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Has anyone used this CO2 Injector?
http://www.hagen.com/usa/aquatic/product.cfm?CAT=1&SUBCAT=118&PROD_ID=01076900020101

Is it any good? I like the fact that it is a complete kit and has a safety release valve.

PetSmart sells it for 33 bucks, which is kind of expensive compared to a soda bottle. However, my DIY stuff comes out looking like something from the Red Green Show .

What do you think?

Rick
See all my pictures at Google Web Albums

"If you don't find me handsome..."

That's why I'm getting that exact same one, I am no DIY'er by any means. It is like a DIY but already made, once you have it set-up you can make the CO2 mixture with household baking products for a lot less than the refills. It is for tanks up to 20g, just so you know, much bigger and you may need two reactors.

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

I used this system for a while and eventually gave up on it. The cansiters are simply too small to provide consistent CO2 distribution, which can cause you more problems than it solves. If you can find them, buy just the ladder diffusers and hook up some soda bottles using a DIY recipe given by tons of people on these forums. I think you'll have better luck and less margin for error. You don't even need the ladder, really, as you can hook up the soda bottles to just an air stone, or make a DIY reactor for just pennies.

Hoping that there must be a word for everything I mean...

I used one in a 29g low light tank. It REALLY helped the plants health and growth. I have it hooked up in the 40g now. In there it doesn't make a huge difference in co2 levels, but it still helps some. As well as keeps algae in check for the most part.

With only one bottle, co2 output will not be consistant. For those keeping lower requirement plants, this is not an issue. For higher requirement plants it would be more of an issue. The cheapest way to fix that, is add a 1L diy bottle. Stagger bottles every 2 weeks.

The ladder is ok, but it's not GREAT. To improve co2 absorption into the water.. Suction cup a small wood airstone under the ladder. Run your CO2 into it...
WHY ? It results in smaller bubbles being released into the ladder, giving chance for more co2 to be absorbed by the water. Co2 will cause regular airstones to break down, and the wood ones have smaller 'pores', = smaller bubbles

Maximizing Co2 production - skip the baking soda, activate your yeast, keep water level higher if using a hob filter. Put a piece of sponge over your intake tube to reduce surface agitation co2 that causes co2 to evaporate... Hope this helps





The Amazon Nut...

What do you use the baking soda for?

I don't, which is why I said skip it

In most co2 recipes, baking soda is used as a ph buffer.
In the Hagan co2 kits, it's the packet called 'Stabalizer'.


The Amazon Nut...

You would only need the baking soda if your KH was really low right? Under 2 dkh?

What size bottle would you recommend for a 10g tank with about 1.5 wpg? I'm thinking 1 litre would be enough. Now that I'm thinking about CO2 for the 25g, I started thinking about it for the 10 as well, I am using excel right now and still having algae problems! A DIY CO2 may help with that some right?

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

"You would only need the baking soda if your KH was really low right? Under 2 dkh?"

You're on the right track. Baking soda should be added to the co2 recipe if you are worried about ph falling too low with the addition of co2. It's a ph buffer that works by raising kh.. If your water is extremely soft, you may want the baking soda in your mix. Also, I am just going to guess here, in a tank 10g or less, things are more unstable then in a 40. I'd want to use the baking soda just to prevent too much of a ph swing.

"What size bottle would you recommend for a 10g tank with about 1.5 wpg? I'm thinking 1 litre would be enough."
Sound's perfect.

"I am using excel right now and still having algae problems! A DIY CO2 may help with that some right?"

A little, or maybe even quite a bit. BUT...
Algae problems are caused by a nutrient imbalance most of the time. If you've already been adding excel for awhile and still have an algae problem. Co2 will not be the cure-all. Lack of or excess of a nutrient may be your issue, in which case I recommend posting your own thread in planted so the nutrient guru's can help you. (I'm still learning this too and don't want to mis-advise you)
It can even be caused by old bulbs/tubes, or lights on too long. I hope that helped. I also have a 1.5wpg planted and am really enjoying it, good luck with yours, and we expect to see pics in photo booth




The Amazon Nut...