Function of the CO2 bubble counter
The CO2 bubble counter is a useful but not essential part of a CO2 system. It is either installed in a cupboard behind a night shut-off or fine needle valve, or attached directly to the aquarium pane. For example, if you have a very elegant glass bubble counter, it attaches to the aquarium glass with a suction cup. Regardless of the type of CO2 bubble counter, they all work on the same principle.
The chamber is about half filled with water and then the CO2 rises as a visible bubble in the water inside the chamber and can thus be counted.
The number of bubbles is then counted for 10 seconds and multiplied by 6 to determine the number of bubbles dispensed per minute.
What can’t a CO2 bubble counter do?
A bubble counter can not determine the actual amount of CO2 dissolved in the aquarium. For this you need a long-term CO2 test. We have described how this works here.
Install and fill the CO2 bubble counter
Depending on the bubble counter, it may be advisable to perform a few steps before filling the bubble counter with water.In particular, CO2 bubble gauges made of glass are of course more sensitive than CO2 bubble gauges, which are not as filigree and are made of stainless steel, for example.
Now attach suction cups to the bubble counter (depending on the bubble counter type) and, if present, to the non-return valve. You can also cut the hoses to the desired length in preparation.
For delicate glassware, we recommend always using a softer silicone CO2 hose. The silicone hose is much softer than the CO2 pressure hose and is much easier to slide over the glassware.
The non-return valve can now be connected to the CO2 bubble counter with a short piece of silicone tubing. Pay attention to the order and direction of installation: after the night shut-off of the CO2 or thin needle valve, first the non-return valve, then the bubble counter.
In the next step, the chamber of the bubble counter is filled with water. This is easily done by taking a large sip of tap water in your mouth and slowly blowing water into the non-return valve from below. The water flows up the hose into the bubble counter chamber and from there cannot flow back through the check valve. If the gulp isn’t enough to completely fill the chamber, simply repeat the process as many times as needed.
Set the CO2 bubble counter
It’s not really possible to give an approximate value for the amount of air bubbles to add.The dependence on the pH value of the aquarium water and the carbonate hardness (KH) is too great for this. In addition, the bubbles in each bubble counter are of different sizes.
You still have to start somehow. We therefore recommend starting slowly with 6 bubbles per minute (beats per minute) per 10 liters of aquarium water. You can determine the amount of dissolved CO2 in the aquarium water after about 2 hours in the long-term CO2 test. If the endurance test is still dark blue, you can increase the amount of air bubbles very slowly and gradually.If the long-term CO2 test is already turning green, the amount of CO2 is already the same. If the long-term test turns yellow, too much CO2 is dissolved in the aquarium water.
Air bubble count and use of a skimmer or backpack filter
When using a skimmer or backpack filter, CO2 is always extracted from the water through a small “waterfall”. It is therefore quite normal that more CO2 has to be added until the aquarium water contains a correspondingly large amount of CO2.
Types of CO2 bubble counters
Bubble gauges are available in different versions. Sometimes they are also integrated into the CO2 diffuser or directly onto the integrated CO2 diffuser or have an integrated check valve.
Spiral bubble counter
The “spiral bubble counter”, in which the individual bubbles spiral upwards, is particularly aesthetic. It looks a bit like a chemistry lab, but very high tech.
PH value
© piai Fotolia.com
A controlled supply of carbon dioxide in the aquarium not only stabilizes the pH value in the lower range, but also makes an important contribution to plant nutrition. They grow thicker, faster and more compact and have much stronger and more intense colors. Especially for our well-groomed pets, they are not only an excellent retreat, but they can also absorb substances from the water that can be harmful to animals. Last but not least, strong vegetation serves above all to supply the aquarium with oxygen – our animals could not survive without this vital gas. If you want to control the PH value via CO2, a PH controller is recommended.
The spiral bubble counter is made of high-quality glass and is used for controlled CO2 supply – the correct dosage is also important here. Too much or too little CO2 in the water can quickly lead to problems. The bubble counter is filled with water and integrated into the hose between the CO2 system and the high-quality CO2 diffuser. Thanks to the stable suction cups, it can be easily attached to the aquarium pane. In particular, the long inner spiral lengthens the path of the inflowing carbon so that it diffuses as finely as possible into the water on its way up and then passes through the CO2 diffuser. The optimal CO2 supply can be determined by counting the bubbles.
The spiral bubble counter is connected to a standard 4/6 mm hose (not included). The special CO2 hose is especially handy when using CO2 accessories as it prevents premature diffusion unlike traditional air hoses. With the help of a special CO2 long-term test in the aquarium, the optimal CO2 supply can also be easily determined visually.
Application of CO2 Bubble Counter:
Install the CO2 spiral bubble meter into the 4/6mm air hose between the O2 system and the CO2 diffuser and connect the CO2 supply to the top air tap terminating at the spiral. Connect the CO2 diffuser to the still open hen on the side. Fill the bubble counter with water in advance so that you can count the bubbles coming out. Set the optimum supply in the CO2 system.
The CO2 spiral bubble counter can easily be used with any conventional CO2 system.