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 L# Planted Aquaria
  L# Is This a Good CO2 System?
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SubscribeIs This a Good CO2 System?
LITTLE_FISH
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male usa
Gang,

I have never dealt with CO2 addition in my current tank but would like to add it to the upcoming
(hopefully soon) 125G. I think I am not interested in a DIY solution, one of the reasons is that I
would worry too much that something goes wrong and I have a mess (at least) in my tank. In case
you wonder, I am planning on about 3WPG and moderate to heavy planting.

As such, I would like to know what you think about the package that is offered here at [link=Drs. Foster & Smith]http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9935&N=2004+113780" style="COLOR: #ff6633[/link].

Has anyone of you a similar, or maybe exactly this, setup?

I think that the Glass Diffuser is a little weak. Is that correct? If so, how about [link=This One]http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9907&N=2004+113781" style="COLOR: #ff6633[/link] instead?

Is it a good idea to hook up the system as soon as the tank is set up?

Do you have any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance,

Ingo


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Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:43Profile PM Edit Report 
renoharps
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Ingo,

Yeah, forget about the glass diffuser, especially if you're investing in compressed CO2. I haven't read much about membrane type diffusers but powered reactors such as the one below do a excellent job at dissolving CO2 into the water.

http://www.plantguild.com/html/power_reactor.html

Of course, you could always create your own reactor. I've found this a great site for explaining DIY CO2 injection:

http://www.qsl.net/w2wdx/aquaria/diyco2.html

Last edited by renoharps at 11-Jul-2005 18:08
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:43Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
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Ingo,

Look great apart from the diffuser. A reactor such as the one reno linked would be much better especially for a large tank.

Set up Co2, lights and plants on the same day, start ferts immediately. If you need to wait a bit longer til everything ready , it's better to do so.

Forget the moderate plants nonsense, pack the darn thing full
Seriously with that light and co2 , don't spare on the plants - pack them in, you can remove some and sculpt once everything is established and growing well. Just use cheap old weeds to get started if you want.


Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:43Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
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Ingo,

Just saw your tank. You're pretty well planted. I don't think you'll have too much of a problem going with the lights and Co2 on that plant bio mass.


Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:43Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
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renoharps and bensaf,

Thank you so much for your responses, I really appreciate your input.

First off, bensaf, you must have gotten a little confused when suggesting my tank is heavily planted and that I should add this system to it. The tank for which I want this system is not even in my possession yet It’s for a 125G.

Now, about the reactor mentioned above. That is an element of “tanking” that I have not immersed myself in yet. I am all confused when attempting to envision how this thing would work. Do I need another pump to generate water flow? What does the electrical part of it do, redirect the CO2 into the air when turned off? As I said, I am all confused and need HELP. :%):%)

Does anyone have any experience with power reactors like This One? Would that work better? I guess this one is placed inline between the filter outlet and the spray bar, right?

Any ideas are greatly appreciated, but please don’t tell me to DIY.

Thanks,

Ingo

Last edited by Little_Fish at 13-Jul-2005 09:55


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Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:43Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
mattyboombatty
 
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The reactor that renoharps mentioned has a powerhead already on it that will generate flow (that was the electrical part). The one that you mentioned didn't seem to have a powerhead with it, so you would need to buy one.

If you buy a CO2 regulator with a solenoid you can turn off CO2 flow with the lights or at a certain pH if you have a pH monitor.

As you can see CO2 injection can be as simple or as high tech as you want it to be.



Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:43Profile Homepage PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
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Matt,

Now I begin to understand this system (I think). Here is how I think this system works:

1) the whole unit is submersed below the water line
2) the pump on top sucks water into the reactor’s upper section and CO2 is supplied by the CO2 system with the solenoid
3) the “sponge” at the bottom mixes the water with the CO2
4) water, enriched with CO2, leaves the reactor at the bottom

Did I get that right?

