CO2 system - opinions

[Cammie]

What do you think of this system? Would it be okay for a 10 or 20 gallon
tank? It's so cheap I'm tempted to try it. I don't have a technical
"planted" tank, but a handful of Cabomba and Spiral Val and they are doing
so poorly even though I use Flourish. So what do you think of this system
for a little help?

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=6&pCatId=8981

Thanks,
Cammie

[Cichlidiot]

Cammie > wrote:
> What do you think of this system? Would it be okay for a 10 or 20 gallon
> tank? It's so cheap I'm tempted to try it. I don't have a technical
> "planted" tank, but a handful of Cabomba and Spiral Val and they are doing
> so poorly even though I use Flourish. So what do you think of this system
> for a little help?

> http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=6&pCatId=8981

It works fairly well (search Google Groups for other threads on the
Nutrafin system). I know some people use just the diffuser with their own
DIY bottles and mixes. However, considering the whole system on sale right
now is only $6.50 more than just the diffuser, it might be worth it to get
the whole system. One thing though, how much light do you have on the
tank? Adding CO2 and Flourish won't be much help unless the light is
sufficient.

[Sharp Tooth]

On Mon, 07 Jul 2003 06:05:30 GMT, "Cammie" >
wrote:

>What do you think of this system? Would it be okay for a 10 or 20 gallon
>tank? It's so cheap I'm tempted to try it. I don't have a technical
>"planted" tank, but a handful of Cabomba and Spiral Val and they are doing
>so poorly even though I use Flourish. So what do you think of this system
>for a little help?
>
>http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=6&pCatId=8981
>
>Thanks,
>Cammie
>


I use one in a 26 gallon and two in a 34 gallon and am very pleased
with the results. All plants are responding very well. My lighting is
below recommended levels and I use under gravel filters but the growth
rate is still amazing.

In the 34, my Limnophila Sessiflora grows at rate of an inch or more
a day. The Torta vals started sending out runners as soon as I planted
them and the water lily has more than doubled its size in one month.

I now have a jungle of spiral val in the 26 after runners shot out in
every direction. There must be eight to ten daughter plants (now full
grown) for each original.

This system is well worth the money.

Sharp Tooth

[Djay]

How much light do you have over your 10 or 20 gal tank? While CO2 will be
beneficial, you may need additional light as well.

DJay

"Cammie" > wrote in message
...
> What do you think of this system? Would it be okay for a 10 or 20 gallon
> tank? It's so cheap I'm tempted to try it. I don't have a technical
> "planted" tank, but a handful of Cabomba and Spiral Val and they are doing
> so poorly even though I use Flourish. So what do you think of this
system
> for a little help?
>
>
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=6&pCatId=8981
>
> Thanks,
> Cammie
>
>

[Poe Lim]

Knowing your light level from previous discussions <g>, I'd say get more
light first; I thought you were going to try the compact fluorescent bulbs?
If you have more light, then both will do a lot better; if you then want to
increase growth, then add CO2. CO2 without light is next to useless.

Cheers,
Poe

"Cammie" > wrote in message
...
> What do you think of this system? Would it be okay for a 10 or 20 gallon
> tank? It's so cheap I'm tempted to try it. I don't have a technical
> "planted" tank, but a handful of Cabomba and Spiral Val and they are doing
> so poorly even though I use Flourish. So what do you think of this
system
> for a little help?

[Luca Brazi]

I don't think the bulbs would be too much light. Two 10 watt CF would
be just right for a 10 gal. and maybe a bit underpowered for a 20gal.
Get rid of the incandescents if you can. New light plus do it
yourself co2 plus Flourish (maybe some root tabs too) and I bet things
will take off (at the very least you'll get more interesting algae).
Personally, I've always found cabomba to be too finicky over the long
hall. You might want to start with something hardier then slowly swap
out to more delicate plants once you get the hang of balancing the
nutrient/light/co2 combo.

"Cammie" > wrote in message >...
> Yes I know I have very low light, I talked it over with you guys a few weeks
> ago. Unfortunately the tank combo with build on hood has only two 50W
> incandelescent bulbs.
>
> I don't know if those screw in mini compacts will fit in it, but I haven't
> tried either. IF they would fit, I think I'd have way too much light. Do
> they make fish sunglasses?
>
> This is a link to the bulbs I want to try:
> http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=6&pCatId=9870
>
> Do you think I could put one of these in and then just keep the other the
> incandelescent bulb, or just the one compact and the other side no bulb?
>
> I'm at wits end here. I bought plants from thatfishplace and now within
> only one month my Corkscrew Val look horrible and my Cabomba is almost gone
> (it seems to just disappear).
>
> Cammie
>
> "Cichlidiot" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Cammie > wrote:
> > > What do you think of this system? Would it be okay for a 10 or 20
> gallon
> > > tank? It's so cheap I'm tempted to try it. I don't have a technical
> > > "planted" tank, but a handful of Cabomba and Spiral Val and they are
> doing
> > > so poorly even though I use Flourish. So what do you think of this
> system
> > > for a little help?
>
> > >
> http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=6&pCatId=8981
> >
> > It works fairly well (search Google Groups for other threads on the
> > Nutrafin system). I know some people use just the diffuser with their own
> > DIY bottles and mixes. However, considering the whole system on sale right
> > now is only $6.50 more than just the diffuser, it might be worth it to get
> > the whole system. One thing though, how much light do you have on the
> > tank? Adding CO2 and Flourish won't be much help unless the light is
> > sufficient.

