Diy Co2 On Larger Tanks..?

[Smells a bit fishy]

Yeh I have got alot of light. So it will cause more problems than having no CO2? I have 2 54w T5 over a 180 litre tank. I just thought an inconsistent amount of CO2 is just as bad as not having any.

At the moment my lights are only on for 4 hours a day if that. Just thought I would give it a go, but if it will make it worse I won't bother

 

[lljdma06]

How is it doing with no CO2 right now? You know... I've got that tank with 48W HOT5 with no CO2 and it's doing very well... Hmmmm... Wonder if reading through Refugees might be useful.

If your tank is pictured in your sig, then you'd need a ton more plants and floaters... Have a read of my Planted journal and let me know what you think.

Liz

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

Yeh I'll read threw it later, at work at the moment lol. I will have alot more plants. I'm looking to go pretty heavily planted, hence why I got alot of light aswell. I have always been looking to go CO2 just havn't got the cash. That is the reason I'm only turning my lights on for a very short period.

Yeh some floating plants would look good aswell, maybe some frogbit.

It is going pretty well, the plants aren't growing as I would like, the slow growing plants are taking to the bogwood, but most have a brown edge, and there is a tiny tiny amount of BBA

 

[ATK!!!]

I didn't see this post, when I posted my thread, Ok. I read through coley's first 5 pages, now I'm thinking about doing a DIY CO2 kit on my 180ish litre tank. The reasons being I have quite alot of light. Now, is it feasible to put a DIY set up in this tank? I was thinking of using 3 bottles as anything less wouldn't be enouph.

I can't afford to get a pressurised CO2 kit for this tank as I will be looking at somewhere of £150-200.

May I just add that I am going to use FE pressurised CO2 on my 180l and I'm only going to pay about £90-120 for all of the equipment (which is all brand new and will last me for at least a year without having to spend anything...). If it were me, I'd be going with the pressurised CO2 any day! Maybe I'm missing something but I thought that running DIY CO2 like that would actually cost more in the long run (£50ish a year?) whilst FE CO2 will only cost around £100 initially and then £20ish to buy a new fire extinguisher every year or so. I guess it all depends on how long you plan on running the tank for...

If you want any links to the stuff I'm buying then just ask.

 

[lljdma06]

It does, you're not incorrect, but what I think it breaks down to is an initial investment. It's initially expensive to setup pressurized. It's more expensive to run yeast in the long run, especially in a larger system, but the costs are spread out over time, so it's easier to absorb. It's like paying in cash versus paying with credit.

I love pressurized, I think it's great. I usually tell newbies to do it. I don't personally use it because none of my tanks are so big that I absolutely need it and I've got all the equipment for yeast lying around, so my cost goes way down. I also have very strange water. I seem to be able to get plants to thrive without the CO2.

Liz

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

Hmmmm. Food for thought lol. I will have to look into it, but with a baby just round the corner I may have to go without.

Now how about easy carbo? Any good/costs. I havn't really looked into this element yet. Is it viable on a large tank, opposed to DIY or Pressurised. I can imagine it's more expensive, and not as consistent. But what are your thoughts?

 

[ATK!!!]

The costs of using Liquid carbon on a big tank like that will really add up, it is possible to use it but it'll be a lot more costly in the long run than either pressurised or DIY

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

Yeh I was thinking the same thing. That's why I decided against it and go DIY.