nutrafin co2 system

[Wett Hands]

Hi all,

Just doing some research before i plany my tank

Any opinion/advice on this system? ---> nutrafin CO2 system

Any and all replies are much appreciated...


angelfish 3 V.S. amano shrimp 0 :sad: That was one expensive dinner

 

[lifetapestry]

You'll find some other replies if you search for "hagen co2" as well.

I have one in my 55 gal low light tank, and it works great. It takes a week or so before the bubbles begin going up the ladder, and it takes some experimenting to get the mixture to bubble well. Here's my method:

Skip the packets they sell as refills. Instead, use sugar to the reccomended line. Buy some "active dry yeast" in bulk at your local health food store and store it in an airtight jar in the freezer. Proof 1/2 teaspoon of yeast with a pinch of sugar in about 1/2 cup of barely warm water. "Proof" is a breadmaking term which means to stir the yeast until it's dissolved in the water and let it sit for about 10 minutes. If it foams nicely, you've done it right. If it doesn't foam, you've killed it with too warm water probably (or wait 10 more minutes to see if it foams now). Toss it and start again.

Add 1/4 teaspoon baking soda to the sugar and add barely warm water to about 1/2 inch below the recommended line. Stir together well, and then add the proofed yeast mixture. Close the lid tightly, about 1/4 turn past where it's snug.

Hope that helps,
Karla

 

[anonapersona]

perfect for the small tank

I think this is perfect for the small tank, ten gallon. Neat, selfcontained, foolproof.

Works well for the 20 gallon but this is near the limit for tank size.

With larger tanks, and moderate to higher light, you need DIY or pressurized.

I'm surprised to hear it working well for a 55 gallon tank, but adding CO2 will help the low light tank use the light it has more efficiently so that makes sense.

I've had 3 at work at one time in small tanks, 10 and 20 gallon sizes.

 

[Wett Hands]

Thanks for the speedy replies... :thm:

I was wondering if it would be ok to make my own yeast mix once the packets they provide are used up, sure would beat paying what they want for refills.

I do have one question though. Which yeast is best to use? I've heard of using bread yesast, wine/beer yeast, chamgagne yeast ( same as beer/wine?).

I have seen a 'flieshmans' (sp?) brand in the local market, will that kind work?

Thanks again for the advice.

 

[lifetapestry]

The cheapest and most effective yeast IMO is "active dry yeast", which you can buy in bulk at your local health food store. Keep it in the freezer, in an airtight glass jar.

Karla

 

[sayembara]

I recommend buying from the store rather than refill because refill is virtually the same things but with marked-up price.
Use normal dry active yeast, sugar and baking soda + water mix. There are many recipies (google search), choose your favourite flavor

 

[EcoPit]

No doubt about it--that tiny little bottle will not suffice for a 55 gal. I bought that for my 55, but only for the ladder (I wish they would sell the ladder seperately!). I have had 2 2 liter bottles of DIY attached to it, but I am finding that is not even enough, so I am adding 2 additional bottles. (I know, I know--at this point it would almost be easier to do pressurized. I just can't afford it.) I do use the Flieshmans yeast that I buy in the baking section of the grocery store. It works great. I have had better luck with what I think is their bread machine yeast than the regular though.

 

[anonapersona]

bread or baking yeast

I found that beer and wine and champagne yeast do not like baking soda. Baking yeasts like baking soda, go figure.

 

[Hannys_Papa]

....I wish they would sell the ladder seperately....

Is this the ladder you are talking about ?

I was wondering about trying one of those for DIY CO2 in a 10G - do they work better than the "good old airstone" ? Oh and cause i dont seem to be able to find the measurements of this thing - how big is it actually ? Obviously space is precious in a 10G.

 

[EcoPit]

Is this the ladder you are talking about ?

Son of a....!!! Yeah, that is it. I looked all over, and never saw that. I paid $40 for the whole kit just to get the ladder! (Don't tell my wife.)
It works great, and I think it would be just fine in a 10 gal. It is fairly flat, so it's nice and unobtrusive. I can give you better measurements when I get home, but I would guess it is about 8" high, 4" wide and maybe 3/4" deep. It works great. You can see the CO2 bubbles shrinking as they go up.