Natural Plant System

[hj600]

hi all,
i had an old account on here but i lost it when i got signed out so this is my new one.


so to the question... on saturday i installed the natural plant system into my ten gallon, i have not being able to get the fermentation going, i have searched and searched on how but i just cant i have added the sugar waited for the water to cool then added the baking soda(stabilizer) and the yeast( activatiour) and waited 48 hours, the most i got was 1 bubble every few minutes and this wasnt dissolving please please help me

 

[cryosniper]

I actually just set mine up the day before yesterday. Used the packets that came with it and filled it with tap water. Well, something about that combination didn't work. Left it over night and not a single bubble. Rinsed it out yesterday, used sugar up to the first line, 1/4tsp of yeast, then filled to the top line with bottled water. Started getting big bubbles within 30 mins, but like yours, they weren't diffusing. Came home from class this morning and this thing is beautiful, lol. Many little bubbles traveling up and down the ladder.

You say you've had it going since Saturday, so maybe think about redoing it with regular yeast and not the packets? If you used tap water, consider using dechlorinated water because I've heard the chlorine kills the yeast.

Also, why did you wait for the water to cool before adding yeast? How hot did you have the water to begin with? I heard having warmer water gets the yeast going faster. Something to think about.

 

[snowflake311]

That packets could be dead. I tried 2 of them before I gave up and made my own. I use bakers yeast and sugar that's it but it only last a week. If you use wine yeast or another type of yeast that is for alcohol it will last longer. I will be getting different yeast soon. I change my mix every week it's a pain.

Don't trust the stupid packets. Just put the same amount of sugar in and then add 1tsp of yeast . Use warm water and shake it up or stir it up well. Then it will work in no time. I just had to make another batch today.

Make sure you use a check valve you don't want yeast mix getting in the tank.

 

[hj600]

I've used up all the packets that came with it lool so ill get some yeast tonight, what yeast are you using?

I left it to cool because it said to, something I disagreed with so the yesterday when I remade the mixture still with the packets I didn't wait for it to cool down. Did you use baking soda in your mixture?


Thanks for the help it is much appreciated!

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Easybake does the trick, you can find it in pretty much any chain shop.

Dont use baking soda, its a stabliser so you dont really need it, use room temp water and give it a stir to get it going.

Have a look at Supercoley's yeast CO2 pinned at the top of the planted section, your better off using a 2L bottle, it will last longer and give you around 30bpm.

 

[hj600]

I've used up all the packets that came with it lool so ill get some yeast tonight, what yeast are you using?

I left it to cool because it said to, something I disagreed with so the yesterday when I remade the mixture still with the packets I didn't wait for it to cool down. Did you use baking soda in your mixture?


Thanks for the help it is much appreciated!

 

[hj600]

Okay thanks for all the replies I got myself some easybake yeast and some bottled water and I'm about to have ago at that
I was just wandering what your opinions are of this system because I cannot get my plant to grow well and look nice no matter what I try, I've got the 48lte fish box, well this is the tank with the co2 in, and ive got two 15 watt bulbs on for around ten hours I've got tetra complete substrate and nothing so this is my last hope any tips or suggestions? Thank you all once again

 

[hj600]

just got back from running... and cryosniper your right this is beautiful so pleased thanks guys i have just started tring to do a complete diy system with the diffuser hope it works, now all i gotta do is wait for my plants to grow hopefully, and once again anymore help will be appriciated

Henry

 

[snowflake311]

You will want to change the mix every week if you don't want too much co2 change I add excel 3 days after I start my mix. Just to make sure I don't get a big co2 swing.

When I start mine the first 3 days my co2 is around 40ppm then when it drops to 30ppm I change it. My co2 calculating is not exact but gives you a good idea. You need to know your ph and kh then there are charts and calculators on the intent to help you get the number.

As for diffuser I find putting the tube at the end of my intake tube works great. The bubbles sometimes get stuck in the tube so there is extra time they for gas exchange. By the time they hit the filter propeller the bubbles are small. Then the propeller makes them smaller. I will try others ways but for now this is cheap and easy.

As far this system I got it because I have a toddler and liked how neat it is and hangs on the tank. I felt if I made my own she would break it of knock it over. This system is kid safe. But I would rather have a bigger tank. It runs out too fast.

Now that you have co2 you should look into a higher light. 15watt on a 10gal is not much. I have 2x20 CFL on my 10 gal. You just need to make sure you add enough ferts and co2 fir the plants when you high light.

 

[hj600]

Some people say they get four weeks on this is this not true? And i have two 15 watt bulbs so does that mean I have 30watts? Or still fifteen? Unfortunately I cannot change my lighting

 

[snowflake311]

You have 30watts that's not bad.

Yes you might see bubble for 4 weeks but the amount of co2 in the water will be little to nothing much. I like my co2 at 30ppm if it gets lower I change it.

It also depends on the yeast you use. The bakers yeast does not live very long when alchohl gets over 13%. if you get a wine year or distillers yeast you will get fermantaion longer because it will live longer.

 

[StandbySetting]

You'll never achieve 30PPM with a yeast kit on a 48 litre tank, I'd be more inclined to use Gluturaldehyde of some form, easy carbo I'd recommend.

 

[snowflake311]

You'll never achieve 30PPM with a yeast kit on a 48 litre tank, I'd be more inclined to use Gluturaldehyde of some form, easy carbo I'd recommend.

esTesT

Yes I do but not for more then a few days it drops pretty fast as fermentaion slows. So I add excel more at the end of the week. The thing with diy mix is it will not last long. That's why I change mine every week. I know ph can be effected by stuff in the tank and so on. I have checked my ph and kh many times during the week. When I first start my co2 it was at about 40ppm acording to my ph and kh readings. By the end of the week it was 20 then 15ppm. I know that's just a ballpark reading but it's an idea. My 10gal tank has 2" of substrate so due to displacment I have less then 10gal of water in the tank.

Never say never.

 

[hj600]

so if i have 30 watts why are my plants so bad? is not about the lighting?

And i you say the diy wont work in my settup should i uninstall it or keep it in there?

can you recomend any plants for my settup? my filter is a fluval 105, i was thinking of getting the elite mini filter and hooking up my co2 to that to get a better circulation of my co2, or should i just stike with the ladder?
so sorry about all the questions i just want my tank to be as lush as everyone elses seems to be lool, thank you

 

[StandbySetting]

Try just 15 watts of light, what plants do you currently have? the DIY will work, albeit not very well, you can make it better by using two canisters and replace them alternately, so you'll replace either one every seven days but not at the same time, this way you can maintain a more consistent level of CO2 which will prevent the fluctuating levels. Ditch the ladder and get yourself a nano ceramic diffuser, the CO2 will be dissolved more effectively.

Plants I recommend include: Microsorum pteropus, Cryptocorynes, Anubias, Valliseneria, Aponogeton and mosses