"Keith J" wrote in message
...
On CO2: my CO2 levels are way to low (+-1.2 ppm, PH 8, KH 5)
so i'm also going to build a DIY CO2 system. It seems easy enough.
Anyway, if you buy one of these systems, what would be the initial cost
and how much do pay to keep it going?

Regards,
Benedict


Initial cost : Co2 fermenter and tubing : under $10 , empty soda bottle :
free

additional costs : sugar, yeast, and baking soda = under $5 , enough for
3
months to a year

= very cheap


yup , without a doubt DIY has a place for smaller tanks. Try and maintain a
DIY system in a 77g tank and it is a real pain. You would likely need 4 of
those 2 liter bottles so multiply your expenses as noted above x 4. Then you
have the PH fluctuations from the lows when a new charge is made up to the
highs when the sugar and yeast is about exhausted. Then if your running
multiple bottles you need to stagger them so as to prevent them all
runningout at the same time and how many time shave you read about posters
having the bottle tip over and dump the contents into the tank creating a
real mess. Having said all that I still do use DIY although I use one gallon
glass jugs which will not tip over. The convenience of compressed co2, the
stability of your PH and with a smaller tank and smaller CO2 bottle you hook
it up and likely do not have to worry about it for a year is too much to
pass up IMHO.

Rick