Co2

[markandhisfish]

soon i will be doing a fully planted tank will be a 240l tank with tetratec ex1200 with spraybar a few questions.........1 does the spraybar alone give enough surface aggitation to keep oxygen levels good for fish 2 am thinking of either air stone or bubble disc for extra airation but will this counteract the co2 system too much?

 

[aaronnorth]

Do you inject CO2?

If you do, then measure it with a drop checker and make sure it is green (30ppm), this way your fish will not suffer, i have never used an airstone in a planted setup except once and noticed much better results, as long as there is a little movement (not splashing and creating bubbles) then it is ok.

 

[markandhisfish]

ok thanks not gone planted yet just larning what i need to know now so i get it right. yes i will be injecting co2

 

[aaronnorth]

in what form? Presurized etc.

 

[markandhisfish]

was initially going with yeast based but upon research have decided to go for a pressurised system...... what do you use? only reason i asked about the airstonne is concirn for oxygen levels i know the plants will help and the surface aggitation from the spraybar with my ex1200 filter...would this be enough ??

 

[Wolfenrook]

was initially going with yeast based but upon research have decided to go for a pressurised system...... what do you use? only reason i asked about the airstonne is concirn for oxygen levels i know the plants will help and the surface aggitation from the spraybar with my ex1200 filter...would this be enough ??

Usually, with the exception of very heavily stocked aquariums which can sometimes need additional agitation/aeration.

A lot of UK plant keepers use seperately purchased CO2 regulators(+needle valve) and use a CO2 fire extinguisher as the bottle. There is some element of risk with this, as with any pressurised gas. I myself use a CO2 fire extinguisher as they last longer than a 500g bottle (been 2kg ones) and are often easier to get refilled. Have a look on ebay, aquariumversand (europe) and Aquatic Magic (malaysia, ship worldwide) do the bits you will need.

I also recommend using a solenoid set to come on 1 hour before the lights do, and off 1 hour before they go off. This helps to keep CO2 levels down at night when plants aren't using it, extends the time between refills and also protects your fish in the case of power outage.

Oh and 30ppm of CO2 is only really needed in tanks with higher lighting. with low to medium lighting you can use much lower levels of anywhere between 15-25ppm without problems.

Ade

 

[aaronnorth]

with pressurized, you have a lot of control over the CO2 so an airstone isn't necassary, lots of people run it 24/7 but it wastes a lot of gas as plants dont use it, alternatively, get a solenoid.

I got this regulator, solenoid, needle valve, bubble counter for £60 and i use it on a 2kg fire extinghuisher:

[URL="http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/CO2-Regulator-Electr...id=p3286.c0.m14"]http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/CO2-Regulator-Electr...id=p3286.c0.m14[/URL]

fire extinghuisher:

[URL="http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/2kg-Co2-Fire-Extingu...id=p3286.c0.m14"]http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/2kg-Co2-Fire-Extingu...id=p3286.c0.m14[/URL]

all you need to buy is the CO2 airline and it is set up, and also a european to UK plug adapter for the solenoid. so it will cost you about £90 and it lasts a long time.

 

[markandhisfish]

dont fancy a fire extinguisher... at the moment i am leaning toward this system


This Hydor CO2 Green NRG Exclusive System solves the problem of low carbon dioxide in freshwater aquariums : simple and easy to use, with a unique diffusor technology which guarantees maximum efficiency for visible results in only 2 weeks

The System comprises :

74gm Disposable CO2 bottle (lasts 260 days at 4 bubbles per minute)
Autoregulating pressure reducer and precision valve
Ario 1 Turbo Diffusor for perfect dispersion of miniaturised bubbles of CO2
Transparent bubble counter
Full set of clips, hose, safety valve, suction cups etc

 

[Wolfenrook]

Don't go there, as in a heavily planted 240l tank that 74gm CO2 bottle will last you 2 weeks tops. If you really don't want to go with an FE then either have a look at the JBL Easy Set1 (buy the solenoid off ebay, cheaper than getting the Easy Set2) on ZooPlus, or have a look at the 500g refillable CO2 sets on Lunapet (listed as aquariumversand) on ebay. 4 Bubbles a minute is no where near enough in even a mediocre planted tank.

