Opinions On This Co2 System?

[Rlon35]

CARBO PLUS CO2 SYSTEM
AQUARIUM PRODUCTS

Carbon dioxide is an essential component of healthy aquarium plant life. Adding carbon dioxide to aquarium water couldn't be easier than with Carbo-Plus, a revolutionary method of using electrolysis to free CO2 from a carbon block set inside your tank. Simply place the carbon bar upright in the aquarium, set the desired carbon amount on the easy-to-read dial outside the aquarium, and the unit starts producing CO2 immediately! No bubble counter, pressure tank, gas refills, valves, or gauges needed! A dial on the control unit allows safe and convenient control of dispensed amount of CO2. At maximum use, Carbo-Plus will generate .29 grams of CO2 per hour.

 

[Mr Bliss]

If what they say is actually true, it sounds intriguing for small tanks (depending on cost, of course).

But 290 mg/hour doesn't sound like much for a 200 litre tank, for example (1.45 ppm / hour; you can lose CO2 from the water column faster than that depending on water circulation and plants). Of course, if these happen to be ridiculously cheap, you could run several.

 

[Mr Bliss]

There's a discussion on this at the Barr Report forums here.

The prevailing opinion seems to be that it's ineffective for large tanks, too big for small tanks, expensive, high-maintenance and potentially harmful to fish.

As an interesting tidbit from that debate, Tom Barr has apparently used DIY CO2 in a 90g (!) tank, although with some trouble. Gotta do some googling to find out how he made it work.

 

[Rlon35]

There's a discussion on this at the Barr Report forums here.

The prevailing opinion seems to be that it's ineffective for large tanks, too big for small tanks, expensive, high-maintenance and potentially harmful to fish.

As an interesting tidbit from that debate, Tom Barr has apparently used DIY CO2 in a 90g (!) tank, although with some trouble. Gotta do some googling to find out how he made it work.

Thanks for the feedback Mr. Bliss. I had some misgivings about the system, plus, as you have stated, it's not cheap at all. What attracts me to it is it's size. I really can't have a big CO2 tank anywhere, as I don't have the room around the tank. I have thought about the following system as well, but I am not sure. I believe Aaron didn't think it would be optimal for my 55g tank, and he's given me some real good feedback thus far:

http/www.marineandreef.com/ProductDetail...94&CartID=1

The price isn't that bad, and it's seems like it's easy to regulate. The bottles are said to last a long time, but I am skeptical about that.

 

[Mikaila31]

Yeah that one is not going to last you very long. I run a simliar sized paintball canister on my 20gal and it lasts 3 months. I would also check to make sure you can adjust the flow, some regulators come preset and you are unable to adjust the output flow. IMO it would be much cheaper in the long run to buy a more expensive one with a regular sized canister or even a paintball setup. The canisters with the setup you listed are disposialble, so you will have to buy a new one everytime it runs out, which is going to cost you around $20 everytime. Compared to a couple dollars to refill a similar sized canister.

I was able to fit my regulator and 5 pound canister for my 55gal in the stand with quite a bit of room to spare.

edit: I just converted my 20oz paintball canister that I run on my 20gal and it can out as 566grams, where that canister is only 76grams. If that is right then it is insanely tiny IMO, and chances are it will only last a few weeks at best if you try running it at 1 bubble/sec.