Just added Co2

elpulgarverde

elpulgarverde

AC Members
Oct 4, 2009
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Cripple Creek- the (nearly) 2mile high city
I've been working on setting up a planted show tank for discus. I'm been messing around with really taking care of plants ( as opposed to buying them, killing them, and then buying more) for about 5 months.
I went through a growth curve- replaced filtration (with a fluval- pre filtered by my UG) I built a hood (about 200 watts of 6500K). And wired the lights to go on and off sequential for that 'sunrise' 'sunset' effect. And now I found a CO2 fermentation unit. It's only been a couple of days. I haven't had any pre-light ph jumps, but the unit is for a tank 1/4 the size of mine. Some of the plants have found increased turgidity (erect leaves). The Crypts were always fine. I'm hoping the Tropica Swords will finally do something. They were sold to me as: "easy,low light, hard to kill" plants, I don't think so.

So here it is: My 110 high. Just about ready for discus. The Co2 diffuser is in the middle/back
aquarium.jpg
 
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I don't think you are going to get much Co2 out of that unit for 110g. If you want to get Co2 to 30 ppm you will have to go with a pressurized setup. You should turn the bubbler off it will outgas the Co2, turn it on at night when the plants aren't using Co2 and your fish need o2.

Those are low light plants btw, whats your lighting setup?
 
Yes, They are low light plants. 6X40watt 6500K flourecents. In 3 banks staggered to come on (and off) 15 minutes apart. I'm not sure I want 30 ppm, since it's not just a plant tank. The idea is that the fish (once they're in) will also supply CO2. I'm still experimenting. I know the bubbler will out gass the CO2, but not all of it. I like to go one step at a time.
The plants are Crypts, Java fern, melon sword, Anubus minima, dwarf sag.
 
With the bubbler and CO2 running at the same time, all you will grow is algae. And given that CO2 dissolves more easily than O2, you can be sure you are outgassing ALL of the CO2... See if you can get hold of a drop checker, and note the difference with bubbler on and bubbler off...
 
looks nice! sounds like you are doing a lot of things to have a great tank! Like the others have already mentioned. i would simply remove the bubbler from the tank. they are purely aesthetic and in a low ppm co2 situation like you have your co2 will go right out the window (or tank) if you turn it on. a drop checker might be good but all it will do is confirm that you need more co2 because, like you said, the unit is for a tank 1/4 your size.

Good luck! your tank looks great!
 
Yeah, but I modded it and use it as a pre-filter for a fluval 305. The water is crystal clear and at two weeks between changes the filter is not at all clogged. Since this tank is for discus, it's warm (83F), that reduces the ability of the water to absorb O2 (I think it probably increases the solubility of CO2) So the bubbler was alway there to insure oxygenation for the livestock (none of which you can see in the photo- picture shy I guess)
So I've been doing the bubbler on at night, off during photo-period experiment for 2 days now. I'm taking notes on PH (dark, dawn, midday, sunset), watching an algae patch, as well as watching the green plants. I'm going to run it a week, and then run a week of no bubbler at all. It should make for an interesting report.
 
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