Is It Posible To...

[fatheadminnow]

Sounds good.

Nope, just keep up with normal, regular weekly water changes. When you have a high-tech tank, that is the only time you need to do larger weekly water changes.

-FHM

 

[lljdma06]

10 hours will be fine. It is just good to start out with a lower hour of light, and if that is going well, then go ahead and increase the number.

The best way to inject CO2 is a pressurized unit. You need a CO2 tank, which you can get at a welding store, a regulator, solenoid, flow control valve, check valve, bubble counter and a CO2 diffuser. Also a Drop checker, this measures how much CO2 is in the water. You then start to inject the CO2 into your tank. Since the main source of food for plants, which also limits how fast the plants grow based on how much is available, is carbon, the plants will take in the CO2, use the carbon and emit the oxygen. This will allow the plant to grow at a higher than normal rate. CO2 should be at around 30 ppm in thank.

-FHM

While I agree that it is best, it isn't the only way. You can achieve pretty stable CO2 running DIY in a smaller tank like this. As long as you have the dropchecker to check your levels and consider alternating more than one bottle, you'll be alright.

Maybe I am slow and not understanding the lighting setup, but how did we go from wanting a tank without all the CO2 and other stuff to now recommending tanks with CO2? Why don't you just run the one bulb? Is this then a twin bulb fixture?

I think the photoperiod for new setups should be more around 6-8 hours, especially if you do ultimately decide to play with CO2.

 

[antere07]

the hood i have on my tank has 2 15w bulbs

pretty much the same as that
http/www.animecritic.com/_temp/photos/aquarium/hood_mod/before_with_bulbs.jpg

 

[fatheadminnow]

10 hours will be fine. It is just good to start out with a lower hour of light, and if that is going well, then go ahead and increase the number.

The best way to inject CO2 is a pressurized unit. You need a CO2 tank, which you can get at a welding store, a regulator, solenoid, flow control valve, check valve, bubble counter and a CO2 diffuser. Also a Drop checker, this measures how much CO2 is in the water. You then start to inject the CO2 into your tank. Since the main source of food for plants, which also limits how fast the plants grow based on how much is available, is carbon, the plants will take in the CO2, use the carbon and emit the oxygen. This will allow the plant to grow at a higher than normal rate. CO2 should be at around 30 ppm in thank.

-FHM

While I agree that it is best, it isn't the only way. You can achieve pretty stable CO2 running DIY in a smaller tank like this. As long as you have the dropchecker to check your levels and consider alternating more than one bottle, you'll be alright.

Maybe I am slow and not understanding the lighting setup, but how did we go from wanting a tank without all the CO2 and other stuff to now recommending tanks with CO2? Why don't you just run the one bulb? Is this then a twin bulb fixture?

I think the photoperiod for new setups should be more around 6-8 hours, especially if you do ultimately decide to play with CO2.

Yeah, I did not mention a DIY CO2 system just because it is not stable, and in the long run, a pressurized system will be better, IMO.

-FHM

 

[lljdma06]

10 hours will be fine. It is just good to start out with a lower hour of light, and if that is going well, then go ahead and increase the number.

The best way to inject CO2 is a pressurized unit. You need a CO2 tank, which you can get at a welding store, a regulator, solenoid, flow control valve, check valve, bubble counter and a CO2 diffuser. Also a Drop checker, this measures how much CO2 is in the water. You then start to inject the CO2 into your tank. Since the main source of food for plants, which also limits how fast the plants grow based on how much is available, is carbon, the plants will take in the CO2, use the carbon and emit the oxygen. This will allow the plant to grow at a higher than normal rate. CO2 should be at around 30 ppm in thank.

-FHM

While I agree that it is best, it isn't the only way. You can achieve pretty stable CO2 running DIY in a smaller tank like this. As long as you have the dropchecker to check your levels and consider alternating more than one bottle, you'll be alright.

Maybe I am slow and not understanding the lighting setup, but how did we go from wanting a tank without all the CO2 and other stuff to now recommending tanks with CO2? Why don't you just run the one bulb? Is this then a twin bulb fixture?

I think the photoperiod for new setups should be more around 6-8 hours, especially if you do ultimately decide to play with CO2.

