Yes, you can somewhat increase your co2 level by not aggitating the surface. However, I have found that I get the same sort of result adding Excel and using the Emp 400.
Fluval 305 VS Emperor 400
- Thread starter jaymasta
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Yes, you can somewhat increase your co2 level by not aggitating the surface. However, I have found that I get the same sort of result adding Excel and using the Emp 400.
First you could not give a fuval - I got so discussed with them I threw 11 of them out and replaced everyone with other filters.
I use Emperor 400s on all my planted tanks. For an 80 I reccomend 2 of them. They will work fine for tanks up to about 36 inches long. An thing longer and I use 2 up to about 6 feet in lenght.
As to the CO2 and Emperors I disagree with what people say about the amount. You are putting a lot of air into the water with them. Air has about 13 times the CO2 that water usually holds. Your plants will not be short CO2 useing Emperor 400s. It will constantly be replaceing the CO2 not removing it.
I use Emperor 400s on all my planted tanks. For an 80 I reccomend 2 of them. They will work fine for tanks up to about 36 inches long. An thing longer and I use 2 up to about 6 feet in lenght.
As to the CO2 and Emperors I disagree with what people say about the amount. You are putting a lot of air into the water with them. Air has about 13 times the CO2 that water usually holds. Your plants will not be short CO2 useing Emperor 400s. It will constantly be replaceing the CO2 not removing it.
Hehe...for the other side of the coin, I won an Emperor 400 at a fish club raffle - I'm glad I didn't pay for it! The flow is way over exagerated, hard to prime for deeper tanks, and the flow, such as it is, slows down quickly. I too like to have more than one filter in my tanks, and shoot to turn the water over at least 8-10 times per hour, along with frequent water changes. As time goes on, I have switched most of my tanks over to combinations of Aquaclears and Fluvals - those tanks tend to look like my fish are swimming in air. There are lots of pro and con discussions over the value of biowheels. I have used many over the years and have not noted any distinct advantage with them. IMO, A healthy, balanced well filtered tank will have more than a sufficient bacteria load to get the job done.
Post that in the Plants forum, would you?Ray Pollett said:
And make sure you wear asbestos pants, 'cause you'll need them
Roan
This is strange logic. You're not changing the partial pressure of atmospheric CO2, so more surface agitation with the Emperor 400 won't help you much at all. jaymasta is pursuing a planted tank, and CO2 fertilization is the way to go, as I've found in my limited experience (and with considerable help from others on this board, like Roan).Ray Pollett said:
CO2 fertilization is a means of raising the partial pressure of CO2 to raise the level of dissolved CO2 gas in the water column. If you're bubbling CO2 into an aquarium, any canister filter will always be more efficient than the average HOB filter in preserving the level of dissolved CO2 gas. The more you expose CO2-laden water to ambient air, the more your water will outgas your hard-earned CO2 into the atmosphere.
v/r, N-A
Roan Art said:Post that in the Plants forum, would you?
And make sure you wear asbestos pants, 'cause you'll need them
Roan
Been thru that before there. As usual in this hobby someone comes up with something they believe and start repeating it. Next others start repeating it. So many people repeat it - why it must be true. Since it must be true someone puts it in a book. Since only experts write books it is true and coppied (althought reworded) in every new book on the subject. Unfortunately that does not make what is wrong true.
First you are assuming that optimun growth or pearling is the objective. The interchange of air with the water by use of bio-wheels will keep surficent CO2 levels in the tank for almost any plant with out CO2 injection. It will allow them to Grow, multiply and look great. If you want optimum grow (quick growing so you have to prune more often) or to see pearling ( which while it does raise O2 levels) is totally unnecessary; then inject CO2 and use higher light levels.Native American said:
If you want to keep nice looking and healthy plants this is possible without CO2 injection by doing the opposite of what most people believe. Constantly put air (with it's CO2 content) into the water. It will supply more than adequate CO2.
jaymasta said:
I have a 90g All-Glass Aquarium with 4 very hardy Tiger Muskies in it (and they put out quite a Bioload). I have 2 Emperor 400's hooked up to it, and love them.
If you are not planning on going with a planted tank - you can't beat a biowheel.
Just for reference the pump output on a fluval 305 is rated at 260gph, but the circulation rate is listed at 185gph and is dependent upon set up. A pair of fluval 305s would probably give you enough circulation, but I'd either go with a pair of 405s or one 405 and one AC 70 or AC 110. One advantage of the later option would be in case of having to use meds it would be easier to add carbon to the aquaclear than the fluval.
As far as the possibility of adding co2 I believe that user experiences do vary. I mean if you find that you aren't keeping enough co2 in your tank durring the day for your needs you can always adjust the flow rate of a filter down durring the day.
Adding co2 or not adding it is going to be a personal choice over time. I mean you can start the tank with relatively low light in the 150 watt range for 9 hours a day along with a variety of lower light plants and find your happy right there. If you go much higher on the lights in order to promote faster growth and such then yes you will probably need to start co2 injections in order to limit growth of algae if nothing else.
As far as the possibility of adding co2 I believe that user experiences do vary. I mean if you find that you aren't keeping enough co2 in your tank durring the day for your needs you can always adjust the flow rate of a filter down durring the day.
Adding co2 or not adding it is going to be a personal choice over time. I mean you can start the tank with relatively low light in the 150 watt range for 9 hours a day along with a variety of lower light plants and find your happy right there. If you go much higher on the lights in order to promote faster growth and such then yes you will probably need to start co2 injections in order to limit growth of algae if nothing else.
