CO2 - DIY or this...?

[Mindcrime121]

I was wondering if anyone could tell me what they think of this.

http://www.aquariumguys.com/turbo-co2-bio-system.html

Anyone tried it? Seems to me like they just took the mess out of a DIY, added a venturi and made it commercially availible. I'm thinking of (when the time comes) doing a DIY out of a 2 liter soda bottle and adding a venturi like this system has, if anyone can tell me how?

[Bk718]

This is the same thing like the Hagen plant grow system with the ladder but instead of a .5L canister here they use 1L which for a 10g might be good but with anything higher you would need to add extra bottles (can hook them up with a T-connector)

[Mindcrime121]

I have no experience or knowlege of the Hagen type, nor any other for that matter, as I've only just started toying with the planted tank idea in the last few weeks or so, aside from a couple anubias and java fern that is. I only know I sure can't afford a couple hundred bucks to put gas into my tank when I can barely afford to keep it in my car, LOL!! So what happens to the plants if they are not getting enough CO2 in the first place? I guess that's probably the best question to start with... probably should search posts for that answer, but since we're here anyhow... The thing says good for up to 40 gallons though.

[Bk718]

it says its good for 40g but that would probably be true for the first few days when you get a big boost production of co2 after that it would not be enough to keep the level of co2 good in the tank. I personally had been using about 2-3L bottle on a 10g.. 5-6L bottles on a 29g. And that kept my co2 at a pretty good level (didnt see much algae, and plants grew well)

What happens when co2 is low? well if your light is medium/high + you are introducing nutrients into the tank (even a big bioload can add nutrients) and your co2 is low.. the plants cannot take in all the nutrients at the pace that you are dosing them and in the end you get algae issues.

If you have a tank thats less than 2wpg and your plant list is low light plants like anubias/crypts/ferns then co2 isnt necessary. These plants dont care much for co2 hence many ppl who want to keep a tank simple and easy, they avoid the higher light setups which require co2/ferts and instead go with a simple low light tank with low light plants (here the maintenance is so little that you dont even have to do water changes weekly)

[Mindcrime121]

Ok, well my tank is a standard 20g and I'm running 3x15W T8 bulbs, (510 lumens 18"). I'm assuming this to be equivielant to about 2.5W / gallon as compared to T12s. Plants are anubias nana, java fern, and my large lilly bulb just sprouted. I'm hoping to add java moss, dwarf hair grass, some kind of sword plant, and others on the "medium" light requirement list. I doubt that I'll need CO2 for some time, but if I add these plants and sort of "jungle it out" so to speak, then will one of these (or a DIY) CO2 system be sufficient? Or will it still not be needed even with this many plants due to the fact that I'm not going to be running "high light" (3-4W+/g)?

[Bk718]

plants like anubias and ferns are very slow growers, in a high light tank if you dont have things at a balance they will be the first to be hit with algae (bba in particular). You can add the diy co2 just to have some level in there but also try and keep your light on for 8hrs a day. See how that goes for 2 weeks and if you start seeing algae, up the co2 (to a bigger bottle) and look into figuring out a dosing schedule for the tank (would be more of a must if you get stem plants).

Co2/ferts become a must depending on your light (watts/photoperiod)

[Mindcrime121]

I'm running about 12hrs a day with what I have and have had algae wether I was running it with just 1 or all 3 bulbs. Don't know the initials being used on these boards for the types though.

[Bk718]

I'm running about 12hrs a day with what I have and have had algae wether I was running it with just 1 or all 3 bulbs. Don't know the initials being used on these boards for the types though.

12hrs is too much... Low light plants dont use up nutrients as fast so algae out competes them. You give them more light and its just an algae factory..

[Mindcrime121]

Ok, what if I run all 3 for 8 hrs and only run 1 the rest of the time? I hate having the tank sitting there darkened out when I want to look at it, and frankly, it seems strangely unnatural to have an 8 hour "daylight" cycle all year round, especially considering that it's going to have fish in it. How can I get around this short light time requirement without having massive algae issues?

[Bk718]

run 2 bulbs for 6hrs and 1 bulb for the remaining 2-3 more hours.
Have the light on for the time that you are home and fish do not care if light is on for 3hrs or 15hrs. You must understand you are dealing with plants as well. And since your tank conditions are not yet at balance you would need to keep your lighting/photoperiod low so that you dont get an algae bloom (all this while you work on getting your co2 and fert schedule up and running)

[Mindcrime121]

Not sure how you mean that... Are you saying run 2 for 6 hrs, then cut back to 1 for the next 2-3 hrs, or are you saying run 2 for 6 hrs and then ADD the additional bulb for a total of 3 running durring the last 2-3 hrs?

BTW, I'm home pretty much 24/7 and spend a lot of time around my tank and want to be able to see into it and enjoy it throughout the day and evening. If that means scrubbing algae now and then, so be it. I've had to take the anubias out once since restarting the tank here a few months ago and remove algae from the leaves, so if that's a standing issue with this plant then I may just remove it to a smaller tank which I can deal with not having lit up for viewing as much of the time I suppose. I intend to add some otos to help control it though.

[Bk718]

bottom line is that planted tanks need a break and do best (minimal algae) if the light is kept at 8-10hrs.
If you would like get only low light plants with a 10w bulb over the tank and then you can keep it on for 12-14hrs and not experience algae.

So if you still run 3 bulbs for 12hrs+ and have low co2/low or no ferts you can experience serious algae.. And the type of algae you will get wont be the so easy to remove kind.. Plus otos only eat greenspot algae.. but that algae would be the least of your worries.