getting a C02 system!!

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kenshinH

AC Members
May 30, 2013
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inside a cave
before, i was excited planning on buying a pressurized C02, tonight finally ill order it, but now i am having second thoughts.....it will cost me close to $180 (buying it piece by piece). The questions are... do i need it? is it worth it?

Here is my set up:

75gal heavily planted

Ferts: NPK (3x a week) Plantex( 3x a week)

Everyday dosing of excel

Lighting: Odyssea 48" dual T5 HO 108 wts

Plants:
Swords
Ludwigia
willow leaf hygro
melon sword
anubias
wisteria
java fern
Green cabomba
a few amazon frogbit

 

cap1384

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Nov 19, 2007
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Hemet
I haven't posted in a long time but here goes. Pressurized CO2 isn't a must. Co2 will really promote the growth especially with the use of ferts, but not a must. You could also try out a diy setup. At one time I had a diy setup (6 or 8 2 liters with water sugar and yeast) running 4 20gal tanks and a 10gal. It wasn't the best setup but i found it to work. but I also had a 20 gal Co2 tank on my 55 gal. I had about the same growth rates. its really a toss up as to what you want. do you think your plants are suffering, do you want to increase the growth rate. it all depends on what you want. As for me when i setup my next tank, I will be using a pressurized co2 system but instead of one line into the tank I will probably use two or three. Just to help saturate the water. I would start off using a small system i've seen guys use paintball canisters. just remember co2 off about an hour before lights off. and lights on at least .5 hours before co2 comes on
 

Sean W.

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Aug 8, 2013
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What i would do is go buy a full system from petco, try it for a few weeks, you should have a 1 month return policy, if you notice a difference and find its worth having a Co2 system return it to petco and buy a more affordable setup.

disclaimer:

This method is not morally inethical and is typically frowned apaun. I dont make the rules i just follow them, im not the one who wrote the return policy.... ;p
 

jpappy789

Plants need meat too
Feb 18, 2007
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Gainesville, FL
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Josh
I'm not aware of Petco selling full pressurized setups. Most of the times they carry the little, glorified DIY kits that aren't going to do much of anything on a 75 gallon tank. In my opinion even DIY isn't going to be worth the hassle with the number of bottles you would need to get decent results.

I would say if you have the money, go for it...no, it isn't always necessary but it will most definitely help and pressurized is going to be the best investment in the long run. You already likely have medium/high lighting and a good EI regime down so I don't see any reason to limit plant growth and possibly allow algae to get a foothold.
 

kenshinH

AC Members
May 30, 2013
143
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16
inside a cave
After watching some videos on youtube and reading my old post i have decided to buy it :) the reason also is i am having a little problem with BBA, from what ive read the main cause is balance... hopefully adding a pressurized c02 would balance my tank... thanks for all your replies!!

here is what i got... this is what i can afford at the moment...

http://www.amazon.com/Basic-AQUATEK-Regulator-TOUCH-SOLENOID/dp/B0041YLM7G

http://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-Diffu...37741&sr=1-1&keywords=aquatek+bubble+diffuser

http://www.beveragefactory.com/draftbeer/tanks/co2/C5.shtml
 
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