C02

[arnold]

I got one of these yesterday, sposed to last about 45 days before refill. Only $15. Be nice if it works well

http://www.tzong-yang.com.tw/en/proditem_detail.php?itemid=37

[poel_19]

let me know how this works!!! This is a very interesting product!

[AndrewH]

Dang, tha'ts pretty cool for a 10-20 gallon tank.

What size tank are you running it on?

And definitely keep us posted on how well it works (or doesn't work if that's the case).

[biggin]

Last time I was in JFP they siad using a CO2 bottle from a paintball gun was the way to go.... Anyone tried this?

[AndrewH]

I think the main problem with any CO2 system on a small tank is hiding it. My 10 is sitting on top of my bar in the kitchen. I really need to find a better place for it as all of the wires are exposed which I hate.

Maybe I can run the CO2 inside the bottom cabinet and just have single airline coming up to the tank (from any CO2 source)?

[FishGurl721]

Hey, just a warning about the yeast CO2 systems. Plants dont take in CO2 after the lights have gone out which means that all the co2 being injected into the tank is going to waste AND can also cause harm to the fish. With the expensive co2 systems you can put a timer on them put the yeast systems dont ever stop making co2 and a constant supply can be very detramental (sp?) to you're tank. You can pinch the tubing shut but the co2 will build up inside the canister and you could have a very messy outcome from that. I use liquid carbon in my tank because it small enough not to need injected co2 (I also can't afford the fancy systems) and it's been working great for me. Hope everything works out OK for you!

[biggin]

Liquid carbon is not so good for some plants.... I tried it and a few of my plants were not doing all that well stopped it and now they are growing like weeds (yup did it)....

Need to get the names of plants down.... I have a couple of links I will get at home that talks about it....

[bra8ndy8]

I have some "Plants" in my attempted planted tank...and they are yellowing and looking like they are being eaten by caterpillars. I have been using liquid ferts.....what should I do. I think they are java ferns.....but I also don't know house plants!!

[FishGurl721]

What kind of substrate do you have? And do you have snails in your tank?

[biggin]

Light maybe? Not enough nutrients in the substrate? Maybe try the substrate tabs to give a little boost?

[arnold]

This is on a 40, I may have to double up on the diffuser, you can hook two together if you want. You fill the diffuser manually, so with a little experimenting you can have it so it isn't running when lights are off. I think running one w lights out has a possibility of a ph crash. I used a yeast system once, I didn't have any problems but better safe than sorry. I added some of that amano substrate (20 lb) that i got from Dane at rift to reef, and made a light out of home depot stuff. I also have two clamp on light of the incandescent screw ins. I'm all for going the low tech cheap way when I can, we will see what results I get.

[AndrewH]

Yeah, that sounds almost exactly what I want to do over my 10, but I assume your 40 is OT?

With the 'fancy' pressurized system you can get a regulator with a solenoid shutoff valve that is plugged in with your lights on the same timer. Lights on CO2 on, lights off CO2 off. Pretty pricey, but easy to maintain.

Are you using incandescent bulbs, or did you switch 'em out to the cork screw fluorescents?

[ElijahTurtle]

OK let me hit some of thease in order.
Liquid Carbon will oftern kill sensitive plants. Cryp speices are suceptible to melting or crypt rot with it, as well as some other ferts.
pH crases on a DIY yeast system can be totally eliminated by adding a simple 97 2-way gang valve from Walmart. Just vent the CO2 when the lights are off. Same with any other system that has laten CO2 in a diffuser. Just make sure the valve is above the waterline or has a check valve between it an the water or you could have a back siphon "situation".
Anderw you already have the pressurized system. you can just get a Y splitter & run a second valve to any other tanks you want. As for hiding the system it would be easy to run a clear or white silcone supply line any distance you want with little risk of being noticed, by attaching it to the baseboad & running it with christmas light/extension cord fasteners. (I actually had started this before I got marreid & moved)

Just some of my thoughts on the whole thread

[arnold]

This gizmo Im trying is sposed to be good for 48 diffuser fill ups, you fill the diffuser and don't add more till its used up, I reckon if you add another diffuser it will cut your available 02 life in half. One shot lasts all day, so if you fill every morning, its mt by the time the lights are going off. Just fill again next morning. I don't know how good it will work yet, but for $15 I thot it worth the try, its obviously releasing the 02, diffuser is mt in 12 to 15 hrs.
Yes I am using the screw in fluorescents and two dif light spectrum florescent strips in the unit I made, one plant light one daylight. I'm just experimenting.

[AndrewH]

Anderw you already have the pressurized system. you can just get a Y splitter & run a second valve to any other tanks you want. As for hiding the system it would be easy to run a clear or white silcone supply line any distance you want with little risk of being noticed, by attaching it to the baseboad & running it with christmas light/extension cord fasteners. (I actually had started this before I got marreid & moved)

I had thought about that, be several problems come up. First like you said just run a second hose throughout the house (from my living room to my kitchen in my case) hiding it where I can. It being in my kitchen I could run it above my cabinets (they don't go all the way to the ceiling) without many problems. there'd only be about 5' or so where you could actually see it where the cabinets stop above the bar. That might just work.

But here's my main problem. I plan to use a tank monitor to control the CO2 (has pH and ORP monitoring which turns on and off the CO2) in my 90 gallon, so my 10 gallon would have to match it exactly or be over/under CO2ed.

This gizmo Im trying is sposed to be good for 48 diffuser fill ups, you fill the diffuser and don't add more till its used up, I reckon if you add another diffuser it will cut your available 02 life in half. One shot lasts all day, so if you fill every morning, its mt by the time the lights are going off. Just fill again next morning. I don't know how good it will work yet, but for $15 I thot it worth the try, its obviously releasing the 02, diffuser is mt in 12 to 15 hrs.
Yes I am using the screw in fluorescents and two dif light spectrum florescent strips in the unit I made, one plant light one daylight. I'm just experimenting.

I guess I wasn't understanding the system correctly. I though the CO2 can was hooked to it all the time. I didn't realize you charge the diffuser then let it just sit in the aquarium without anything else attached to it. Pretty freaking cool idea. If this is the concept I think this little gadget will work perfect for a small tank, especially one in a place where it's hard to hide equipment.

[arnold]

The 02 is hooked to it and has a chk valve in line, but the can is like a can of fixaflat for lack or a better description, you have to press down on the top to release 02.

[ElijahTurtle]

But here's my main problem. I plan to use a tank monitor to control the CO2 (has pH and ORP monitoring which turns on and off the CO2) in my 90 gallon, so my 10 gallon would have to match it exactly or be over/under CO2ed.
Sorry I realize I didn't explain it well, I was talking about a Y splitter that lets you run more than one regulator off the bottle, not just splitting the co2 after passing through the regulator. I'll try to find the pic

[AndrewH]

OIC, now I know what you're talking about... that makes since.