kindafishy
Aquarium Advice Activist
I need some help deciding if a pressurized CO2 system would be worth it for my set up, and if so....I need some guidance!! I have a yeast based bio system and I am not that happy with it, so I am thinking of splurging on a pressurized system. Or not.
My basic water chemistry is why I think I need CO2. I have extremely soft water and a neutral to acid pH, which yields a natural CO2 imbalance in my tank. When I first put the CO2 checker thingy in my tank, it was dead BLUE, and my little bio yeast-based system has a tough time maintaining it in a green hue. It kind of remains on the fringe of green, and when I test my water, I am always on the edge of good levels of C02. When it is ok, it is just barely.
BUT...my lighting is not strong. I am at 22 watts for 17 gallons. I know that sounds under-lit, but my plants are actually flourishing under these. I actually think that the watts per gallon rule might not be applicable to the lights I am using (Arcpod). Not sure about that though. Still, I not working with a high light system.
1) So, for a low light itty bitty 17 gallon set up, would I be going overboard to add a pressurized system?
2) If it is the right way to go, what do I need to look for in these systems? There are so many choices, that I am lost!!
3) I see that prices vary widely, based on certain components. Which of these 'extras' are worth it, and which are not? I am talking about things like :
- electric pH controller thingy (seems to drive the price up a lot)
- ability to control night switch off by a timer or pH thing
- other extras that I am missing
4) What the heck is the difference between the 'flipper' type diffuser, and a cylindrical one?
These are some of the systems I am looking at.
This one seems pretty complete, except no pH controller :
JBL ProFlora u402 CO² Fertilizer Set -Aquaristic shop
Here are a few from Ebay (sorry it is in French but there are pictures)
One with pH controller :
Kit CO2 complet pour 300 L. & PH mètre contrôleur C02 ! | eBay
One without :
Kit CO2 jusqu'à 300 Litres. Bouteille compatible JBL ! | eBay
Same thing (but only up to 200L), but with a 'flipper diffuser' :
Kit CO2 jusqu'à 200 Litres. Bouteille compatible JBL ! | eBay
I do know that I do not want the refillable kind as I would have a hard time finding somewhere for CO2 refills where I live ( = middle of nowhere). Trust me on this, I have a hard enough time finding fish!
And finally :
5) Ok, I feel silly asking this but is there any risk involved having this in my home. Like things blowing up etc. And would I have to notify my home-owners insurance company about having pressurized gas in the house?
I will take any advice I can get on this!
If pressurized is 'too much' for my low light tiny tank, then I'll stay with the bio and maybe try to improve it. Like, for instance -- is it normal that the solution starts to settle (sediment) at the bottom of the container after a while? Maybe that is why I am getting crappy results? Perhaps I can fix that with a DIY mixture?
kindafishy
My basic water chemistry is why I think I need CO2. I have extremely soft water and a neutral to acid pH, which yields a natural CO2 imbalance in my tank. When I first put the CO2 checker thingy in my tank, it was dead BLUE, and my little bio yeast-based system has a tough time maintaining it in a green hue. It kind of remains on the fringe of green, and when I test my water, I am always on the edge of good levels of C02. When it is ok, it is just barely.
BUT...my lighting is not strong. I am at 22 watts for 17 gallons. I know that sounds under-lit, but my plants are actually flourishing under these. I actually think that the watts per gallon rule might not be applicable to the lights I am using (Arcpod). Not sure about that though. Still, I not working with a high light system.
1) So, for a low light itty bitty 17 gallon set up, would I be going overboard to add a pressurized system?
2) If it is the right way to go, what do I need to look for in these systems? There are so many choices, that I am lost!!
3) I see that prices vary widely, based on certain components. Which of these 'extras' are worth it, and which are not? I am talking about things like :
- electric pH controller thingy (seems to drive the price up a lot)
- ability to control night switch off by a timer or pH thing
- other extras that I am missing
4) What the heck is the difference between the 'flipper' type diffuser, and a cylindrical one?
These are some of the systems I am looking at.
This one seems pretty complete, except no pH controller :
JBL ProFlora u402 CO² Fertilizer Set -Aquaristic shop
Here are a few from Ebay (sorry it is in French but there are pictures)
One with pH controller :
Kit CO2 complet pour 300 L. & PH mètre contrôleur C02 ! | eBay
One without :
Kit CO2 jusqu'à 300 Litres. Bouteille compatible JBL ! | eBay
Same thing (but only up to 200L), but with a 'flipper diffuser' :
Kit CO2 jusqu'à 200 Litres. Bouteille compatible JBL ! | eBay
I do know that I do not want the refillable kind as I would have a hard time finding somewhere for CO2 refills where I live ( = middle of nowhere). Trust me on this, I have a hard enough time finding fish!
And finally :
5) Ok, I feel silly asking this but is there any risk involved having this in my home. Like things blowing up etc. And would I have to notify my home-owners insurance company about having pressurized gas in the house?
I will take any advice I can get on this!
If pressurized is 'too much' for my low light tiny tank, then I'll stay with the bio and maybe try to improve it. Like, for instance -- is it normal that the solution starts to settle (sediment) at the bottom of the container after a while? Maybe that is why I am getting crappy results? Perhaps I can fix that with a DIY mixture?
kindafishy