Search results for query: *

I've run at least 6bps on a 60 litre before. Use a drop checker to measure co2, never trust BPS as it can vary from bottle to bottle.

The problem with this is, it doesn't work on all filters. Many filters tend to trap the tiny co2 bubbles until they form one or two very large bubbles, which then gets released in one go causing a co2 imbalance and/or waste of co2. Filter media may be mostly to blame, especially when using...

Too much surface movement will gas off co2 quicker, but as long as its not causing a slash I think you'll be ok. I'd imagine you'll be able to watch the co2 flow pattern when setup and tweak from there :)

Its not that they are bad, but they aren't as efficient as inline. Most of the co2 from a glass diffuser will head straight for the surface and gas off. When its inline, the micro bubbles follow the flow from the external, so they tend to loop around the tank, remaining underwater for longer...

Inline will always be better than an in-tank glass diffuser imo. Many people like to show the glassware off a little, but otherwise I'd avoid them. An inline reactor would be even better as it dissolves most of the co2 before it reaches the tank.

You also can't measure co2 usage by 'bubbles per second' as every regulator is different to some degree and will release co2 at slightly different rates. Then you have variations in the co2 line, etc. making bubbles different sizes.

Uhm, nope. Carbon monoxide is poisonous. Carbon dioxide is used everywhere... and yes, too much co2 can be dangerous as it drives the o2 out of our bodies, but it would take a hell of a lot more than one 95g bottle to even give you a headache :thumbup:

My money is on your regulator being under pressure for the Boyu diffuser. Crank it up a bit and watch the magic :thumbup:

The short term effect wouldn't be worth the cost imo.. It is possible though - this is how the great Amano discovered the benefits of co2 in planted aquariums.

This should be fine, you get much larger pH swings in the wild, so nothing to worry about. It stabilizes over time with water changes too, so make sure you keep them up. If introducing new fish to the tank, do it at a time before the co2 has come on to avoid any massive shock or excess co2...

I double dose EC with no problems, and you've seen my blyxa, right? I've not heard of anyone having problems with P. Helferi or Stellata either.

Dude, its not the end of the world :) Nothing to worry about. Either turn the lights off or dose Liquid Carbon as already suggested. Its not ideal or cost effective on a large tank, but liquid carbon works good enough to keep the tank ticking over until you get a new co2 bottle.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CO2-Carbon-Dioxid ... 120wt_1165 These work really good imo. Similar products are also available on ye olde FleaBay too :thumbup:

A decent reactor or inline diffuser (on the filter out) gets my vote :thumbup:

Apparently co2 will slowly break down your filters seals, but the biggest issue I find personally is the co2 levels become inconsistent, leading to algae problems. This is down to co2 building up in the filter, then in some cases being released in one go as a big bubble or bubbles. It really can...

Try it on the filter output instead of the inlet. Mine was naff on the inlet pipe too.

Surprising. I find my Boyu diffuser to be a brilliant piece of kit. Personally, I use it on the filter output and while I do get a mist in the tank its so fine it isn't noticeable from a few feet away on my sofa :thumbup:

Drop checkers and BPS is a good way to start off, but there is no better method than watching the plants and livestock. Just remember to give it a good two or three hours between changes as the results wont be immediate. BPS can also vary from regulator to regulator, bubble counters, tubing...

Bubble rate means nothing, as bubble size from regulator to regulator will vary, also the tubing, bubble counters, etc. I run my bubble count at stupid levels on my 60cm tank. Go by the Drop Checker. Try moving the DC around within the tank too.

I remember George saying he spent a lot of money on an ADA diffuser for it to not be as good as a cheap version he had. Much of it is down to pot luck with how good the quality of the ceramic disc is. I've noticed this with my two cheap Spiro diffusers - 1 releases many ting bubbles across the...

Great comparison between these two.. I wonder how well the Cal Aqua In-line diffuser would compare in this test? I'm yet to try the Up Aqua product, but I've long used the Boyu Diffuser and think its great. Never had a problem with hoses slipping off, so no need for jubilee clips imo, and while...

Sounds like a plan :thumbup:

Unless you really need it, I wouldn't bother with the fine floss stuff... I tend to run mine for 24 hours then bin it :thumbup:

Try removing/replacing some media first, and give the pipes, etc. a good clean. Are you using a spraybar? May not look as pretty as glassware, but works a hell of a lot better imo :)

Awesome :D Yeah, two hours before sounds ok... could even go three hours if need be :thumbup:

Having it on an angle shouldn't make any difference... my first thought was the filter may be underpowered as I found two EX700's on a 70 litre wasn't quite enough... I changed to 1 EX1200 which is a huge improvement even though it should be slightly less flow than the 2 700's. Try putting your...

Retail on these is £85, with 95 gram refills at £13.95 each, although it might be for 3, the press release was a little confusing :crazy: I like them personally, but the last thing I'd do is hang one on the tank! We spend hundreds of pounds to remove equipment from the tank, then go hang...

I've spot dosed with a brush underwater many times. Measure the amount of liquid carbon beforehand so you know not to overdose too much, but bare in mind you will be doing a water change after anyway. Turn filters and pumps off, and apply liquid carbon by brush, syringe, or a combination of the...

