CO2 sources

[jemanser]

I am stiil researching co2 sources for my 55 gallon planted aquarium with fish. I just bought a Turbo CO2 Bio System with powerhead(not open yet...). It is advertized for 42 gallon aquariums. I am trying to avoid a pressurize system. I want really good results. Will this sytem work well (the sales person claims excellent results). I also want to know if anyone has had good luck with the newer carbon plates/electrolysis systems... they seem reasonable and makes sense, at least on paper?

[sardesign]

If you are going non-pressurized, it means you are going to do Yeast. Yeast CO2 is hard to pull off with anything over small tanks, but like yourself, have ventured into yeast with my 100 gallon tank. I have to use (4) 2-liter soda bottles with 1 teaspoon of yeast and 1 cup of sugar in each to make enough CO2 to get some growth. It's hard to create enough CO2 to maintain 20-25 ppm of CO2. However, a little CO2 is better than NO CO2... and with the proper plan you can attain decent growth.

I replace the contents in one of the bottles every week to keep a constant CO2 delivery.

[jemanser]

Thanks for the input. This yeast sytem with powerhead will hopefully improve co2 solubility in the water . Have you known anyone who tried the plug-in electrolysis systems with the carbon plates? The process involves an electric stimulation to the metal plates in water which causes hydrogen to be released, thus allowing the O2 to bind with the adjacent carbon plates thereby forming a very soluble co2 molecule (manufactured by ?Enheim).

[imhandy2]

With the carbon plates it is my understanding that instead of refilling your co2 tank, you replace your plates. However I am not sure how the carbo plus(?) system controlles the co2 level. My co2 is controlled through a pinpoint Ph controller, it keeps it solid at 6.6 and I don't have to worry about it fluctuating. But of course c02 is only part of the equation for a healthy planted tank.

Good luck,

Terry.