Ade

 

[markandhisfish]

ok nice 1 thanks for the advice i iwill check both out

 

[markandhisfish]

ok nice 1 thanks for the advice i iwill check both out

just went on zooplus and yes i agree the jbl system looks good just a few questions tho how long would that bottle last in a 240l planted tank? how many bubbles a minute woluld i need to set it on and do i really need the solenoid?? couldnt i just turn co2 off an hour before the lights manually on the regulator ?

 

[aaronnorth]

You can do it manually but what happens if you forget or you go away? You will also need to turn it on an hour before lights on.

on a 240l tank, start off with 1 every 2 seconds/ 30BPM

I would say it would last about 7 weeks, factors depend on plant mass, surface agitation, the plant sepcies themselves etc.

 

[markandhisfish]

will prob add solenoid at later date but not yet as i am running to a £500 budget the tank itself is costing 349............ 240l fluval roma tank /cabinet with fluval 305 filter (wont be used) , fluval glo lighting 2 tubes 1 powerglo and 1 aquaglo thermometer 30kg of gravel and gravel cleaner, the co2 kit is about 70 then theres the planting substrate the testkits etc and the plants im getting are a pre packed selection from www.aquaticplants.eu.com. cant decide between these 2 tho ( both state for 48" tank maybe you could give your opinion on both if you wouldnt mind please......

Contains
10 X MICRO SAGITTARIA
3 X DWARF SWORDS
2 X SAGITTARIA NATANS
BUNCH (7) BABY TEARS BACOPA
5 X CRYPTOCORYNE WENDTII
1 X NARROW SWORD
BUNCH (10) MYACCA FLUVIATILIS
BUNCH (5) CREEPING JENNY
BUNCH (5) HYGRO. POLYSPERMA
BUNCH (5) STRAIGHT VALLISNERIA
BUNCH (5) ELODEA DENSA
BUNCH (5) LUDWIGIA NATANS
BUNCH (5) GREEN CABOMBA
BUNCH (5) BRONZE BACOPA
BUNCH (5) TWISTED VALLISNERIA
2 X SAGITTARIA NATANS
3 X WATER WISTERIA
2 X BULB SPECIES
BUNCH (5) RED SPECIES
7 X SALVINIA FLOATING
2 X AMAZON SWORDS
BUNCH (4) THAILAND STRICTA
5 X FERNS
5 X MIXED CRYPTOCORYNES
1 X JAVA MOSS
3 X FOUR LEAF CLOVERS
BUNCH (5) RED LUDWIGIA
1 X BLACK SWORD TROPICA



or this 1


GUIDE TO CONTENTS
FOREGROUND
5 DWARF CHAIN SWORD
2 DWARF SAGITTARIA
10 CARPETING SAG (5CM)
7 FOUR LEAF CLOVER
5 MINI HAIRGRASS
MID-GROUND
5 CREEPING JENNY
5 BACOPA MONNIERA
5 TWISTED VALLIS
1 AMAZON SWORD
10 MIXED CRYPTS BEST IN STOCK
2 RED SPECIES
6 RORIPPA CRESS
5 MYACCA SPECIES
5 ROTALA INDICA
5 RED AMBULIA
BACKGROUND
5 HYGRO POLYSPERMA
5 CABOMBA CAROLINIANA
5 EGERIA DENSA
5 STRAIGHT VALLIS
5 LUDWIGIA SPECIES
5 WATER WISTERIA
5 GIANT VALLIS
5 BRONZE BACOPA
5 RED LUDWIGIA
SPECIMENS
1 JAVA MOSS
1 WILLOW MOSS
2 LARGE SWORD
3 NYMPHAEA STELLATA BULB

 

[aaronnorth]

take your pick!

 

[markandhisfish]

lol thought you may say that. will prob go with the 1st 1 as it says it gives a more heavily planted look than the 2nd plus itys got idiot proof guide to planting position s too