CO2 system for a small planted tank

Personaly I do not like the Hagen ladder. The Red Sea unit includes a small power head like pump that blows the gas into micro bubbles across the tank. The pump takes up less room than the ladder does, and it takes seconds to hook up. With both of them you add your own sugar.

Both the Red Sea and the Hagen are rated for the same size aquariums. There is no reason why you couldn't use either one in a ten gallon tank, or even a five gallon tank.

Ther is a very serious school of thought going around right now, started by self pro claimed guru Tom Barr, that C02 gas that is bubbled into the water in a fine mist and sprayed across the tank coming into direct contact with the plant leaves is the most beneficial method for dispersing C02 in the water. Well thats exactly what the Red Sea pump does, and pretty effectively. Better than any diffuser I have used.
 
yes, im leaning towards the red sea system myself just cause of the dispersal with the powerhead, which i view as superior as it spreads the gas across the tank unlike the hagen delivery system. however, the powerhead may be too strong for my tank. does anyone know the gph on the powerhead that comes with the red sea co2 kit? thanks
 
I am using the Red Sea 500 reactor combined with the cannister from the Hagen system. So far, so good. I think things have gotten even better since I added a little more current to my tank. Using the plants as a judge, things seem to be going well.
 
well, if i don't get a co2 system, would increasing the surface agitaition through a powerhead or another filter allow for more oxygen and co2 interchange?
 
I have both. The Red Sea is great and does a better job of C02 dispersing but it has to be cleaned every week or it just blobs out big bubbles. The ladder can go for months without being cleaned.
 
I'd say it's once every month. In my case, it's the snails obstructing the intakes of the powerhead.
 
LaurelB said:
I have both. The Red Sea is great and does a better job of C02 dispersing but it has to be cleaned every week or it just blobs out big bubbles. The ladder can go for months without being cleaned.
Click to expand...

My ladder kept getting clogged up because snails were laying their eggs in it.
 
Guys, just thought I'd share some success I've just had with my DIY CO2.

I was in my LFS talking about mu UGF and surface agitation. The guy didn't actually go for the kill and try to sell me an expensive powerhead to convert my UGF to RUGF.

Instead he suggested I stcik my CO2 tube into the top of my Fluval internal filter. I did this and I have little CO2 bubbles everywhere.

Anyway, since then my CO2 has risen from 3ppm to 11ppm which I understand to be a decent enough level for my plants.

This is 11ppm CO2 with a UGF causing surface agitation!

My mix was 1 cup sugar, 1/8 cup yeast and 1 litre of water.

Superb!
 
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