Carbo Plus ???

[jzkmom]

Does anyone use a Carbo Plus unit to inject CO2 into their tank?
I'm trying to figure out the best way to add CO2 to my 30 gallon, and I'm considering Carbo Plus as an option. I've been researching pressurized systems, but with the Carbo Plus, I could just hook it up to a timer and won't have to buy the cylinder, regulator, reactor, etc.
Just wondering how well the Carbo Plus system works? Opinions appreciated!!!

[jdwyz]

a friend of mine uses one.from his experience he hates it,always has to buy the carbon replacement blocks.doesnt put out enough co2 for his particular setup.i havent seen him in over a month.said he was going to trade it in on a pressurized co2 system.i dunno.

[agilis]

I've used a Carbo Plus on a 46 gal tank since I set it up 17 months ago. I think they are fine if you are using them on a tank less than about 50 gallons,with fairly soft water, and your goal is to have an adequate amount of CO2 for decent plant growth. If you have high carbonate hardness and are trying to pull down the Ph and boost carbon dioxide to high levels, you will run through the $20 carbon block replacements too quickly. My water is mostly r.o., mixed to give me approx. 3 dCH or slightly less. I maintain the ph at about 6.7 to 6.8 with the Carbo Plus. I use sodium bicarbonate when I mix my mostly reverse osmosis new water, to bring kh to the 3 mg level. At the Ph and kh levels I maintain, the aquarium averages a CO2 level of about 15 mg./ltr. This is several times what it would be without the Carbo Plus, and it keeps my swords, crypts, rotala, nymphoides,etc. growing very nicely.

Carbo plus is extremely convenient, simple, and small. it is relatively expensive , unless your demands on it are modest, like mine, with soft water and moderate CO2 goals. My aquarium, while thickly and heavily planted, is primarily a fish tank for tetras and a few other fish that do best in soft acidic water. The fish are the main priority, but I think the plants do extremely well, considering I use very few additives or fertilizers. If I had a significantly larger tank, or much harder water, or was focused mainly on plants, I would probably get a compressed gas system. As it is, my Carbo Plus unit is connected to a timer with my main light, a 96w cf, on for 11 hours each day, and the replacement blocks last for about 5 months. For my purposes , the simplicity is worth it. I get healthy plant growth for my fish with minimum fuss.