Is DIY CO2 effective for planted tanks?

Well it works. As long as you have CO2 bubbling into the tank you will raise the CO2 level, and that can benefit plants. But you only get any benefit of all the other conditions balance out. Light and nutrient levels. Only adding CO2 wont magically grow plants unless there is enough light for them to make use of the extra CO2, and enough other nutrients to allow the plants to grow. If you are short on Nitrogen, phosphate etc those hold back the plant growth no matter how much CO2 you pump in.

Cons of DIY CO2. It's more work for you to keep the constant stream of CO2 running. You will want a couple of reactors and start a new one when the old one slows down. Not a simple as turning on a valve and getting bubbles.

Pro? It's cheap and you can probably be made and run with stuff you already have at home.

Ian

Diy Co2 Planted Tank

DIY CO2......... a little bit of pros against many cons... here is the run down:

PROS

Produces slightly higher CO2 levels in your aquarium

Cheap in the beginning

Can be made fairly easily

CONS

Erratic

With erratic CO2 levels comes constantly varying pH level stressing fish out.

Messy

Some fluid can go up tube if you don't/ have a failing check valve

Gets more expensive in the long run

Diffusers are tricky to talk about

IMO it is not worth it. It is erratic and the payoff is not enough.

I assume you mean mixing a sugar water and yeast mixture which produces co2 and alcohol .I have done this and it worrks ok but you need to be careful to not get any of the liquid in the tank --only the co2 gas Be caucious and only mix small amounts to start to see how much reaction you get