C02 System For Rio 180

[stan1979]

i currently have a rio 180l approx 40 gallons, the tank is not to heavily planted and i have a tetra plant co2 depot up and running for a few months. however lately it doesnt seem to be doin much good, i also use tetra plant crypto tablets as well
i am thinking about buying a nutrafin c02 system but they only seem to make them for 20 gallon tanks,is there any other c02 systems out there that would suit my tank
cant afford a presurised system at the moment and dont really fancy using the diy c02 method
so would the nutrafin do the job cause there aint much plants
sorry for rambling
stan
ps the cannistor for the tetra plant depot is not empty

 

[MoreCoffee]

i currently have a rio 180l approx 40 gallons, the tank is not to heavily planted and i have a tetra plant co2 depot up and running for a few months. however lately it doesnt seem to be doin much good, i also use tetra plant crypto tablets as well
i am thinking about buying a nutrafin c02 system but they only seem to make them for 20 gallon tanks,is there any other c02 systems out there that would suit my tank
cant afford a presurised system at the moment and dont really fancy using the diy c02 method
so would the nutrafin do the job cause there aint much plants
sorry for rambling
stan
ps the cannistor for the tetra plant depot is not empty

Stan,

The Nutrafin system is essentially a yeast based DIY system wrapped up in a tidy container !

The 'activator' and 'stabiliser' sachets provided are just yeast and bicarbonate of soda. Each Nutrafin canister is good for about 70ltrs. I have 2 in my 130Ltr tank and manage to get a fairly decent Co2 level of about 25ppm, but cant get it towards 30ppm, not is it as stable as a pressurised system

I think with a 180ltr tank your only real option is to go pressurised !

.

 

[stan1979]

lads in my lfs were saying that presurrized was my only option but at the moment it just aint possible. i really thought that there might have been a system for forty gallon or similar tanks

 

[MoreCoffee]

I think the guys at yr LFS are right.

Short term, you could try adding a yeast DIY system using a couple of 2ltr pop bottles to see if it helps alongside your existing setup.

All you'd need is a couple of empty pop bottles, some tubing, and airstone (as a cheap diffuser) and then the ingredients for the yeast mix. It wouldnt get you up to a high CO2 level, but might give the plants a bit of a short term boost and would be of minimal cost.

For the long term, I'd keep an eye open on ebay to see if you can pick up a pressurised CO2 kit. I managed to get a second JBL kit yesterday for £41.50, so it can be done on the cheap.
There is also the option of buying the individual parts and building your own kit. I've never done it, but there are threads on here that discuss what you need.

.

 

[stan1979]

i had the chance to pick up a second hand system(on another forum) a while ago but had to turn it down cause i wasnt goin to be in the country, regretting it now. was for a similar price plus £20 postage

 

[Themuleous]

Yeh unfortunately pressurised is really the only option, I think you'd need three DIY kits to get enough CO2 production for a 180lt tank. Have you tried ebay there have been a few kits on there recently.

Sam

 

[stan1979]

havent been able to find any second hand ones only brand new ones, if you have any links to them could you post them here
much appreciated
stan

 

[MoreCoffee]

Stan,

I dont think ebay UK has any at the moment. I picked one up yesterday at a good price and was looking at a second one today, but that went for £70 in the end.

.... Hmmm, might be more competition for the next one

 

[stan1979]

bring it on Mr g, a bit of competition is always good
could you post the link to the one you were looking at yesterday

 

[Themuleous]

Haha I thought I recognised the name Mr G! But yeh there were a few on there a few days ago, not sure what the end prices were though.

I keep looking, really cant afford a third CO2 kit, but its always useful to have a spare!

Sam

 

[Ginge]

I lost out on this one.
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/Marine-co2-Gas-Unit_...1QQcmdZViewItem
And this wasnt bad either.
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/JBL-PROFLORA-co2-D-D...1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[MoreCoffee]

bring it on Mr g, a bit of competition is always good
could you post the link to the one you were looking at yesterday

Stan,
These are the links I was following over the last few days ...............

I lost out on this one.
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/Marine-co2-Gas-Unit_...1QQcmdZViewItem
And this wasnt bad either.
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/JBL-PROFLORA-co2-D-D...1QQcmdZViewItem

Sorry Ginge ..... I took that first link

I tried for the second one, but in the end it went a bit higher than I wanted to go !

I picked up an Aquamedic set a few weeks ago, now I have a second set.
Just keeping my eyes open for a third kit and that will be all my tanks over to pressurised.

Al

.

 

[Ginge]

You Swine!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOL. I was just thinking really and now im 100% sure of doing DIY pressurised instead you save a fortune.

 

[demonmagus]

btw, why don't you just have 3 nutrafin kits?


just wondering

 

[Ginge]

Think how inconviniet that would be i mean planted tanks are quite high maintanace anyway without changing 3 nitrafin mixes every week.