium needs more attention and time but the end result can be so breath-taking that it is all worth your effort.

Plants need the correct light; the correct amount of time in the light; nutrients and they need CO². Carbon Dioxide is just as essential for plant growth as the correct colour of light that you use and the correct intensity that you use it in.

Lighting will have to be bought, nutrients are supplied by the fish via your fish food, respiration and excretion; and you will need to add CO² into the mix. Even though your fish release CO² during respiration they still do not release enough CO² for the plants to adequately fulfil their CO² needs.

The best way that you can ensure that your plants get CO² is by making your very own CO² reactor. I am not going to go into detail about how to make it here. Instead I am offering you links to the sites that I found most helpful in completing my DIY CO² reactor.

A Treatise on DIY CO2 Systems for Freshwater-Planted Aquaria

DIY CO2 Reactor for a Planted Aquarium

CO2-Why & How To

You can choose the method that suits you best and make the most of it! Good luck with your projects… please tell us about your experiences in the comments below.

DIY CO2 Reactor for a Planted Aquarium

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