Yeah, I did not mention a DIY CO2 system just because it is not stable, and in the long run, a pressurized system will be better, IMO.

-FHM

For larger systems you are certainly correct, it is too difficult. For smaller, systems, however, it can be a stable, affordable source of CO2 if one knows how to work it and when to change the canisters. As long as the dropchecker is present to measure the CO2 levels, stability can be easily achieved. In addition, some small glass difusors will work quite nicely with fermentation systems. I use the Rhinox 1000 with two Nutrafin canisters connected via t-connector. A canister is changed when lights are out and the dropchecker is yellowish. By the time lights are on, teeny tiny bubbles are dispersing into the tank in a steady stream. 5 minutes work, maximum.

What is this system like 15g or so? A double canister CO2 system with a good, strong recipe will be fine until Atere07 decides to go pressurized. That way, he can use the lighting he has now and get used to CO2 now, rather than try to run the lights now while he saves for a pressurized. If he runs the lights as is without CO2, he'll get into trouble. If he wants to save up and go pressurized, then I'd burn only 1 tube and go no-CO2 until the system arrives. Then run the system with 1 tube and CO2, then finally increase the lighting. Keep the photoperiod relatively short at this time as well, about 6 hours.

Just my opinion.

 

[fatheadminnow]

No, that is a good idea! Just have a DIY system for the time being until he goes pressurized, or not, I like it.

-FHM

 

[lljdma06]

No, that is a good idea! Just have a DIY system for the time being until he goes pressurized, or not, I like it.

-FHM

It is good to save money.

 

[fatheadminnow]

No, that is a good idea! Just have a DIY system for the time being until he goes pressurized, or not, I like it.

-FHM

It is good to save money.

lol, I totally agree with that one! It cost me a bit of money to setup my 5 pound pressurized CO2 system!

-FHM

 

[lljdma06]

No, that is a good idea! Just have a DIY system for the time being until he goes pressurized, or not, I like it.

-FHM

It is good to save money.

lol, I totally agree with that one! It cost me a bit of money to setup my 5 pound pressurized CO2 system!

-FHM

That is why as a general rule for my budget.

Little tanks get CO2, so I can stay cheap with fermentation.

Big tanks, no get CO2 and stay low light.

Saves me a lot of money.

 

[fatheadminnow]

No, that is a good idea! Just have a DIY system for the time being until he goes pressurized, or not, I like it.

-FHM

It is good to save money.

lol, I totally agree with that one! It cost me a bit of money to setup my 5 pound pressurized CO2 system!

-FHM

That is why as a general rule for my budget.

Little tanks get CO2, so I can stay cheap with fermentation.

Big tanks, no get CO2 and stay low light.

Saves me a lot of money.

-FHM

 

[plecostomus-mad]

i have a 36w 4ft t8 light in my 4ft tank, no ferts, no co2 and my plants love it )

 

[fatheadminnow]

i have a 36w 4ft t8 light in my 4ft tank, no ferts, no co2 and my plants love it )

Yup, some people can get away with no ferts. They just have good water! For me, my well water does really well, and my plants in my low-tech tanks are growing nicely!

-FHM

 

[plecostomus-mad]

sweet!

im not sure id like to play with co2, i could see it going very wrong.

 

[antere07]

no im not too keen on messing about with co2 because ive only just started like plus i dont have the money at the moment hopefully getting a job soon

 

[lljdma06]

i have a 36w 4ft t8 light in my 4ft tank, no ferts, no co2 and my plants love it )

Yup, some people can get away with no ferts. They just have good water! For me, my well water does really well, and my plants in my low-tech tanks are growing nicely!

-FHM

I have done several non-CO2 tanks and currently have one. I have pretty good water but mine does need the occasional dosing. Not much, just a little.

sweet!

im not sure id like to play with co2, i could see it going very wrong.

It doesn't go wrong if you're careful. The instances where fish are affected by the CO2 gas are due to either equipment failure (rare), not paying attention to how it's supposed to be setup, or a misunderstanding about surface agitation. Many here have done it with great success. The only reason I do not have it is because I am unable to afford it.

no im not too keen on messing about with co2 because ive only just started like plus i dont have the money at the moment hopefully getting a job soon

Just run the one tube then if you can. I've run a t5 twin fixture with just one tube working.

llj