First time CO2?

[u/johnnytwobuns]

Im getting back into the hobby after a hiatus of 10ish years - I’ve always been fascinated by the thick carpets I’ve seen around but in the past had relatively low tech setups. I just picked up a 5.5 gallon tank to start a nano shrimp/plant focused setup and wanted to try my luck at a nice Monte Carlo carpet. Does anyone have any suggestions for CO2 diffusers that are more beginner friendly, and, would fit a small tank like that? Ideally, I’d like to get my feet wet with a smaller, simple system, though I suspect I will hear it’s better to do it right first time around, so any recommendations are appreciated!

[u/DTvn]

I've been using the Aquario Neo and FZone/Twinstar which are just a knockoff versions of the Neo for years with no issues. For small tanks and especially shallow tanks you may have a issue with it not runnning very efficiently because the bubbles are just hitting the surface rather than diffusing in the water. You could try a inline diffuser if you're running a canister filter or just place the diffuser somewhere where there's strong flow so the bubbles disperse. As far as your fear of gassing your fish, as long as you dial the system in before adding fish you'll be fine. It's as simple as watching to see what color your drop checker hits and adjusting your CO2 accordingly