Setting Up My Co2 System.. Any Advice

[BettaUK]

I have just purchased a co2 kit on ebay , which is cool but am also a little worried as I have never tried this before..

Heres a pic of the Kit:

Any advice would be greatfully recived, I have found a local aquarium store that refill the bottles, so once I have got that done will be after advice on setting up as it doesn't have a ny instructions

The Kit includes:

• Gas Bottle
• Diffuser
• Regulator - New
• Solinoid
• Bubble Counter - New

Also was wondering if I am going to need any other kit?? I'm guessing I will need to purchase some Airline Tubing, anything else people can think of that I will need??


Thanks In Advance

Lawrence

 

[karlp]

Congrats on the purchase.

What's the black box on the right hand side of the photo ?

 

[BettaUK]

Um, To be honest I have no idea yet. I think it may be the solenoid?? I will know a bit more once the kit arrives as I only won the auction today .

I just hope a few members on here will be able to help me set the equipment up and get it running

 

[karlp]

In which case it's pretty straight forward.

Connect hose from the output of the bubble counter into the solenoid and then to your check valve. From the check valve connect hose to run into the tank and to the diffuser (ladder thing).

The solenoid you will want to rig up with a timer so that it switches the CO2 off at night.

You need to be very careful to monitor how many bubbles your getting in the bubble counter and the PH level. Do a search on Chucks planted tank calculator which explains what you're aiming for.

I would personally recomend getting a PH controller as well. Do a search on PH controller on ebay and you'll see a buy it now one for £67, which is the one I've got and works great. This acts as a safety shut off and shuts off the soleniod when you get to the CO2 level in the water that you want and re-activates it again when it drops below a threshold.

Plastic air hose isn't supposed to be too great with CO2 and the silicon tubing that comes from most aquatic shops is too thin, so I got thicker silicon tubing from www.AltecWeb.com. 3.2mm internal bore 2mm thick rings a bell. There may well be better ones though.

 

[BettaUK]

Thanks Fishy Mad,

Thats a big help, although I may understand it all a bit better when the equipment arrives and I know which piece is which

The info on the tubing is great, didn't know using a different type of tubing..

Shame your not closer.. probably going to need some help setting it up. I wonder if I can find anyone local who has experience

Best Regards & Thanks again..
Lawrence