[Cammie]

Okay, I'll get two 10W CF from work if you don't think it's too much. They
say that EACH 10W actually gives off 50 watts of light.

Where would that put me on the plant scale choosing low, medium to high
light plants?

Someone here mentioned in the past that Java Fern were the easiest and most
hardy plants. Do you also think they are what I should get and any other
suggestions for hardy plants for my light?

I know a good amount of aquarium stuff, but plants seem to be my weak
point. I have no green thumb in OR out of water I guess. :)

Thanks much,
Cammie


"Luca Brazi" > wrote in message
om...
> I don't think the bulbs would be too much light. Two 10 watt CF would
> be just right for a 10 gal. and maybe a bit underpowered for a 20gal.
> Get rid of the incandescents if you can. New light plus do it
> yourself co2 plus Flourish (maybe some root tabs too) and I bet things
> will take off (at the very least you'll get more interesting algae).
> Personally, I've always found cabomba to be too finicky over the long
> hall. You might want to start with something hardier then slowly swap
> out to more delicate plants once you get the hang of balancing the
> nutrient/light/co2 combo.
>
> "Cammie" > wrote in message
>...
> > Yes I know I have very low light, I talked it over with you guys a few
weeks
> > ago. Unfortunately the tank combo with build on hood has only two 50W
> > incandelescent bulbs.
> >
> > I don't know if those screw in mini compacts will fit in it, but I
haven't
> > tried either. IF they would fit, I think I'd have way too much light.
Do
> > they make fish sunglasses?
> >
> > This is a link to the bulbs I want to try:
> >
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=6&pCatId=9870
> >
> > Do you think I could put one of these in and then just keep the other
the
> > incandelescent bulb, or just the one compact and the other side no bulb?
> >
> > I'm at wits end here. I bought plants from thatfishplace and now within
> > only one month my Corkscrew Val look horrible and my Cabomba is almost
gone
> > (it seems to just disappear).
> >
> > Cammie
> >
> > "Cichlidiot" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Cammie > wrote:
> > > > What do you think of this system? Would it be okay for a 10 or 20
> > gallon
> > > > tank? It's so cheap I'm tempted to try it. I don't have a
technical
> > > > "planted" tank, but a handful of Cabomba and Spiral Val and they are
> > doing
> > > > so poorly even though I use Flourish. So what do you think of this
> > system
> > > > for a little help?
> >
> > > >
> >
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=6&pCatId=8981
> > >
> > > It works fairly well (search Google Groups for other threads on the
> > > Nutrafin system). I know some people use just the diffuser with their
own
> > > DIY bottles and mixes. However, considering the whole system on sale
right
> > > now is only $6.50 more than just the diffuser, it might be worth it to
get
> > > the whole system. One thing though, how much light do you have on the
> > > tank? Adding CO2 and Flourish won't be much help unless the light is
> > > sufficient.

[Chuck Gadd]

On Wed, 09 Jul 2003 04:46:44 GMT, "Cammie" >
wrote:

>Okay, I'll get two 10W CF from work if you don't think it's too much. They
>say that EACH 10W actually gives off 50 watts of light.

They are 10w each. The 50w crap is just marketing hype. They are 10w
fluorescents.


Chuck Gadd
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua

[Poe Lim]

Java Ferns are good hardy plants to have as they will tolerate quite a wide
range of lighting conditions. Keep your Vals; they will do much better when
you go for more light, and you may in fact need to get rid of some (they
spread...).

Cheers,
Poe

"Cammie" > wrote in message
...
> Someone here mentioned in the past that Java Fern were the easiest and
most
> hardy plants. Do you also think they are what I should get and any other
> suggestions for hardy plants for my light?

[rogermackk]

I use a 26 gallon, two 34 gallons, was very happy with the result. All the plants responded well. I'm below the recommended level of lighting, I used the sand filter, but the growth rate is still staggering.

[piterritz]

I use one in a 26 gallon and two in a 34 gallon and am actual pleased with the results. All plants are responding actual well. My lighting is below recommended levels and I use beneath alluvium filters but the growth rate is still amazing.