Plant Gro Co2 Natural System?

[Squealor]

I'm new to having live plants (or a tank in general, for that matter)... I know that plants need Co2 to thrive and was wondering if anyone has any comments on this system. I found it online at Big Al's and it's a reasonable price... I don't want to spend hundreds when I'm not sure how the whole plant thing is going to work out... :) Any comments would be appreciated!

[reignman40]

They actually have this system for sale at a local PetSmart here. It's basically just a commercialized version of the DIY co2 that everyone uses. Personally I think you're better off just using the DIY system as it will be cheaper and just as advantagous as it's the same system being used.

Curtis

[chiefmorales]

I've tried DYI and bought the same CO2 system from big al's. i must say go with the store bought system i've abandoned the DYI setup because of the ease of use of the store bought. it only requires to be refilled about once every 2-3 months and since i've put it on my 42g hex i've taken the biowheel filter off and put a whisper 10g filter on it has helped my plants filter the water so well i never have any problems with it. it's so maint. free i often forget to feed the fish :rolleyes: i have 12 neon tetras and 2 fancy tail male guppies in it.

[Squealor]

Oh, cool, thanks so much!

[Fish_3456]

I'm thinking of getting one plant and I was wondering if I need one of those Co2 injectors for the plant in a 10g?

[Kasakato]

If is a question of how your tank is set up. How much lighhting do you have? What type of plant?

[Fish_3456]

I was thinking of getting a red melon sword. I let my light on for about 8 hours a day.

[Kasakato]

How much light? Like wattage?

[Fish_3456]

OH, I'm planning to buy 1 pc bulbs i already got 1 so that would make 2 (yay i can count) Its a 10 watt that equals 50 watts of incandescent lighting. One of these (http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444178 0769&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030061&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1121813247064)

[Kissofthegorami]

Red melon swords need a reasonable amount of light. The co2 system discussed here comes with packages that are often old and no longer work. If this is the case, use sugar and yeast. When u run out of the packages, instead of buying more, use sugar and yeast. Way cheaper.

[Fish_3456]

can i make my own? and will the Co2 reactor fit in a 10g? and woulnt the Co2 do something to my fish?

[wwildcats04]

How do you know how much yeast to use? I just recieved my system today and am about to start my tank up and also am brand new to Plants but have had tanks forever

[Kasakato]

Yes you can make your own. What kind of filter do you have? Google "diy Co2 reactor" and you will get a lot of stuff. A 2L soda bottle, and a de fusser will work fine in a 10g.

Co2 will lower the pH. To moniter the ppm of C02 you need the pH and the KH. Google for something and you will get some thing.

IMO there is no exact amount you should use. I myself am using .5mL of yeast to 4cups of sugar. Just find the recipe that works for you.

[Fish_3456]

I got one of those cheap wal-mart 10g power filter.

[Fish_3456]

wildcats, here is wat i found in google..
2 cups water
2 cups Sucrose (cane sugar)
¼ teaspoon Fleischmann's Active Dry Yeast
¼ cup tepid (ideally 104ºF) water

[Kasakato]

Did you google how to make one? Do you get it?

[chiefmorales]

i made mine out of a 1 liter nygelne bottle (found in any scientific store the can handle up to 20psi internal pressure) added my sugar, yeast and water then ran an air line to a 12oz plastic coke bottle with 2 holes drilled into the cap the tube from the yeast ran to the bottom of the 12oz bottle that was filled 1/2 way with water then the second hole with the tube as close to the top as possable went to a 2 1/2" wood airstone that was at the bottom of my tank under the filter. the 12oz bottle acted as a bubble counter it also didnt allow any yeast foam into the tank (huge mess throws all your levels off and could kill your fish). the airstone was placed under the filter to allow the co2 to flow with the current giving it more diffusion time.

[Fish_3456]

Yeah I found this website but instead of using 2 bottles of yeast I’m using one for my 10g. :) thanks. http://www.qsl.net/w2wdx/aquaria/diyco2.html , tell me what you think

[neon7]

I have used these lights one should do the job in a 10gal Iwould also recomend the nutrifin natural co2 system and use your own sugar/yeast when you run out of packages. using two of these lights produced a lot of algea in my tank so I dropped it to just one and it did fine after I got things back under control.

[Fish_3456]

I was told at petsmart that co2 is just a waste of money... is that true? Do plants really need it?

[Kasakato]

C02 is great if you have high light. On my 20g, super hight light with C02, the plants are gowing crazy.

PetsMart is wrong, again :thud:

[Fish_3456]

but they told me that in a 10g the co2 would be useless

[Kasakato]

How much light do you have?

[Fish_3456]

i use 2 mini compact aquatic bulbs

[Kasakato]

What plants? Whats the wattage of the bulbs?

[Fish_3456]

The watts are equal to 50 watts each. The plant I really don’t know but I bought it at petsmart and it has long stems and wide leaves at the ends.

[Kasakato]

Lots of plants look like that :D
50w in a 10g tank is something like 2.5-3WPG. So yes, C02 should help.

[Fish_3456]

ok thanks

[RTR]

You cannot calculate light intensity of the incandescent "equivalent". All tank lighting crude guesstimates are based on fluorescent normal output tubes. You must use the rated wattage of the tube. Then if you want to hedge a bit, you subtract a bit due to light wasted from restrike in the coiled tube. But they are still effecive lighting for small tanks.

[Fish_3456]

So should i go with the Co2? If i dont need it i wont use it because i dont think i have room in my tank for a reactor. Does it just make the plants grow or does it do more then that?

[Kasakato]

Plants need C02 in the process of photosynthesis (please say I got that right). They take in the C02 and breath in O2 (Oxygen). This is the opposite of us humans. Normal house plants have all the C02 they need already in the air. But in a tank, there is little C02. C02 is not easy. It requiers time and a pH and KH test kit to watch the levels. The main reactor (pop bottle, etc) should be outside the tank. The de fuser is what sits in your tank. This is what will mix the water and C02. ( I think I got those mixed up) For more read the C02 sticky in the plants section.

[Fish_3456]

Ok I made my decision... I’m going to buy some supplies to make a co2 system. Thanks a lot kasakato, you are really a big help :)