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Is co2 even necessary in a 10 gallon? I will be using flourite as a substrate. Theres a haegen co2 kit that comes with supplies for 3 months use for 30 dollars i have been considering. I'm just wondering how much effect it would have for me.

Anytime you have over a certian ammount of light (pretty sure the rule of thumb is 2wpg) you want CO2 to help the plants use the added light rather than the algae. 10 gallon tanks will work well with DIY CO2 wheras a larger tank like a 75 really will need real CO2 rather than DIY.

Necessary, no. However may be helpful depending on the light in preventing algae outbreaks and in producing better growth.

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To be honest i have no idea of the watts it says it nowhere on the box....its just a basic perfect a strip that goes over a glass canopy if that helps at all.

If it's a flourescent tube, how long is it? A 1 foot tube is 15 watts I think. If it's incandescent(with visable wires in the bulb) you don't want those, because they are not beneficial to plants. If they are incandescent screw in types, they are easily upgradeable to screw in compact flourescent bulbs found at any home improvement store. What you would want are the daylight bulbs. With a 10G tank, it's easy to reach a point where CO2 is beneficial to plant growth, and DIY would be suitable and cheaper than the hagen kit.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

its a 20" long fixture i'm not sure on the bulb (dont have a ruler handy) Its flourescent as well. Also how would i go about having a diy co2?

If it's the strip that came with the tank then it's quite likely less than 2 wpg. Unless you upgrade you'll be with low light plants. Even those will appreaciate CO2 but it's not as necessary.
mattyboombatty is right...with flourescent lights lenght = wattage.

EDIT: Likely 18 watt bulb then...so low light plants unless you upgrade the lighting.

DIY CO2

~check valve
~airline tube
~drill
~aquarium grage silicone
~2 Liter soda bottle
~Sugar
~yeast

Drill a hole just smaller then the size of the airline in the cap of the soda bottle. Then using plenty of silicone attact a short 3" segment of the airline to the bottle cap. Let Dry

Attach check valve and the rest of the airline tube and run into diffuser or tank or filter (your choice).

Mix 2 cups sugar 1/2 tsp yeast with 6 cups warm (NOT BOILING) water in the soda bottle. Attach cap, Shake, enjoy.

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Last edited by Babelfish at 20-Jan-2005 15:15

i bought it seperately it didn't come with the tank. But i bought it at petsmart.

Also i know the diy is always cheaper but would the hagen setup be more beneficial?

Having gone the DIY route I've been considering a purchased DIY type model like the hagen. I managed to crack the seal on my cap after 5 months or so and ...well ....it seems I didnt' screw the cap on tight enough and my silicone is all dried .

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So you think the hagen will be a good purchase in the long run?

Also what do you think of the fluval 3 rated for 185 gph and max tank size 33. Would that be sufficient for an overstocked tank? Also would bolivian ram fry be to big to be sucked in thru the slots? I could get the fluval 2 rated for 24 gallons 105 gph but there isnt much of a price difference and if im overstocking any extra filtration is good filtration. I'm basically concerned about the fry and the plants.