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Ok, I may be going a bit overboard for a small tank, but I just want to take advantage. I happen to now work for a gas supply company, specializing in Medical and welding gasses and supplies... meaning all the CO2 I could possibly want, and I can special order almost anything.

Where do I get instructions for the proper setup of a CO2 tank, and how much CO2 to inject per gallon, as I am new to the whole idea of CO2. (My current Java's don't require much more than partial light to keep shooting off babies)

Harley,

Go to:http://www.dupla.com/start_e.htm.

Dupla is manufacturer of systems for planted aquaria in Europe. Great products and a very informative website.

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

I find the following page to be useful, have a look:
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/diy_co2rig.htm

There is also another page with instructions on how to make a DIY reactor.

Hi,
Try this site:


http://www.azgardens.com/newCO22.php

Read it for the information. Personally, I purchased
my regulator, reactor, and bubble counter from them
but other companies also furnish the necesary parts.
Frank



-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Thanks! Very informative, and easier than I thought. I just need to check pricing now. I now have something to use my employee discount on, and I don't think the 3# tanks we have are that expensive to begin with.

Any suggetions on the reactors, as that will be the only part I cannot get from work. The hoses I will have to check into.

Hi,
This is an example of a reactor:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9918&amp;N=2004+2021

This is an example of a diffuser:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9915&amp;N=2004+2021

Besure that the regulator is a two stage regulator that
gives you a needle valve to set the final flow. You
don't want a "fancy welding rig".

You can purchase CO2 hose from any "beer &amp; tap store."
They furnish the parts, plumbing, and CO2 for bars
and soft drink dispensers.

A 3 pound bottle probably will not last you very long,
depending of course on how high the flow is. My 10
pound bottle lasts for about 8 months at slightly over
a 1 bubble/second rate. If you decide to use the 3#
bottle, get a couple so that you can always have one
filled, in use, while getting the other filled (constant
CO2 injection).

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Thanks, Frank! It'll only be a 10 gal, so I want the smllest I can find. We have every size imaginable, as we sell to the public and to hospitals and welding shops.

We have many specialty medical products, I just can't seem to find the CO2 hose in the medical catalog. We have about 4 different catalogs, so the best thing for me to do would be ask the warehouse. I don't really have many home brew shops around here, but I could check the Liquor store to see if they've got anything. Then again, there's always ordering online, since I'll need to get a diffusr, also.

So would one bubble a second be good for a 10 gal, or do I need less? And should I look for the cheapest regulator with two gauges, since we carry almost everything.

Any more tips for a beginner?

Hi,
Starting the injection at 1 bubble/second is an easy
place to start (easy to time). As far as what rate
you will wind up at.. That depends upon what your
pH is to start at, and what your KH is. If you look
at the charts:

http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_co2chart.htm

You want to stay in the green area. So you would
adjust the injection rate to bring your pH down to
some level comfortable for your fish. You can "play"
with the KH by using Bicarbonate of Soda (regular, unscented
Arm &amp; Hammer or a similiar product). Adding the powder
will raise the KH. Or, you can lower the pH by increasing
the rate of injection. Pick a pH and inject to reach that
point and then leave things alone.
BE SURE to change the pH slowly so you don't stress the
fish. Don't go higher than 30mg/l of CO2, and no lower
than 15mg/l.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Thanks, Frank.
Very informative article. Is there any tips on adding the baking soda to raise the KH, and would I need to ad it at every water chag to keep the KH level the same? I was thinking about crushed coral to stabilize the KH, but this article just tuned me away from that idea!

Hi,
I have a 30 gallon tank and change out about 5 gallons
a week. I always measure my chemistries before I do the
change, and then afterwards to see how much I need to
add to compensate for the new water. I'm doing that
for a few months to average the amounts and then I'll
just automatically dump it in along with the water.
I add about 1/8 teaspoon of stump remover to maintain
my nitrates and about a 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda.

Actually how much you add depends upon what your KH
is and what you want it to be. Pick a spot on the
chart that corresponds to the pH you want your tank
to stay at, and then make your KH correspond to the
necessary value. Then with each water change add the
new water, let it circulate for an hour or two, and
then measure the KH. Add what you need to bring it
to the point where your desired pH and KH intersect
on the chart.

Yes, you are right about the crushed coral and others.
They will increase the general hardness (GH) as they
are composed of Ca and Mg, plus other elements.
Baking Soda will do the KH only.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--