Hagen Natural Plant System.

[Chri$]

Is there any alternatives to the ladder for this kit - i think the ladder may look unsightly (sp)?

Can someone direct me to the DIY recipe for these kits?

Thanks

Chris

 

[Boxermom]

If you haven't purchased it already, a better option for you if you don't like the bubble ladder is this one:
http/www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod...1&N=2004+113779 Its rated for up to 40g and works great. I have both systems and they both work equally well. This one uses a powerhead rather than a bubble ladder that's easier to hide. Course it also makes it harder to tell when it needs to be refilled.

 

[madcaow]

ive had the Red Sea one up and running for about a week now.

its pretty good! the difuser is interesting, it works really well, pumps out heaps of teeny tiney bubbles, u turn it off at night to lower the CO2 input. then it just makes 1 massive bubble.

i have mine place under the filter outlet so the bubbles get pushed along in the water some more.

its basically a 1.25 liter bottle so u can fill it up with a DYI mix once u run out of the first provided bottle of stuff.

 

[TrueNoob]

alot of people think hagen is better,

 

[Themuleous]

Is there any alternatives to the ladder for this kit - i think the ladder may look unsightly (sp)?

Can someone direct me to the DIY recipe for these kits?

Thanks

Chris

Chris,

Aquaessentials do a small glass diffuser that I'm told works with the Hagen yeast kit, looks much better than the ladder too IMHO but I would add a separate bubble counter so you can see when the bubble rate is dropping and also to prevent the diffuser getting blocked up with the white fluff that can grow on diffusers.

Sam

 

[MoreCoffee]

Is there any alternatives to the ladder for this kit - i think the ladder may look unsightly (sp)?

Can someone direct me to the DIY recipe for these kits?

Thanks

Chris

Chris,

Aquaessentials do a small glass diffuser that I'm told works with the Hagen yeast kit, looks much better than the ladder too IMHO but I would add a separate bubble counter so you can see when the bubble rate is dropping and also to prevent the diffuser getting blocked up with the white fluff that can grow on diffusers.

Sam

Sam's advice is sound advice ...... I used this very setup for a few months without any problems in a small tank (60Ltrs)

I've used a glass diffuser very similar to the one Sam mentions. It worked fine with Nutrafin canisters and also with 1 or 2 ltr pop bottles. As suggested, I also used a smaller bottle as a bubble counter and it stopped all that white gunk.

I've also used the bubble ladder without any problems, in my 130Ltr tanks it is almost invisible behind the plants and against a black background, nowhere near as 'in yer face' as it looks.
It's also pretty good when it comes to diffusing the gas.

 

[Chri$]

Thanks Guys

Think i'll try the ladder first. Would it be a good idea to use a bubble counter as well?

 

[Chris_Wood]

Hi, the DIY mix is essentially:

Sugar upto the bottom line,

1 level teaspoon of baking soda (acts as a regulator)
1/8 (one eigth) of teaspon of yeast

Fill upto the other line with luck warm water and hey presto!

Much cheaper than the official refills.

Mine usually lasts for about a month / month and a half!

If you are getting loads of bubbles youve added too much yeast!

Hope this helps

CW

 

[Chri$]

EDIT* changed my mind - think i'll go for the glass diffusor.

Hi, the DIY mix is essentially:

Sugar upto the bottom line,

1 level teaspoon of baking soda (acts as a regulator)
1/8 (one eigth) of teaspon of yeast

Fill upto the other line with luck warm water and hey presto!

Much cheaper than the official refills.

Mine usually lasts for about a month / month and a half!

If you are getting loads of bubbles youve added too much yeast!

Hope this helps

CW

Thanks Chris

 

[George Farmer]

You may find this of interest too - http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=101380&hl=

The latest PFK also has a detailed article on DIY/budget CO2 systems.

There's no need to use a seperate bubble counter. The bubbles can be counted easily from the bottom of the ladder.

The ladder takes about 24 hours to "run in". It needs to get coated in a microfilm to allow the smooth passage of the bubbles so don't panic when you see the bubbles get stuck initially.

 

[Themuleous]

Glad to hear about the glass diffuser, its 'prettier' IMHO, but you'll need a separate bubble counter, to catch the white fluff if nothing else.

Sam

 

[MoreCoffee]

.................... The latest PFK also has a detailed article on DIY/budget CO2 systems.

Hmmm ... I've seen that article. It's a bit 'radical' compared to PFK's usual offerings.
Wonder who they got to put that together

Maybe a change coming

Nice work George ... must be good to see your name on a magazine front cover !

 

[iamwhoiam]

Glad to hear about the glass diffuser, its 'prettier' IMHO, but you'll need a separate bubble counter, to catch the white fluff if nothing else.

Sam

Definitely... it's been really bugging me recently
What the hell is that stuff?

So the nutrafin's do create enough pressure to allow ceramic diffusers to work?

 

[MoreCoffee]

............. So the nutrafin's do create enough pressure to allow ceramic diffusers to work?

Yes, I've used small ceramic diffusers with Nutrafin canisters and also with 2ltr pop bottles, both worked fine.
However with the pop bottles, you need to ensure you have a really good seal, as the pressure inside the bottle is higher so it will escape through even the slightest gap.

Al

 

[hoarp001]

Hmm to make my own brew inside one of these canisters, how much yeast, sugar and water (and bicarb if necessary) should I use?

I beer-ey puddle keeps apearing underneath the canister and im not sure where its coming from...

hmm...