Misting co2

[Jubs]

I know my old high tech tank I used this method as well and I could definitely tell when it was the plants pearling. In smaller tanks it is harder to tell though, in 10g I had it was a bit harder but on my 20 long it was easy to tell which was which. While when the co2 really gets pumping it can cause the cloudy look with a ton of micro bubbles but honestly I would rather have a ton of micro bubbles and my co2 levels where they need to be than have slow growth and algae.

[Ppulcher]

I've used much the same idea as Jubs in the past, and it's a great way to get better CO2 from DIY systems.  If using DIY, don't hook up the output to the ventrui if the filter has one -- you run the risk of sucking up the brew and spewing it into the tank.

[Carr]

I think mine is doing pretty well dissolving it before it even turns into bubbles, from 5 feet away you can't even really see the bubbles at all but you can hear them all being sucked into the filter. Drop checker is a light green so I know it's going somewhere.

[Essabee]

With respect to CO2 micro-bubble mist what I think happens is that although the CO2 does not dissolve but it does replace the CO2 absorbed by plants very quickly and keeps the dissolved CO2 at a stable high for the plants to use this would explain Tom Barr's observation of increased plant growth.

My explanation is that the high number of micro-bubbles will have a very high surface area and diffusion out of the bubble and into it takes place in sizeable amount. CO2 will diffuse out of the bubble into the water and the elements of other gasses dissolved in the aquarium water will diffuse into the micro-bubble. This process will continue till the composition of the gas mixture inside the micro-bubble has not become homogeneous to the mix of gasses dissolved in the aquarium water.

[Carr]

That's an interesting thought, I hadn't really thought of it that way (exchanging gases from the bubbles).

[Jubs]

Thanks for the info Joy interesting I wasn't aware of that either.