adding co2

[One_Trick_Pony]

i have 2 wpg of light, in my 35 gl tnak, i have added some fretilisor tbas to the substrate since setting it up, and add liquid frest as per instructions, is this set up going to benift gearly form teh additon of co2???

if it will do you recommand a diy system or a shop bought system?/

OTP

 

[abstract]

seems as if i'm stalking you or something...always answering your posts right away and all..

yes, co2 would benefit your system....i really like the hagen nutrafin co2 system since it has the nice bubble diffuser and allows you to hang the canister on the back of the tank...for $15 you can't go wrong...once you run out of the activator (yeast) and stabilizer (baking soda) packets you can make your own DIY co2 recipe...good luck!

 

[houndour]

only as usual things in the uk are more expensive! I paid £20 for my Nutrafin CO2 thing. I think you can get them cheaper on ebay tho...maybe about £17.

//edit...of course I have assumed cheshire is in the uk! Which it is, but then america has a lot of places named the same.

 

[Bloo]

Unfortunately your $15 is equal to £20 for us (not as one would imagine £8 with FX rates).
Though bear in mind that the Hagen system is only up to 20 gallons - so in effect you'll have to have 2 of those (in my novice CO2 opinion).

I've recently introduced one of them to my tank too, but I suggest you have your KH readings to hand as well so that you more or less know what you can expect your PH to drop by.
Just as an indication, my PH dropped from 8.2 to 7.4 (with a KH of 11 which is hard) in a matter of 2 days or so. My one (very expensive) plec did not like this and forthright died

And just for your reading purposes, I'll also include this recent thread about the CO2 ladder which might answer some of the questions you will have after setting it up.

And here's a good website with a CO2 calculator (you need to download it - it's at the bottom of the page)

 

[Bloo]

I think you can get them cheaper on ebay tho...maybe about £17.

//edit...of course I have assumed cheshire is in the uk! Which it is, but then america has a lot of places named the same.

Indeed - but plus £4 postage is £21 lol

Yeah OTP is indeed in Cheshire UK

 

[houndour]

another tip for if you get a CO2 ladder...and if you have small fish. On the left side at the bottom, there is a gap less than a cm square. My guppy managed to get up there and got stuck twice! He ripped his entire tail off the second time, thankfully he's fully recovered and OK. But I've now used a bit of silicone to seal the bottom hole.

 

[Bloo]

Reminds me: another tip - try to keep "spikey" plants away from the ladder. My Vallis keeps sticking into it which causes the bubbles to stop running. I had to remove the vallis closest to the ladder to prevent this.

 

[abstract]

Though bear in mind that the Hagen system is only up to 20 gallons - so in effect you'll have to have 2 of those (in my novice CO2 opinion).

oops, forgot about THAT..what she said - get 2 of them - and i would stagger them - start one after 1.5-2 weeks so that they dont run out at the same time!

 

[jimbooo]

yep agree with all of the above. i have 2 nutrafin kits on a rio180 (40 uk gallon)

does the job fine but only when you add a diy recepie. those sachets supplied are useless.

 

[houndour]

maybe another tip...or maybe its not sposed to be done?

I read someone had got a heat mat for their co2 bottle and the heat helps make the bubbles come out faster (altho this will mean it wont last as long).

I put my CO2 bottle thing on my hood...the heat from the light helps! Of course...I don't have kids or cats that might knock it down.

 

[Bloo]

yep agree with all of the above. i have 2 nutrafin kits on a rio180 (40 uk gallon)

does the job fine but only when you add a diy recepie. those sachets supplied are useless.

Jimboo, why are they useless ?
I've only had mine running a few weeks, and thought it would be much easier to just use sachets in future - saves measuring up and fiddling around and all that. Isn't it also true that DIY mixtures only last a few days while the sachets are supposed to last an average of 28 days ? Or do I have the wrong end of the stick here ?

 

[jimbooo]

yes thats true but be carefull if using a diy recepie.

i over did the yeast the other day and in 30 mins i had the mix go right up the tube and into the tank. i wont repeat my reaction on here probably not appropriate.

needless to say emergency water change happened faster than you can imagine (75% in one go), all was fine though.

if i had that heater mat i'd be in a major situation.

to meet that sugestion half way my 2 bottles on my 40G have thick boot socks over them to keep the heat in. that may be a more subtle way of doing it.

 

[One_Trick_Pony]

guys you are woundeful as alway, and abstarct its great that you answer so fast!!!!

thanx for all teh imput guys

 

[One_Trick_Pony]

i do have one question my ph is alread low at about 6.7/8 is co2 going to lowere this as much as it did to bloozoos tank???

 

[houndour]

my guess is probably.

Mine was about 7/7.2 before CO2.

Now its 6.4 to 7 (depends what time of day it is)