On Sun, 31 Oct 2004 22:24:47 -0500, Mood wrote:

My tap water is alkaline off the scale of my pH kit,
GH is off the scale +16dGH (400ppm) or my test kit is expired.

If in any doubt about test-kits, buy another one. Will your water
company tell you what your water is supposed to be? In teh UK, they
are legally obliged to furnish a test report covering dozens of
paramaters for no charge (my last one lists 65 parameters). This is
very useful (I ask for one every couple of years to check what they're
up to - the main problem I have is a nitrate level straight from teh
tap that any testkit catagorises as 'instant death').

I do not have a CO2 system, however I am considering one, and the
pressurized tank kind (Thanks Ian). It seems from what I've read, if the
plants do well, the algae/cyanobacteria won't.

It helps when teh plants are vigorous, but it's a bit of a balancing
act - I've had tanks that have looked good for months (or years), then
they go through a ropy patch,m then they look good again. Also, as I
said, I think CO2 is near the end of teh things to do, once the tank
is basically sorted.

I saw some resonably priced
regulators on e-bay, and pH monitors to ensure the pH dosen't change
drastically. Anyone have brand reccomendations? Thanks again

If you're assembling a setup from parts, rather than an off-the-shelf
package, I'd recommend getting your CO2 from a welder supplies in a
decent size cylinder rather than one of teh silly little piddling
aquarium-size cylinders. The only caveat is you need somewhere to
conceal teh cylinder, but as long as you can do that, a big cylinder
is better because it lasts a long time - I got more than a year from a
cylinder refill - and is much cheaper. Buying from a welding
supplier, I get 20 times as much CO2 for 3 times as much money than if
I take a silly little oine to an aquarium shop. The real advantage,
however, is I only have teh aggro of getting the cylinder refilled
less than once a year.

Other things about CO2: A regulator that tells you pressure in teh
cylinder is a waste. The CO2 in a cylinder is mostly liquid, and the
pressure in teh cylinder is therefore not a function of how much you
have left, only what the temperature is. Becasue it's liquid, make
sure you keep teh cylinder upright - if it falls over you can get
liquid CO2 through teh regulator which is likley to knacker it, and
likely to poison your fish and you. CO2 _is_ poisonous. As well as
suffocating you it can poison you. The liquid CO2 can also freeze
your fingers off (literally) if you do something stupid. Always treat
any gas cylinder with the utmost respect.

Don't use airline for CO2 - it escapes through teh wall. Use tube
intended for CO2 (probably do have to buy that from an aquarium shop).
Put a bubble-counter near the cylinder, especially if you have a long
pipe run - it makes setting teh needle valve much easier.

regards, Ian SMith
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