lights and co2

[fishlady]

Re: lights and co2

where is the light that is for sale?...

and ek i will do that when i get home...i am at work and it's imposible to do more than one thing  on this server at a time....and then it takes forever to download a page....but i will do that after work....


thanks arm for that bit of info about using half the lighting...

fishlady.......

[Mzungu]

Re: lights and co2

Here's the listing...not sure if the light's been sold or claimed yet.

http://houstonfishbox.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=2356

[Navarro]

Re: lights and co2

You can buy a Co2 system. bottle, regulator, solenoid brand new for less than 200.00 here in Houston and for a diffuser, new are like 35.00 but if you don't mind I have a used one you can have, the diffuser that is. I will strongly advise you to think twice before getting the do it your self system just because is not reliable and there will be fluctuations in your water ph since you cannot have the same pressure all the time, and this over time it will be a headache . For a small tank I say yes but you are talking a 75 gallon.
Cheers,
Luis

[fishlady]

Re: lights and co2

that's great Luis...i'll take it....and thanks....give me some possibilities for that system for less than 200 if you would.....and i so appreciate the information on the do it yourselfer....
i'll pm you with my number and you can call me and i'll come and get the diffuser....


fishlady.....

[fishlady]

Re: lights and co2

oh and could you send me the link for the plant club?.....i would love to join it.....


thanks....fishlady.....

[eklikewhoa]

Re: lights and co2

[screename]

Re: lights and co2

Seriously, for a 75, dont do DIY CO2.  If you cant afford it all now, just piece it together.  Buy an item here and there when your paycheck allows.  Yes, it may take a little longer but it will be worth it. Do it right the first time and it will save you LOTS of money in the long run.  Its just too hard to get good consistency from a DIY kit.

[fishlady]

Re: lights and co2

i would agree with your advice now that i have read all the knowledge from you guys....thanks again for all your advice and help.....i'll keep you posted on my progress....



fishlady.....

[High-PH]

Re: lights and co2

Okay, I've been reading back over the posts on this thread because now I need to make the CO2 decision.
I've set up my 38 gallon tank with Flourite for substrate, and having gotten past the worst of the muddy water thing, I've planted most of the plants I got at the auction and / or already had on hand.  I was planning to get one of those little CO2 systems with the monthly canister things like Dr. Foster & Smith sells. I was thinking someone posted that they worked pretty well.  I realize that my tank is sort of at the upper limits for the size it says it will support, but thought it would be a simple way for me to try introducing co2 for the first time.   Now I'm reading that it's pretty unreliable and maybe not worth it.  I don't mind squandering $30 to find out it's not worth it, really...I've done far worse... but I don't want to create unstable conditions either.  
Got to wondering, with the DIY or other canister co2 systems...do you just have to divert the CO2 when you don't want it on ? Obviously, the reaction is going to continue whether you want more Co2 in the tank or not.
I'm just so 'green' I never wondered about it till I was about to push BUY yesterday.

Polly

[eklikewhoa]

Re: lights and co2

With DIY you can't turn it off, all you can do is out gas it. By out gassing you could either run a air pump when the lights go out or diffuse the co2 through a powerhead and have it go off with the light so that large co2 bubbles build up at night and just out gas themselves.

With pressurized you can get a solenoid with your regulator which can be turned off with that via timer. But since its pressurized you can actually control what you put into the tank so you could limit it and have it run 24/7 which is how one of my tanks is running but the amount set is low and set to slowly accumulate throughout the day.

[High-PH]

Re: lights and co2

Thanks, that makes sense to me.  I know that someday I'll want a few fish in there and I'll want it to be safe for them, too.

[Bogdan]

Re: lights and co2

My advice is go with the CO2 tank, it simpler more reliable and stable, if you can afford it.
However I would like to defend the DIY system as I have been using it in 90G tank for about 7 month. The bottle (actually I have two) with yeast usually last two weeks and it works pretty good for me. I use simply small powerhead to dissolve the CO2. I don't use the table to read the CO2 concentration as in my opinion it is not accurate enough but use the dropchecker. As far as the pH fluctuation is concerned, I measure pH every day with reliable lab. pH meter and it varies from 6.5 (when the new bottle is connected) to 6.9 in a period of 2 weeks, so it is not bad. The fish, shrimp are in top condition and plants are pearling in the evening. There is no magic or tweaking just change the yeast with sugar every 2 weeks.

[High-PH]

Re: lights and co2

Is there someplace I can see a photo or diagram of how to connect CO2 to a powerhead, or do you just stick the tubing with CO2 up or near the powerhead's intake?  I'm thinking I'll try DIY for a while at least.  If I find I don't trust it (or my monitoring skills) for livestock, later on, I can always make some changes.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: lights and co2

Some powerheads have an opening right at the output along with connections to run a little hose above water which sucks air into the water and cause a burst of little bubbles(stupid IMO) but you could instead hook the hose from your DIY to this hole and it will disperse your co2. Running it into the intake works too but in time it will wear out your impeller.

[Mzungu]

Re: lights and co2

If you're talking about the Hagen system, I think it's called the Natural Plant system or something similar, I believe it comes with a 'bubble counter,' which I use without any problems.

I agree with what everyone's said, though. If you can afford it, get a CO2 injection system. It makes SUCH a difference! The DIY/Yeast method works, and I never really saw a problem with it until I got my first CO2 tank...WOW. But, I am still using the Hagen system on one tank and I made my own from a Gatorade bottle on another.

But, not a bad idea at all to use the DIY for a while. It does make a difference.  :)