CO2 Questions!!!

[ANIM4L]

Ok i bought the nutrafin c02 system for my 60 gallon tank, and i all redy know, i need to go get two more... i think.... that is one of my questions. I am right now at 150 watts of light so, i am pumping 2.5 wpg, i got a custom type set up using special lightbulbs from reptile tanks, NOT HEATING LAMPS, SO DONT WORRY! but it is kinda not so bright in the tank... it is night time so may be in the moring it will be ok, but i am thinking of getting a 48 inch strip light (i have a glass canopy, and thne that will make me have 190 wats, so about 3.1 wpg...

Question 1: So do i need a nother two CO2 systems?

Question 2: Is 3.1 wpg too much? I could live without the extra strip light....

Question 3: If i have 2.5 wpg, how many nutrafin systems do i need for a 60 gallon (1 system = 20 gallons)? What about if i have 3.1 wpg?

That is all i can think of right now, but i am sure i will have more later, please please please answer my questions the best that you can!!! Thanks and have a great day....

 

[George Farmer]

Want you need is CO2 at 30ppm constant with anything over 2 WPG in a 60G.

How you acheive this is up to you. 3 units is a minimum I would say unless you want to change mixtures every other day and go through a lot of yeast and sugar. Are you aware of the DIY nutrafin recipes?

I would stick to 2.5 WPG to start with, should be plenty to grow most plants especially with 30ppm CO2. That said I am wary of your reptile lighting, does it have a high UV content? If so then algae may become an issue.

 

[ANIM4L]

its for reptiles, so i has a above normal for fish tank in uvb lighting:

UVB: 290-320
UVA: 320-400

Honestly i dont think algea will be a problem, because for some reason, and to my benifit, all my gourami LOOOOOOOOOVE algea, wether it is algea or tabs! plus my rubberlipped pleco will ahve fun, and my cories (which love algea too) and my shrimp and loaches and snail! I feed my fish enough so they dont eat algea fr starvation, they love it! But anyways...

You said 3 systems would be ok, and i dont need a new lamp? How do i set the system to 30ppm?

Also, did u say at 2.5 wpg i need to change the system all the time? or opposite?

And last, but really probably not last, if i go with 3.1 lighting, how many systems do i need?

Also i heard about the recipes, but i dotn want the hastle and i dont wanna screw things up, and i work at a petsmart so i get the stuff pretty cheap... unless it is way better... then tell me more! lol

 

[George Farmer]

30ppm CO2 should be straight forward with 3 kits in a 60G. You will probably need to add more yeast to the mixtures. IME 1 kit in a 20G gives 15 to 20ppm so 3 kits in a 60G will give similar as the ratio is the same - this is using the supplied nutrafin sachets. So to get CO2 output to 30ppm you need more yeast. Dried yeast from the supermarket is fine. Experiment with different qtys. to acheive desired level - the supplied sachet of yeast is 1/4 tsp - try 1/3 to 1/2 tsp. To measure for CO2 use pH and KH test kits and cross refer to a pH/KH/CO2 table.

Lighting has no effect on your CO2 output. I was saying that if you had less than 3 units then you will need to change the mixtures more often. To re-iterate, you need 3 units with any lighting you choose over 2 WPG.