Ok I Am Breaking Down And Adding Co2

[iroc]

I saw a nutrafin CO2 system today for a pretty good price 10.00 so I wetn ahead and got it. I have had really good results with plant growth so far without CO2 but I am starting to get a bit of algae and my carpeting plants aren't moving as fast as I thought they would. I figured that with all the DIY tips for this system up on this site it wouldn't be expensive and deffintly couldn't hurt. I am gonna use this thread to do updates and then see how big of a difference it really makes.

system is set-up as of 1/2 hour ago I haven't seen any bubles yet, but it said it could take from 2-4 hours

wish me luck..................


Whole 20gal without any CO2 added

a close up of the tank

close up of ground cover I think it's Lilaeopsis novae-zelandiae (please let me know if I am wrong)

close up of Myriophyllum sp.

Close up of what I think is Alternanthera(please let me know if I am wrong)

close up of java fern/moss driftwood

So we shall see how this works..................stay tuned B)

 

[anodized]

wow thats a great planted tank for not having any CO2. i'm sure with it will be even greener.

 

[voo]

What fern is that in the background? I'm sure not that you're adding CO2 those ferns will soon fill out the back
BTW are you using the packets that came with the CO2 kit or you made your own mix? You wont get much out of the packets, best to throw them now in my opinion, don't waste your time on them.

 

[Silverlady]

I don't think that is a Rotala, i am not an expert but to me it looks like a Alternanthera.

 

[iroc]

What fern is that in the background? I'm sure not that you're adding CO2 those ferns will soon fill out the back
BTW are you using the packets that came with the CO2 kit or you made your own mix? You wont get much out of the packets, best to throw them now in my opinion, don't waste your time on them.

the fern is Hygrophila difformis/Water Wisteria actually what you are looking at are cuttings from 2 plants I bought about 3 months ago, it has taken over and I know as the CO2 starts working it's really gonna take off

Before I did cuttings and moved the water onion it looked like this

(BTW I liked it but the fish were running out of swimming space)




So it's been 17 hours and I see NO BUBBLES, I am more then willing to scrap the set up that came with it and use the mix meationed in the pinned article, but do you think something else could be wrong

I don't think that is a Rotala, i am not an expert but to me it looks like a Alternanthera.

i think your right, I changed it in the orginal post..........thanks

 

[iroc]

Ok well after 19 hours with no bubbles I switched to the mix meationed on this board, there was some water in the line too so I blew through it to clear it out, how long before I should see some bubbles and how do you guys deal with the water in the line; do you remove the ladder everytime or just blow from the other side if the tubing?

 

[Teddy]

when i set it up using the mix provided, it made bubble right away... you put warm water in there?

 

[xoedusk]

Please please post new pics when your CO2 gets going. Weekly would be great!

 

[voo]

Check the dates on the packets you used. Mine were already out of date when i bought it
The packets aren't much good anyway, most people dont have much success with them and it's far better making up your own mix.

The water coming up the tube might be because you filled the canister too much, or you shook it?

 

[iroc]

Check the dates on the packets you used. Mine were already out of date when i bought it
The packets aren't much good anyway, most people dont have much success with them and it's far better making up your own mix.

The water coming up the tube might be because you filled the canister too much, or you shook it?

Yea well i switched it up to the sugar, yeast mix.

Yes i did use warm water, a note when I emptyed out the old mix it was completely stagnet water is that normal.

I tried very hard not to shake it but I might have I donno, so I am assumeing that is NOT normal??

Please please post new pics when your CO2 gets going. Weekly would be great!

I plan on it, I am gonna bring home the digital cam from work every weekend and take pics, I will be using this thread to do updates..................





New mix 45 mins later and WE HAVE BUBBLES

 

[iroc]

Can anyone tell me why the tetras LOVE hanging out around the bubble ladder? They all sit there and watch the bubbles come up, it's funnier then anything I have ever see them do before. They look like they are at a drive in or something..........

 

[danipsp]

the same thing happend to me
and then i noticed that the "activator" and "stabilizer"
are about 1 year and a half old
so i used my own yeast and sugar mix

 

[iroc]

Well I had to move one of the Hygrophila difformis cuttings as it was preventing 2 others from getting light. I can't wait until this weekend to take pics everything is sooooooooooooo green, anf the reds of the Alternanthera are screaming loud now. t/u for CO2

 

[George Farmer]

Lovely looking tank, well done.

Glad to hear the CO2 recipe is working out for you.

 

[iroc]

Lovely looking tank, well done.

Glad to hear the CO2 recipe is working out for you.

Now thats a complment, coming from one of the best "farmer's" on this board