CO2 injection

[cubsfan]

I am going to be setting up a planted 29 gallon apisto tank in the next few months or so. I have been doing some research on using CO2 injection to aid in plant growth. I have heard varying things from different people as to the reliability of a DIY CO2 injection system. At this point, it is not feasible for me to purchase a pressurized CO2 system. My question is this: Would you recommend that I go ahead and use a DIY system, or should I instead use a low/medium light setup with no CO2 injection at all. In this case, I would simply use some hartier growing plants. I am new to the world of dwarf cichlids, so keep that in mind when making your recommendations. Thanks for any help on this topic .

 

[medge00]

I think the DIY is worth a shot. I've got some huge crypts and anubias in my 30 with DIY co2, not to mention some grassier plants. I've got 3.2 wpg on my tank. I suggest you keep your light between 2 and 2.75 on a tank your size with diy. When you get into high light, you really need a pressurized system.

Two things I recommend:
1. Use more than a single 2 L bottle. I'd do 2 or 3 bottles. Start with 2, see how that goes for you.

2. Make sure you have an effective way of getting the co2 into the water. Do you have a canister filter? One of the best ways is running the co2 line into the uptake of a canister filter. Its supposed to be pretty effective. I've had success with a co2 ladder on my 10 gal, though I don't think its as effective on my 30... look on plant forums for diy reactors.


Rex Grigg, a plant man on Aqauriumadvice.com and www.aquabotanic.com (also a good source of info) has this faq: www.rexgrigg.com He has some really great info.

Hope this helps!

 

[Leipo]

keep in mind that if you are using your canister filter as the reactor for your co2 and that cannister has the proppelor (sp.?) on top that it could 'air-lock'. meaning that the co2 locks your cannister so that it cannot pump water until the co2 is released (usually a large burp of co2 comming through your outtake).

only use your cannister as a reactor if it has the proppelor at the bottom!

 

[farm41]

I have used my filstar xp2 for the co2 diffuser, it has the pump on the top and worked fine, Leipo still gives good advice, just wanted to mention that this cannister worked fine for nearly a year before I built a dedicated co2 diffuser.

I also wanted to suggest, that any co2 is better than no co2.

IMO
YMMV

 

[newworldan06]

IMO you should NUTRAFIN plant injection system. I have a 30 gallon, and it works wonders. I had some rotalas, ferns, and cabomba(all which look sweet in a S.A. if you want to get some.) just rember the ferns can not be planted in the gravel, only attached to sumthin. Anyways my plants werea all looking brown so I decided to get the C02 system. Within a week they turned bright green and looked awsome. It is a cheap system around 30$ probably less on bigalsonline.com and does a great job. You need to had your own sugar and water along with the yeast packets every month, very cheap. Also what fish are you looking at getting, some dont do good with plants.

 

[aspen]

i have used diy co2 and it can be quite effective as long as you use a filter that doesn't give any surface splashing, like a canister. change the co2 solution before it begins to slow down and you are fine.

rick

 

[cubsfan]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

aspen...

Prior to reading your post, I purchased an aquaclear 300 for use on this tank. :x I know that this filter will create a great deal of surface splashing. Will this negate the effects of CO2 injection? Or will it simply diminish the amount of dissolved CO2 slightly. I don't know of any canister filters that would be suitable for use on a 29 gallon tank, aren't they generally designed for larger tanks? Anyway, I won't be setting up the tank for a few months, so I have plenty of time to make any necesarry changes to my plan.

Thanks again for the great help!

 

[aspen]

i never had any luck trying to keep any co2 levels in a tank with an aquaclear. don't shoot yourself in the foot from the start. there are small canister filters. make sure that you can turn the flow down if needed. imo, small planted tanks always seem to look like the plants are blowing in the breeze with filtration rated for the tank.

if you want to try the ac 300, put in an impellor from an aquaclear mini, 100 or 150 to reduce the flow, and keep the water level right to the top.

rick