I would assume that I put the CO2 system's solenoid, the reactor, and the lights on the same timer (if the solenoid needs power to open, rather than close) so that as soon as the lights go off at night the solenoid closes and the pump stops.

Correct?

If that’s it then this system would be a good thing to have.

Thanks so far, please let me know if I got it right this time,

Ingo

PS: Matt – you got to change your font size, I needed binoculars to read your valuable response


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Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:43Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
mattyboombatty
 
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Yep, you got it right - except that the sponge actually prevents large CO2 bubbles from exiting the reactor before they get mixed in. The reactor that renoharps linked to was an under water type reactor, while the one that you linked to appeared to be an in-line out of tank type reactor. If I could afford it I would buy the out of tank type reactor as it saves room for more plants and cleans up the look of the tank . And it seems to me that you got the timer thing down well too.

Did that help? I don't know how to make the size larger, only smaller - so I just changed the font to a different style.

Last edited by mattyboombatty at 13-Jul-2005 11:51



Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:43Profile Homepage PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
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*puts down the binoculars and starts to write the response*

Matt,

Thanks again, but it is your own fault that I will have to ask you even more questions now

You say that you actually would prefer the external over the internal reactor. Basically, I am with you, it leaves more space in the tank to play with (although 125G should be big enough to share the space). The one thing that I don't like about the external is how far it sticks out above the top of the tank. Now my questions concerning the external reactor:

I would hook the reactor inline between my canister filter outlet and my spray bar. I am planning on an [link=Eheim Professional II 2028]http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=10946&N=2004+22777" style="COLOR: #ff6633[/link] and its outlet diameter is 1/2" which is also the size for the reactors in- and output. The reactor itself is configured for “up to 250GPH” while the Eheim filter has some info that I cannot appropriately interpret. It says “Pump output (US GPH) = 277” and “Filter circulation (US GPH) = 198”. Which one of these two numbers from Eheim do I have to use to check if the reactor is large enough? 277 would mean that I slow down the water flow (if it is at all possible to combine these two then), 198 would mean all is dandy. What do you think?

Furthermore, when you look at [link=Drs. Foster & Smith’s]http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9933&N=2004+113780" style="COLOR: #ff6633[/link] page for a full CO2 system, even this reactor is not inline with a filter but attached to a pump. Do they do that in order to create a “Filter Independent System”? If so, why?

Sorry about all of the additional questions and thanks in advance for your time and effort,

Ingo


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Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:43Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
mattyboombatty
 
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I think that it would be ok to put in-line with your filter. I don't think the extra 22 GPH would end up pushing the CO2 straight out the reactor . If you wanted though, you could put a powerhead in the tank and run the reactor off of that. Either way should work well. They might use a filter independant system because they weren't planning on using a cannister filter. An HOB wouldn't allow you to configure it in-line.



Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:43Profile Homepage PM Edit Delete Report 
LITTLE_FISH
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Well Matt,

I guess that clears it for the moment, at least until I find another hardware system that I don’t know how to handle (which will be any second now).

Thank you so much again for your patient input. You certainly provided a lot of help. And I also would like to thank renoharps for getting this whole power reactor process started.

Ingo


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Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:43Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
mattyboombatty
 
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No prob, and good luck



Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:43Profile Homepage PM Edit Delete Report 
renoharps
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Ingo,

No problem. I have the smaller Vortex 40 and it works great. That's why I recommended the Reactor 200. That reactor can handle tanks up to 200 gallons. Of course, it all depends on the amount and types of plants, but it should handle your 125g with no problem. The external one you linked to is designed for tanks up to 500 gallons, which is overkill for a 125g. I have my reactor tucked away in the corner behind some of my plants and you can't see it.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:43Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
bensaf
 
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Ingo,
I see you're in safe hands with Matty and reno

I agree with Reno the internal reactors are easy enough to hide if you have enough plants. I've got my reactor and the powerhead running it stuck in the back left corner. If you look at the pics you can't see anything.


Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:43Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
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