Floater Posted November 8, 2009 Report Share Posted November 8, 2009 What sort of retail CO2 systems are there? Pet shops in Dunedin are shocking as far as stocking specialised fish stuff. I've seen this one on the hollywood fish farm website. http://www.hollywoodfishfarm.co.nz/prod ... hp?id=1049 Anyone know what it's like? Does the job? Pros/Cons? Are there any others out there? **EDIT** Are there any dangers of CO2 to the fish? Like... too much CO2? I heard somewhere that a lot of CO2 can drop the PH of the water a fair bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted November 9, 2009 Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 There's not really any danger, it will drop the pH since it becomes carbonic acid, but because of the gas exchange on the waters surface it will never get to a level high enough to be a problem. In fact when your running CO2 its recommended that you don't use air stones or have to much surface movement because it drives off the CO2. Using CO2 works really well, I have done it and the plant growth was amazing, but it's not a cheap path to follow. I'm guessing you wouldn't get much change out of $500 for that system, plus you will have to buy a bottle which will set you back (last time I checked) $300, although you can rent them. There is also no point having CO2 if you don't have the lights to keep up with it. In the end I found I was spending every weekend pulling out a bucket of plants, and realised I was spending money just to grow plants to pull out. If you have a passion for tough to grow plants, a huge tank and money to burn, or want to grow plants commercially then it might be worthwhile, but for a standard tank, my advise would be to just be patient most plants will get there with out the CO2. my2c Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floater Posted November 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 In the end I found I was spending every weekend pulling out a bucket of plants, and realised I was spending money just to grow plants to pull out. lol'd @ that. Thanks for the insight Suphew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted November 9, 2009 Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 Going pressurized can be expensive, best to try DIY first I reckon. Didn't have ANY CO2 for ages an my plants were doing well, added it (DIY) and the only difference I've seen is pearling. :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted November 9, 2009 Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 how large is the tank? DIY will be useless on a large tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floater Posted November 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 how large is the tank? DIY will be useless on a large tank. 450L tank. But yeah my tank hasn't even arrived yet so I think I'll see how well things grow without CO2 to start with . Spent the last week looking up all the stuff that I could possibly use to make a really good home for the future occupants as well as look really good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted November 9, 2009 Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 That would be very wise. No point of DIY CO2 on that tank. get good lights and you should be sweet. even normal gravel and substrate can be used to grow plants with a few modifications. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floater Posted November 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 That would be very wise. No point of DIY CO2 on that tank. get good lights and you should be sweet. even normal gravel and substrate can be used to grow plants with a few modifications. It will be the juwel t5 lighting and I was going to put daltons aquatic mix under my gravel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted November 9, 2009 Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 you should be good. IF you are planning on moving the tank around or removing gravel stay away from daltons and the similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floater Posted November 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 you should be good. IF you are planning on moving the tank around or removing gravel stay away from daltons and the similar. By "moving around" I'm guessing you mean layout etc not actually moving the tank location. Is it because daltons will cloud up the water if disturbed or it will kill the fish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted November 9, 2009 Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 I mean moving the tank, and uprooting it to re plant or landscape. its messy stuff. it is really really fine and light under water so will go *poof* everywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcs Posted November 9, 2009 Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 Seachem substrates FTW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A-town... Posted November 10, 2009 Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 Pressurised co2 ftw! my plant leaves are larger and brighter in colour than ever before and the plants do grow extremely well but who wouldnt want a second income 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted November 10, 2009 Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 I've used Dalton's in a few tanks now, it's good stuff, plants take up far more nutrients via their roots and it keeps the nutrients away from where algae can use it. But I make sure I have a good couple of inches of gravel over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floater Posted November 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 I've used Dalton's in a few tanks now, it's good stuff, plants take up far more nutrients via their roots and it keeps the nutrients away from where algae can use it. But I make sure I have a good couple of inches of gravel over it. Yeah I'm continuously changing my mind as to whether or not I'm going to use it in my new tank (when it arrives...). I use it in my 60L atm and have an inch of gravel on top of it and haven't had any problems. Even moved the tank with 1/4 water and fish from my old flat to the house I'm in now with no problems, pulled out some plants the other day too and they had massively long roots and it hasn't appeared to upset the daltons at all. I wonder how long it's good for... until the plants have sucked up all the nutrients that it provides... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted November 11, 2009 Report Share Posted November 11, 2009 I've run tanks for over two years with out issues. Plus you still have the "goodness" from the fish working its way down into the gravel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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