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There's an auction for this new CO2 system, called Carbo Plus. It is made by Zac Plus in Germany. It seems pretty cool. Here's the blurb:

"This is a new complete set CO2 system for your plant tank. Pioneering technology and absolutely simple handling are the outstanding features of the new ZAC CARBO PLUS. Easy to control and highly efficient CO2 generation with minimum maintenance required. Simply put the plug in the mains socket and the adjustable unit provides your water plants with their vital supply of carbon dioxide.
How it works: Water is converted into hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis. The hydrogen rises up and the oxygen combines with the carbon in the carbon plate to form carbon dioxide, most of which dissolves immediately. Highly recommended to use in conjunction with timer or ph controller for automatically ON/OFF.
"

Now, that sounds pretty cool and all, but I wanted more info about it before I blow the $100+ on it. I got 3 hits on google. 1 unrelated, 1 on one of the sites that are down (aquaforums or something, related to aquarank and aquabid being down). The other came from this german site that google translated. It's HILARIOUS.

Otherwise I can guess/advise you only one: Finger away!

[link=Here's]http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=www.aquarienforum.de/forum/archive/index.php/t-16539&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dzac%2Bcarbo%2Bplus%2BCO2%2Breview%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D" style="COLOR: #004000[/link] the link if you wanna read. I'd recommend it, it's really funny.

So, I thought I'd take a shot in the dark and ask around here to see if any of you guys know anything about the process, or the product. Thanks!

---

They shade the glow of it with their mossy-misty costumes,
They wear masks of silk, porcelain, brass, and silver,
So as not to mislead with their own, ordinary faces.

Hello,

I don't have any experience with that product, although I saw it in online shops here in the UK as well. However, here is a clearer translation than the one provided by google:

Empire: "Think about it, logically, if it sounds as it can work. You're already supposed to know the answer by yourself, as people around here have discussed it often, use the search utility to find more information. In any case, I can give you one advice: watch out for your fingers!

(He/she doesn't say why they think you should watch out for your fingers.)"

Kaiwei: "I believe that I have stated my opinion about it in a different thread:
A relative of mine didn't listen to my advice and bought a carbo plus for his 200 litre aquarium. His water parameters were pH8 and KH4. So far, so good. After he turned the carbo plus on, and after several days of it running, he had to admit that nothing much has happened, unfortunately. There were many bubbles in the water, but the pH hasn't changed at all, and a co2 test also showed that there wasn't enough co2 in the water although the carbo plus was working on full power. We have found an employee of the company that makes carbo plus and we confronted him. He knew a lot about water chemistry, but his aim was to make us believe that the reason that the pH didn't go down was because the water company in our city raises the buffering capacities of the water to protect their piping. I think it's a lame excuse.

Anyway, I have managed to lower the pH by using a normal co2 set up. I think there is a difficulty for the co2 released by carbo plus to dissolve into the water."

Well, it's not poetry, but I hope you get the picture. I think I would invest some more money in a real co2 system than risk my fingers, whatever that means.

Last edited by untitled at 14-Jan-2005 08:07

Last edited by untitled at 14-Jan-2005 08:08

Janna:

This is a unit I've been interested in for several years, and have tried to research it the best I could. Frankly, there is not a lot of data out there, and even less first-hand feedback on it.
What I have learned is that a new unit retails for around $150 US. I've also read that the average expected life of the carbon block itself is approximately 4 months.
Here are some things to consider:
1. It's been well over a year, so I just can't substantiate exactly where I read about the carbon block life. You'll either have to research yourself, or hope to come across someone with some non-biased, hands-on experience with it. Sorry.
2. A replacement carbon block retails for around $40 US. Granted, the unit's setting is adjustable, but I've not found anything which identifies whether the 4-month lifespan is the low end or the high end. If we assume that 4 months is an average, then your replacement cost would be $40 every 4 months .... as an average. That's $120 per year. Personally, I think that's a bit too expensive.
3. As far as I can understand the unit, it works off of AC current. I don't fully understand it's operation, but it appears to me that there must be some open current exposed to the water column. This may be minimal, or even non-existant. I do know that stray current can be potentially detrimental to fish. That is, it's not going to downright electrocute your fish (otherwise it'd be immediately pulled from the market, but -might- be a source of stress. Longterm affects of exposure are unknown, but may result in decreased health and shortened life. This is MY OPINION ONLY, and I may very well be wrong. However, it's left me with more questions and concerns then assurances.

In summary, I think cost of ownership is too expensive and it might stress the fish. However, more research is needed.

-Wayne

Last edited by wayneta at 15-Jan-2005 10:51

Janna,

I have read a number of reviews on other boards regarding Carbo Plus and one acquaintance purchased then returned the unit to his lfs. The nice thing about Carbo Plus is that it makes a DIY unit look efficient.

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

If you still want some technical details about the system, then you can go to google.co.uk, type "carbo plus", search for pages in the UK only, and you will get quite a few pages in English of online stores who sell it here. No reviews or opinions, though.

I myself don't know anybody who uses it and have never used it myself, but for the price of it, I think you can get a decent pressurised CO2 system, which I (and many others) can recommend.