CO2 choices

[Dahlia]

I'm looking to buy a CO2 system, I don't want to have to keep up with yeast CO2. I wanted to see if anyone else has had good luck with the cheaper CO2 systems available ($80-$150 instead of $300-$500).

I'm currently thinking about getting a product like this ($129):

Dr. Foster's & Smith Semi-Automatic CO2 System (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9935&Ne=40000&R=15679&Nao=9&N=2004+112954)

But I am also looking at the more expensive ($399):

Dr. Foster's & Smith Deluxe Fully-Automatic CO2 System (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9933&Ne=40000&R=15683&Nao=9&N=2004+112954)

How often do you need to do KH and PH testing if you use a system like the first one? Do they stay pretty regular once you have them set up? Any brands or other websites I should check out?

[Dahlia]

As a side note does anyone know if this stuff needs to hang on the back of the tank or if you can hide it in your cabinet? I'd prefer it go inside the cabinet.

[bobalston]

Take a look at my web site for information on tanks, regulators, needle valves and reactors.

http://members.cox.net/tulsaalstons/AquaticPlants.htm#High%20Pressure%20CO2

The tank and regulator can definitely reside in the cabinet under the tank. The diffuser or reactor, depending on what you buy, can be in the tank our outside. External reactors can be plumbed in-line to a canister filter or be driven by a separate water pump/power head in your tank.

My web site also shows the equipment I use.

My web site is mostly an organized list of links to information posted by others. Do a lot of reading and you should be all set to make an informed selection of equipment and get it hooked up.

Bob :cool:

[djlen]

Any CO2 set ups can go into a cabinet depending on whether it fits and how often you want to fill the bottle. A 5lb. bottle will fit into just about any cabinet, but needs more frequent filling.
I spent no more than $120 for each of my systems. Both systems include the gas bottles (one a 5lb., one a 20lb.) a regulator, a needle valve, and a diffuser. I use diffusers that are inside the tank(power head with siphon tube attached). When the plants grow in you don't even know they are in there.
They both run 24/7 and once adjusted remain steady. One of mine has not been touched for almost 6 months and the pH has been unwavering at 6.4.
Others will disagree, but I don't believe bubble counters and do-dads to turn it on and off are necessary. You set it up, monitor the pH closely for a few weeks and there after, a bi-weekly pH test is all that is required.
I believe one of the systems on Bob's site is very similar to the one I use. I bought it at Rapids Wholesale Online Catalog.

Len

[RTR]

I'm with Len on doodads, and if I were running CO2 right now, it would be without bubble-counters and certainly without solenoids and controllers - which make noise ranging fom chronic hums to the sound of a metal gate slamming when they open/close, and which periodically fail...NIMFT, thanks anyway.

[Slappy*McFish]

Nice little site you have there, Bob. I've bookmarked it for future reference. Thanks.

I did notice one misspelling, however.

'Simease Algae Eater - SAE - Identification'

[Robert H]

I would never be without a bubblecounter. A bubblecounter gives you a visual check to adjust the flow. Its a no brainer. How else do you know how to set it? Some people leave the Co2 running 24/7, I prefer to shut it off at night, thats what a solenoid does... or for the ultimate automation, a pH controller keeps the C02 at a precise level.

You can get all this for a hundred dollars less than the "ultimate" you listed

http://www.aquabotanic.com/abstore/en-us/dept_3.html


The first system you list uses a glass diffusor that goes inside the aquarium. A diffusor is a glorified airstone.

The second system uses the Aqua Medic Reactor 1000 which is an external reactor that must be connected to a pump or cannister filter. Its the same reactor I use in my system for a $100 less. The foster and smith system includes a powerhead that goes inside your aquarium, connected to the Reactor 1000 which they have hanging on the back of the aquarium. That kinda defeats the purpose of having an external reactor. The Reactor 1000 is also designed for large aquariums, minimum 55 gallons.

[Dahlia]

Thanks for all the info! These two website links were very helpful, I'm still looking at Bob's site. I have some more questions:

How do you hook CO2 to a cannister filter? Do I need special equipment or is there a way to do it that I just don't know about? It is a Filstar 4Plus. Is hooking it to the cannister better than difusing it directly to the tank?

Someone mentioned that you can use the same tank on more than one aquarium if they are close to each other, what equipment do I need to split the flow to two aquariums? I figure I can put both my 55's on the same CO2 tank. I'll have to do the 90 separately since it is in another room.

Djlen mentioned if I put the CO2 bottle in the cabinet it will need more frequent filling? What is a typical refill time and how much more quickly will it need it if I put it in the cabinet?

Where do I find CO2 bottles for sale?

Is the pH likely to have a severe jump when the CO2 shuts off at night?

[emoore]

I can try to answer some of your questions Dahlia. If you have an external reactor you can plumb it inline with a canister filter. Basically you cut the output filter hose and insert the reactor (you might have to get a reducer depending on the size of your filter hose and the size of the reactor input/output).

You can use a manifold to split the CO2 into different tanks.

I believe Djlen was saying that a 5lb tank will fit in a cabinet but you will have to fill a 5lb tank more often than a 20lb tank (which might not fit in a cabinet). I don't think he meant that the 5lb tank will need to be refilled more because it is in a cabinet.

I got my CO2 bottle from a welding supply company. I just bought an "ugly" bottle from them since I have to exchange the bottle when I need more CO2. You might be able to find some places that fill the bottle right there but be sure you find a place like that since you don't want to buy one of those nice shiney CO2 bottles online and have to exchange it for a ugly one.

I shut my CO2 off at night and the pH does not change. You test your pH right before the lights go out at night and then in the morning right before the light come on to see if your pH changes. Plants don't use CO2 at night so there still should be CO2 left (that is assuming you don't have too much surface agitation. I used to have a HOB biowheel filter and I had to leave the CO2 on 24/7 but when I switched to a canister I turned the CO2 off at night because the fish were looking stressed in the morning).

I hope that answers some of your questions.

[djlen]

Unless you know of a place that can and will fill your CO2 bottle on the spot, it is better, IMO, to buy an old/used one. Many welding shops will sell them and then when you need a re-fill, simply trade the one you've emptied for a full one.

CO2 bottles need to be tested for safety purposes, on a regular basis, usually every 4 or 5 years. If you keep re-using the same bottle, eventually it will have to be sent to a testing center. Exchanging bottles has two advantages that I know of. They can be exchanged on the spot and the welding shop tests them at no cost to you. And I always have a bottle that is "in date". I've spoken with people who bought new bottles and often had to wait anywhere from 2 hrs. to 2 days to get their bottles back, full. A few hours is an inconvenience. A day or two is out of the question when you have water at home that is gassing off CO2.

To inject into more than one tank off a single bottle you simply put a splitter on the line and each line goes to a different tank. Ofcourse, you need a needle valve for each line since tanks vary in needs for CO2 and therefore have different needs for injection.

BTW, I was referring to the size of the bottle(5lb. - 20lb.) when I mentioned more frequent refilling.......not whether or not it's in a cabinet.

Len

[Dahlia]

BTW, I was referring to the size of the bottle(5lb. - 20lb.) when I mentioned more frequent refilling.......not whether or not it's in a cabinet.
Oops, shouldn't read things when I'm sleepy. This makes a lot more sense!

Thanks. :)