Hook up CO2 into Discus planted tank

[MKD]

Hi all,

I am thinking to set up 20lb co2 tank into my low light planted tank with discus in it. I am going to inject thru canister filter line. is it safe? and what do i watch for???


Thank you

Tony

[andyl9063]

Hi all,

I am thinking to set up 20lb co2 tank into my low light planted tank with discus in it. I am going to inject thru canister filter line. is it safe? and what do i watch for???


Thank you

Tony

you need to get a drop checker and measure the ppm of co2 in there. you want to start off little by little before increasing the bubbles per second.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?136668-Co2-Fertilization-Algae-and-more-updated-10-10

[tacks]

Hi great reply by Andy. I would add that I use the return line on my filter and this has worked well for me. The drop checker is for sure. thanks Ed

[jimg]

Don't add it to the intake. the co2 can harm the filter. I think 20lbs is a lot. I got about 4-5 months if I remember right from a 10lb on a 90 with a trickle filter.There are co2 charts that are good to for measuring the amount of co2 if you don't have a drop checker

[rickztahone]

Build a Rex style reactor to diffuse the co2 and buy a drop checker. I have a DC for sale currently, what a plug, lol. If you want you can come check out my setup to get an idea of how to run your co2 ;-)

[jcardona1]

I agree, don't add it to your filter. I've also heard/read it can cause damage to your canister. A PVC reactor or inline diffuser will work better. A drop checker is a must. You can't rely on the charts that use PH and KH to determine your co2, as your kh can be influenced by several things in your tank, like driftwood and substrate. A drop checker with a known 4dkh solution is what you need.

[MKD]

Thank you all for your inputs. this is what i have in my garage. I bought this for awhile but did not decide to use it or not. more stuffs that my tank reliaze on that equal more headache and bill :) anyway, this is what i have and set up will be like this. Please let me know that will look in the drop checker.

-Aqua Medic Co2 1000 diffuser
-Milwaukee SMS 122 PH Controller with probe
-Milwaukee MA957 Solenoid Control Valve with bubble counter and fluid (automatic on/off valve control for the Co2 tank-directly plugged into Co2 Controller)
-25lbs clean white Co2 cylinder (recently replaced and with near full charge- on exchange program, so no concern of tank expiration)
-250 GPH water pump

i bought this for high tech planted tank, but never did it. Right now my concern is it worth or different in low light tank?



ps: rick - thank you for your offer, i'll let you know if i am interested.



Have a great Fourth of July to all SD,

Tony

[jimg]

Ime no need for co2 in a low light tank. I had 3 planted tanks a 150g and 2 90's. the 150 I needed co2 I had metal halides with carpet type plants and red plants kept co2 about 25ppm. the one 90 was low light and co2 made no changes, the other 90 was mixed plants 20ppm after a year I took co2 off and the only difference was the low growing plants grew slower. No need for ferts with most low light plants either. High light plants needed ferts, ferts also helps with keeping algae in check.
Make sure you use the co2 controller if the tank gets near empty it will dump. regardless of what needle valve you have.

[MKD]

C02 could cause a lot of things that i have read. That's stopping me inject it to my tank. in the mean time, i want to keep it simple (not bb), and want green looking tank, not just deal leaves and algae. in your 90 tank w/o co2, do you have a lot of plants or a few?

[jimg]

The last way I had the the lowlight and which I liked the best was different types of anubias tied to driftwood. after awhile the roots grow down the wood and look real nice. Easy to clean and keep tank bb or just a 1/4 sand, just move the wood vacuum
The only times I have ever had co2 effect the discus was when I let the tank get low and it dumped. otherwise as long as you use the set up you show keep it below 25ppm and you will like it. The algae is a problem due to water makeup, high light and food. there are many good sites on planted tanks you have to find a balance and it's fairly easy but sometimes the balance can drive you up a wall trying to figure. example is sometimes if you get algae adding more ferts can actually help it or make it much worse. As far as ferts it all depends on your water,fish load feeding plants light etc. i like using just pmdd pre mix from aquariumfertilizer.com. a few years ago I used the seachem fert schedule. They give you a daily schedule of doses you follow and I liked it a lot but it was expensive. I got into buying my own chems to make ferts and it was a good learning experience but in the end pmdd was my choice. as far as lights I like the t5s. pc are junk.

[MKD]

you know what i have read pro/con here/there and decide put that co2 back in garage. Maybe next time when i clean up the garage again, i'll want to set up it. Don't want to get rip of it hahaha. Anyway, thank you so much everyone for your responds. In the mean time, i just did WC and took couple pics, but be warned for bad pics from 10 years old camera hahahaha.

any advice will be appreciate it.

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