What Co2 System To Get

[Rorie]

I have been looking into my different options for Co2'ing my tank.

I have settled with the fact that i am going to get a refillable compressed co2 tank which is anything larger than 500g seen as my tank is 360L!

I have seen a lot of JBL kits, and currently i think Zooplus.com is the cheapest place for me to get them. That said, for a full kit that will sort out my tank, and comes with a 'night valve' as they call it, i am looking at £250. And that said....again.... it only gives me a 500g bottle.

I have been recommended a place in England that specialises in ADA stuff. I gave the guy a call, and what he told me was interesting - he said he used to sell loads of JBL kits, but most came back wanting a bigger tank, then looking to replace 'x' with a glass equivalent, and they 'y' and then........ seen as the JBL kits are made mostly out of plastic and such

He has since stopped selling JBL kits, and instead has his own 'kit' which he has made up with German made parts, and is all glass. It comes at a price though - £300! However, this includes a 3kg bottle.

Initially i thought £300 was at the highest end of co2 kits, but having looked into exactly what i'd need to get with the JBL (stated above, around £250) i am thinking its maybe pretty good! And of course, its a huge bottle for my huge tank.

I was wondering what everybody thought about it? Good deal? Am i crazy looking at spending this much for my first planted aquarium? Am i missing a link and its actually MUCH cheaper to do it another way?

Thanks

 

[ian]

hey Rorie, i think i know which online shop you are talking about. As a full set the ones from the place that you are talking about are good for the money.

Now, just remind us Rorie, have you set the tank up yet? If i remember rightly you haven't? you wanted to do the C02 from the word go. I think i have advised you to have a good read about C02 as you can end up with all sorts of propblems if it isn't done right. You can end up with bigger algae problems than a tank that runs without C02, believe it or not. I'm not trying to put you off C02, because my tank has flourished since using it. I did spend a year just growing plants in aqauriums before hand. I tried loads of different plants, to see which ones i could grow and ones i stuggled with. I then went further and further, eventually going the whole hog. I'm glad i did! but i'm also glad i tried without.

I would wait a bit until you know what lighting is gonna be in your tank.

 

[Rorie]

hey Rorie, i think i know which online shop you are talking about. As a full set the ones from the place that you are talking about are good for the money.

Now, just remind us Rorie, have you set the tank up yet? If i remember rightly you haven't? you wanted to do the C02 from the word go. I think i have advised you to have a good read about C02 as you can end up with all sorts of propblems if it isn't done right. You can end up with bigger algae problems than a tank that runs without C02, believe it or not. I'm not trying to put you off C02, because my tank has flourished since using it. I did spend a year just growing plants in aqauriums before hand. I tried loads of different plants, to see which ones i could grow and ones i stuggled with. I then went further and further, eventually going the whole hog. I'm glad i did! but i'm also glad i tried without.

I would wait a bit until you know what lighting is gonna be in your tank.

Ah, i have managed to find out what lighting source i have now! Arcadia T5 Plant Pro - 4 x 39 watts

I realise this is maybe not be the most extreme amount of light, but i also have the whole shabang of ADA substrate! Ebay does you good sometimes!

I did have a look around that forum, but force of habit brings me here again I know the other forum has the fanatics, and more detail, but here i can also ask my more general questions

As for buying or not, well, i have not started up yet (my big tank that is), but i am doing reading about what to do, so that when the time comes, i will have all the theory - though maybe no experience

I am going to run the tank for a fair while with plants etc before any fish go near the tank, just to make sure i can do it all properly!

 

[ian]

it's hard to gauge lighting in WPG now a days with T5's. Its always best IMO to see how you get on before jumping in to C02 in you first planted tank. If you do want to go down the C02 route however, just give us lot a shout and we can try to help. What are you doing regarding turnover in the tank?

 

[Rorie]

Turn over?

 

[Rorie]

So, WRT not getting co2 system yet.....why not? Other than it being tricky to set up due to PH fluctuation etc. Plants need those three important things to live and grow. How can i get started if i do not have any co2?

Maybe i have missed something, but how do i know if my plants need more light, rather than more co2? and visa-versa?

 

[ian]

Sorry Rorie, in a planted tank we often aim for a 10 times turnover rate of the water around the tank. Some use pure filtration, some people including myself use the filter and powerheads as extra turnover. We aim for this to try and make sure all our nutrients, including C02 get all
over the tank. As for C02 levels, water contains C02. In my old 60l
I didn't use C02 at all and managed to grow certain plants, this was with 1.5wpg and 10 times flow. Some of the other planted peeps ie llj and supercoley ran non C02 tanks (there were other things that were taken into consideration). There are quite a few memebers that don't venture down the C02 path and manage to grow plants quite well. Looking at a plant you can tell what it's missing or needing once you get the hang of aquarium plants

 

[Rorie]

Ok, i am a little confused with what a 'pure filtration' system is compared to a powerhead etc. I have one filter with the tank - its external, and i believe it is really good. Thought i am not sure the rate it will work at.

I will give it a go without co2 first i guess, and see how i get on with that

 

[ian]

I mean by pure filtration as 'filtraion alone' for flow around the tank, and not using powerheads. Like i said before, you may find you might nedd to use C02, if you do then give us all a shout.

 

[FishTankCrazy]

Sorry Rorie, in a planted tank we often aim for a 10 times turnover rate of the water around the tank. Some use pure filtration, some people including myself use the filter and powerheads as extra turnover. We aim for this to try and make sure all our nutrients, including C02 get all
over the tank. As for C02 levels, water contains C02. In my old 60l
I didn't use C02 at all and managed to grow certain plants, this was with 1.5wpg and 10 times flow. Some of the other planted peeps ie llj and supercoley ran non C02 tanks (there were other things that were taken into consideration). There are quite a few memebers that don't venture down the C02 path and manage to grow plants quite well. Looking at a plant you can tell what it's missing or needing once you get the hang of aquarium plants

I also have a powerhead to achieve 10x turnover, was wondering. What positions are your intake strainer, exhaust and powerhead in your tank? Mine is powerhead front right with exhaust. Powerhead facing slightly down towards front left and exhaust facing to the surface front left. Intake is at the rear right. Silly question really but just curious. Thanks