Hagen CO2 Natural Plant System Bubble Counter with Suction Cup and Tubing

This bubble counter is included in the Hagen Plant Grow Natural System. It is probably one of the most efficient methods of dissolving CO2 into the aquarium water when not using a forced water method.

I think this unit is better than using an air stone, bubbling into an upside down cup and certainly better than just letting an air line bubble into the tank.

In my experience, you will still have CO2 loss because not all the bubbles will be dissolved before they run through the unit and bubble to the surface of the water. However, it is still fairly efficient and very easy to set up. All you do is attached the air line that is connected to your CO2 source to the plastic drip tip that is included and then the bubbles slowly pass through a maze of bubble paths, dig zagging their way until they reach the top of the unit. Like I said, there will still be bubbles that pass through the top and disperse to the surface of the water.

My preferred method to diffusing CO2 bubbles into the water is by forcing water to mix with the bubbles. This can easily be accomplished by using a Rio Power head connected to a small bottle that the CO2 line is also connected to. This should completely dissolve the CO2 bubbles. You can find an already made system online for around 35-50 bucks. Or you can make one yourself for around 15 bucks. I made my own and it works beautifully. You also get the added benefit of having extra water current flow (which most fish appreciate).

But for a simple, cheap and easy to set up solution for dissolving CO2 bubbles into the aquarium, this Hagen diffuser is a good way to go. Make sure when you set it up that you set the unit as low as it will go in the aquarium (the bottom touching the gravel) so that the CO2 bubbles have maximum time to travel before reaching the water surface (and after that wasted).

As far as just a bubble counter, this is probably the most fun unit to watch that you can buy. My kids love watching the bubbles zig zag through the unit until the bubbles reach the top (cheap entertainment).

I have used a glass/ceramic diffuser for two years with my yeast based co2 system. This worked well enough and plants have grown pretty well. However, these do get blocked and there is a danger of back pressure causing the bottles to explode. They can be cleaned but sometimes difficult to remove the hose once it becomes hardened without breaking the glass. I also tired of seeing all those tiny bubbles floating around the tank.

I don't know exactly how much co2 dissolved in terms of ppm, however, pH fell from 7.9/8.0 to 7.3/7.4 when I started injecting it 2 yrs ago, so seems pretty effective.

As the diffuser was due for replacement again I decided to try a ladder this time it's brilliant!

I agree that it looks pretty cool to watch, and yes, the bubbles did clump at first but after leaving it overnight it was working properly the following morning. I did fiddle with the angle for some time I think you just need to leave it alone and give it time to settle.

I no longer have loads of tiny bubbles and my pH has dropped further now to 7.0, so this is definitely getting more into the water than the ceramic diffuser did. I also found that the old diffuser tended to create much finer bubbles when the mixture started to tire and the flow rate subsided, meaning that more probably dissolved than did when the mixture was fresh.

The bubbles get much smaller as they travel up the ladder, and as they decrease in size they also slow down. This means they catch up with each other, merge, and pop out of the top about the same size as the bubbles which enter at the bottom. However, they enter at 1 per second at the bottom and pop out of the top about every 10 seconds. This suggest a 90% absorption rate (hope that makes sense!).

Some day these are hard to disguise. This model attaches flat to the side so isn't very wide from the front view at all it is not intrusive in my tank at all.

Of course, the system is now low pressure so the danger of explosion is eliminated.

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Don't be dismayed if at first it seems like the bubbles are getting built up in certain areas. This is part of the break-in process and it will fix itself. Once some bio-slime (mmmm, bio slime...) gets built up on it, the bubbles go up the ladder smoothly.

I'm using mine with a homemade CO2 system and I'm already seeing results. I would recommend "The Ladder" to anyone who is using a DIY method and doesn't have enough pressure to properly utilize a ceramic diffuser. Plus, you don't really need a separate bubble counter to monitor your CO2 output. You can see every bubble that comes out and tailor your CO2 production accordingly.

Summary: for the price, seems to work great. Low tech and effective.

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This is one of the best setups especially if you are running a DIY CO2 system (basically a bottle with sugar and yeast :)

IT is a bubble counter and a difuser all in one. You can watch the bubbles travel up the ladder and if you install a control valve you can adjust how many bubbles come out.

Be careful with installing control valves on diy CO2 as if you close it too much it can blow up and cause a huge mess. Please research these methods before just slapping a bottle together and putting it on your tank

Back to product it is great. If at first you don't succeed wait. :)

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Seems to be a very efficient co2 diffuser. Give it about a day for the natural slime to build up on it so the bubbles will slide easily. Good quality stuff, Very easy to set up!