Setting up compressed CO2 - What else do I need
- Thread starter enrique4jc
- Start date
check here for canisters: http://www.aquariumplants.com/Aluminum_CO2_Cylinders_Tanks_p/t.htm
arey ou going to get tubing with the regulator?
you will need some way to get the gas to dissolve in the water. a powerhead, outtake of cannister filter, glass diffuser, other...
a drop checker would be beneficial as well.
-chris
arey ou going to get tubing with the regulator?
you will need some way to get the gas to dissolve in the water. a powerhead, outtake of cannister filter, glass diffuser, other...
a drop checker would be beneficial as well.
-chris
I got some CO2 proof tubing with the regulator. I also plan to pick up a glass diffuser. I know there is a bubble counter attached to the regulator. What is the drop checker for?
spunjin
Manzanita Supplier
The drop checker is to monitor the amount of CO2 in the aquarium. It is based on a color code using 4dKH solution with a few drops of pH testing liquid. You want to get the water to have ~30ppm of CO2 saturation which would show up green in the drop checker.
4dkh solution can be easily made($) or store bought($$$$$)
red sea makes a good drop checker, shawnhu (a member on our forum) has a few i think.
or you can it up ebay, bigalsonline.com, or some other place.
red sea makes a good drop checker, shawnhu (a member on our forum) has a few i think.
or you can it up ebay, bigalsonline.com, or some other place.
Thanks for the link to AquariumPlants.net. That should save me a few bucks at least. They offer them empty or full, with a difference of $40.00 to fill a 5lb tank. Is that reasonable, or will I be able to have it filled cheaper?
It is definitely cheaper to get it filled yourself. I dont pay more than $20 for 10lb swaps. Plus its a good idea to find the Welding or Extinguisher supply place nearby for future use.
Two weeks ago I paid $36 for a fill on a 20 lb. canister. However, I do not do the tank swap thing. I give them my tank, they fill it right there, and I get my tank back. If you can live with a larger tank, get it, because it doesn't really cost a lot more to have it filled. I think I paid $29 to fill my 5 lb. tank over 2 years ago, and it lasted 1/4 the time of the 20 lb tank. I was thinking about getting a 35 lb tank or a 50 lb tank, but those would just be way too hard to carry in the car or to handle inside the house.
Something else you might want to think about is the Milwaukee SMS122 ph controller. Essentially, it regulates when the regulator's solenoid is open and closed based upon the ph reading in the tank.
For the most part, you can determine the ppm of CO2 in the tank from the ph and kh values. Look for a CO2 chart and it will give you the values. Me, I use 7.2 ph with 10 kh for 22 ppm.
I have a drop checker in my tank but it is always blue. I assume that it is always blue because I prefer to play it safe with the fish I have in the tank. The cost of the fish far exceed the cost of the plants in the tank, so I err on the side of caution for the fish, yet the plants still seem to do rather well.
i paid 27 to fill my 10# tank a month or so ago.
find out what the shipping price is to see if it is a good deal.
BTW - if you are thinking about geting the permaseal....dont. it wont fit with your regulator.
-chris
find out what the shipping price is to see if it is a good deal.
BTW - if you are thinking about geting the permaseal....dont. it wont fit with your regulator.
-chris