How Does an External CO2 Reactor Work? (e.g., Dupla, AquaMedic)

I use 150w 6000k halide (Giesemann bulb).

I'm thinking perhaps I wasn't dosing enough CO2. I'm not sure how much tenellus needs, but it has plenty now. It could just be that some of the leaves have browned due to transportation, etc. I didn't get much of it, only about 12 or 13 tiny "sprigs", and it sat out for a day in a saucer of water while I tried to figure out if I was going to use it, or glosso., for my foreground.

Separately, I added 15 little Amano-like shrimp and 4 true SAEs, to begin the critter population. After a few weeks, I'll probably add a school of cardinals or rummy nose tetras, and a few Altum angels.
 
When I first planted my E. tenellus the leaves turned brown and I thought it was going to die. That lasted for 2-3 weeks. Then it started growing well. Now I have to trim it every week to keep it from taking over the slower growing plants. Give it some time and I'm sure it will do well.
 
Once again, hearty thanks Tpm!

You actually answered a question I've been wondering about -- how to add trace elements. I read that most professionals add them separately based upon the traits exhibited by the plants.

I did a 50% water change yesterday, and will continue to do so, and possibly 2x, as time allows.

My substrate is as follows: about 3/4" of Fertiplant:
http://www.floridadriftwood.com/product.asp?0=242&1=255&3=767

and 3/4" of Fertiplant Plus: http://www.floridadriftwood.com/product.asp?0=242&1=255&3=768

and 3"-5" (tank front to back) of Eco-Complete substrate (120 lbs). This stuff comes wet with all the bacteria needed to rapid cycle the tank. Supposedly you can add fish right away, but my primary concern of course is to get the plants growing strongly to avoid algae issues, before adding my fish population.

I don't know if I mentioned it, but I have a 90g SPS reef tank. I only have chaeto. in the refugium. I'm on Reef Central (DT's_Reef).
 
Tom, very cool marine tank. I've never seen so many plants species in one tank. Nice use of color too.

You must have a million pods in that tank! A mandarin goby would think it went to heaven.
 
That fert substrate is over priced, well so is the Dupla stuff generally.

Most plant folks here had serious cost back lash towards them.


And that substrate I suggests, has all the bacteria that an established tank has and you are not paying for water.
The long term german shcmerman stuff, I'd not put that in there, the Eco compete etc claims all sorts of funny business and so do these others.

If it has a porous hard iron rich clay grain, then it's good. Beyond that, adding trhe mulm and peat is about all you'd even need to add for any substrate.

Basically: you'll get a lot better results, and you'll be much more able to control these results with dosing of the water column vs the substrate. You can test and change the water column, cannot do that with the substrate.

The main purpose nutrient wise for ther sub is another source of iron beside the water column.

You can and should add algae eating fish asap, I add my fish that same day with the mulm method.

They will nibble the algae before it gets started. Add only algae eaters for the first 12 months, then add the main after the tank has settled in well.


Amano shrimps are particularly useful. You can get a deal on 100 at most LFS for about 50-80$.
These are the best algae eater but you need enough of them to do the work, don't expect much out of 6 in a 90 gal tank.

Regards,
Tom Barr

Regards,
Tom Barr
 
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pH is now holding steady at 6.8 via the controller.
Click to expand...

is this controller part of the co2 system? or is this a optional addition to that system?

what it does sounds cool... can you point me to a product description or some thing like that?
 
Tom, I was fortunate to get a 40% discount off the Dupla stuff. Even at that it's still very expensive. Dupla was bought by Red Sea who is redesigning all their products. Hopefully the quality won't go out the window. I was lucky to get a substrate cable heater system (40% off too).

I added 4 true SAEs yesterday, along with 15 shrimp. I'm sure I could do with another 30 or so, but didn't know what to expect so I was conservative. The SAEs are going to town on the plants. I don't have any algae that I can see, but I'm sure it's somewhere.

So, no other fish for 12 *months*?

SnakeIce -- a pH Controller (Milwaukee makes the cheapest quality unit, about $85-$90) works in conjunction with the solenoid on your CO2 regulator in that it basically turns your CO2 on and off in order to keep the tank water at a pH level that you dial into the controller (e.g., 6.8). It'll maintain your tank at that value all day, so it adds a nice measure of stability to your system. All you do is have to search for "pH controller" on the web and you'll get a lot of web hits.
 
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