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Has anyone tried this C02 system.




My Scapes

I haven't. But, after doing a search and only finding your post about the subject, i'll bump your post instead of creating a new one.

I myself, would like to know if anyone has tried it. I don't like the nutrafin one. But, the Red Sea one looks decent.

Has anyone tried it?

-pamela

I haven't used it, but from the description on the web it seems to be a DIY solution that you actually don't have to do yourself

I read on one site that it is good for tanks up to 40G and on another for up to 35G.

Ingo

Last edited by Little_Fish at 01-Aug-2005 14:49

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Looks like a fancy non-DIY DIY CO2 system...... I would save the $50 and just build one.

Actually, it's only $20. And, I did the DIY before, with no success. I need something that can give out consistent bubbles...and not just die on me. I want the mechanical parts of it, i'll make my own solution. I just want to see if anyone has used it with any success...


-pamela

P.S. The Nutrafin one is a glorified DIY system. The Red Sea one is powered....they say that you have to hook it up to a night timer to stop the flow at night.

Last edited by hermelz at 02-Aug-2005 09:55

Last edited by Pammy Hina at 02-Aug-2005 13:29

Actually, it's only $20. And, I did the DIY before, with no success. I need something that can give out consistent bubbles...and not just die on me. I want the mechanical parts of it, i'll make my own solution.

What do you mean by "just die"? If it just stopped producing bubbles that is probably an issue with your mix, and won't be resolved by a product like this. My own DIY yeast system is about as consistent as you will get with yeast as long as I replace the mix when it needs it (usually every few weeks to a month depending on whether I mix for fast output or shelf life). If you want something that is totally fail-safe and reliable, I would say start saving your pennies for a compressed system. Anything that uses yeast for CO2 production is not going to be reliable no matter how good the mechanical parts are.

I would say the main bonus of this product would be aesthetic value. It is obviously going to look nicer than a 2L pop bottle.

From [link=freshwateraquariumplants.com]http://www.freshwateraquariumplants.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=RSCBCGIVPD&Category_Code=CEDFP" style="COLOR: #36af30[/link]:

This is a complete system that provides CO2 gas for your aquarium just like the expensive three hundred dollar systems and can be plugged into a timer to come on and off with the lights, operates the same as some other existing products available from other companies but lasts longer because it does not run 24-7! Comes with container that sits outside the aquarium inside your stand and then the electric pump with built in diffusor that plugs into a timer, (Not provided, 4-5 dollars anywhere). Also comes with mixture supply that will last one month, I recommend buying the replacement pack or two with it so you can forget about it for a couple of months. Provides correct CO2 levels for up to 40 gallons.

You can achieve the same thing with a powerhead and a plastic tube (usually gravel vac tube). Hook it up to a timer and you are set. My powered setup like this cost me about $10 CAD.

And from [link=http://www.arcatapet.com/item.cfm?cat=9989]http://www.arcatapet.com/item.cfm?cat=9989" style="COLOR: #36af30[/link]

The CO2 Bio-Generator system is a low cost, easy to use, complete CO2 infusion system for aquariums up to 35 gallons (150 litres).

This simple and reliable system generates CO2 by a pH buffered natural fermentation process providing an almost constant supply of CO2 for approximately 1 month.

The CO2 is diffused in the aquarium with a venturi pump injector that breaks up the CO2 into very fine bubbles. The advanced design of Red Sea's venturi allows the pump to be placed at the bottom of most aquariums providing the full depth of the aquarium for diffusion of the CO2 in the water. Comes with container that sits outside the aquarium inside your stand and then the electric pump with built in diffusor plugs into a timer (not included). Also includes a mixture supply that will last one month

Connection of the pump to a timer will reduce the effectiveness of the system at night, when CO2 is not used by plants.

"buffered natural fermentation process" is just marketing slang for yeast probably with some plain old baking soda for "buffering" purposes (it does sound better when you say it like this). It is really just the same thing as a DIY yeast bottle hooked up to a powerhead that comes in some nice packaging. Doing it yourself is REALLY easy, takes about 1/2 hr and costs about $10-15 if that. Since they mentioned using the full length of aquarium water for diffusion and "very fine bubbles", I'm thinking the bubbles are probably not completely dissolved by the powerhead reactor, which means you could probably get better efficiency out of something you made yourself. In an efficient powered DIY system you do not see any fine bubbles, they are all dissolved before they leave the reactor. This means you are getting more out of your yeast and in turn more CO2 for the plants, hardly wasting any on out gassing to the room..

The mix will not last any longer just because you shut the pump off at night. Yeast will still reproduce and make CO2, exhausting your mix just as quickly. They could really care less if the pump is running or not. As far as I know there isn't any method of putting the yeast into a state of suspended animation at night. On my DIY system I have attached a small valve in the tubing between the generator and reactor that unscrews to let the co2 escape into the air at night and not be pushed into the tank. It's a crude method but it cost me $0.50 and accomplishes exactly the same thing.

Bottom line: you can build something just as good, if not better as far as efficiency goes, yourself. If you DIY it's cheaper and you have more control over the finished design, IMO DIY projects also help you learn more about the mechanics of your tank. In the end it's up to you, if you want to pay more money for aesthetics and for something you can just "plug in and go" then I think this product would be a good choice.