I failed chemistry miserably, but found it quite simple to understand when you strip it of all the science :lol: Add a little bit of clear stuff to the blue stuff in a DC, put in tank, wait for it to change. If its anything other than lime green, add more co2 :lol:

You can find other articles which may help here: viewforum.php?f=34

DC stands for Drop Checker, which is how we (roughly)measure the levels of co2... http://www.ukaps.org/drop-checker.htm Welcome to the forum btw :)

Spot dose Excel direct via a syringe when the filter is off. Leave for a few minutes then fire up the filter again.

In the cabinet out of sight :thumbup:

For best diffusion with these Boyu diffusers, place them inline on the OUTPUT of the filter - as close to the filter as you can get. Diffusion inside a filter isn't the best method as many filters will hold undissolved co2, then release large bubbles in one go, meaning unstable co2 levels.

As Clark say, it really does vary and should not be used as a base guide imo. I pump easily more than 9 bps in a 60cm tank, but the light is 4 wpg. If I had 2 wpg I know I could drop my co2 slightly. Drop Checkers will give you a better idea of where to start, but these take time to change...

If the fish can tolerate it, there's no problem with a yellow or near yellow DC. DC's aren't perfect, so watch your livestock...

I was gonna say, I'll go check mine... but that would involve getting up :shifty:

Myself and others use them with great results inline on the output. The diagram is just an example.

By far the most efficient way is via a decent reactor as there is very little loss. They can be expensive however.

Diffuser, not Reactor. Its basically the same as a Boyu diffuser.

Same here really. My bubble count is way too high to actually count. How people get away with 1 bubble every 3 seconds or whatever amazes me :lol:

There is no solenoid with the first reg, clearly.

Move them both around the tank - it could be down to poor circulation. It could also be one DC has more of an air pocket so it will react different and in some cases change colour quicker. DC's are great for roughly estimating the co2 levels, but the best method is visually. If the fish aren't...

Add more reagent.

I use one and recommend them. Zig also uses one with great results.

Yeah indeed, that's what is so very wrong about this hobby.

I find it stays put for a good 3 months or so, then it covers in algae, etc. so I just scrape it off and tipex it again :D

You can also Tipex the back, which looks a little neater :D

I use the inline boyu diffuser too, and while a reactor would be better, it works ok, and its nice to get more equipment out of the tank.

It's generally considered good maintenance to change this each week with a water change, but not always necessary. I change mine about once every two or three weeks.

You must adjust this slowly over a few hours - needle valves are sensitive little buggers, and you also have to wait for the line, bubble counter and diffuser to fill up with co2 before its all stable. Just be patient, adjust and wait an hour, adjust again and wait again, etc.

If all else fails, silicone it on :lol:

uhm, I could be wrong here, but don't you use standard co2 line? Or do the reg and solenoid not have the fitted connections for co2 hose lines? Where did you get them?

What Reg and Solenoid are you using?

http://www.ukaps.org/drop-checker.htm 2bps sounds low on a 180ltr, but then all tanks can be different, and while the drop checker isn't 100% right, it is by far the easiest method for monitoring co2, other than looking at the plants and fish.

Yes, keep tweaking... and make sure you don't have too much surface movement as this drives off the co2.

5 lbs is around 2kg, so at around 2bps you could get 6 months usage or more. It really is hard to predict however as every tank and setup is different.

I'm struggling too.. have been for quite some time now... I'm going to try a reactor from Ed, but in the meantime I'm back to using the Boyu diffuser on the filters intake. I've also upgraded the filter to an EX1200 with nothing but sintered glass media. If this doesn't work the whole lot is...

People do this to bring down NO3 and PO4 levels though, so plants would starve. Lemonade might work though! :D My mother uses it all the time for house plants :D

What you have labelled as the 'Knob to adjust pressure' is actually fixed on Aquatic Magic regulators. Moving this can break a seal and cause a leak, so don't adjust it!!!! The regs are pre set at the right pressure.

Is the diffuser clean?

Well take the check valve and tubing off, turn it on and see if anything comes out. You might be out of co2 but your reg dial is sticking.

Is your check valve on the right way around?

Still, they've taken a while to change, and really you want the solution to be green before lights on.

What's wrong with your Hydor Power Diffuser mate?

No probs :) btw, if the solenoid starts to buzz - open her up and stretch the spring slightly or source a better one. I've had two go on me and Aquatic Magic are terrible when things go wrong.

:lol: I was running around 3bps with a glass diffuser... now I'm using an inline Boyu diffuser and without touching the needle valve its around 4bps. That's whats needed to get the drop checkers green :? My wife is not impressed :lol:

Screw you :lol: I can't get 2kg to last more than 7 or 8 weeks on my 18 gal :roll: Lucky bugger :)

They're set to around 2.2 bar. So plumb it all up, plug in your solenoid and close the needle valve by turning clockwise. Fire the FE then slowly adjust the needle valve anti clockwise to set the bubble rate. I wouldn't bother with the bubble counter that comes with that setup though - they...

Its fixed, so the knob doesn't turn :) Don't over tighten that reg too - the cheap nylon washers are easy to destroy.

I replaced it with a different type, like posted above, this one: http://www.lunapet.net/bilder/co2_blase ... er_230.jpg

What bubble counter? I had the same issue with an Aquatic Magic reg/solenoid with a JBJ bubble counter. Best thing I did was bin it.

Good the hear... not sure about your substrate. It can be topped, but could you put it under the EC at the back? Also, it depends on the 'scape you're trying the achieve, but you might not need a high slope...

Re: nothing coming out of my FE? We all have to start somewhere, so don't be too hard on yourself :) Is it working ok now?

Re: nothing coming out of my FE? Troo that, but it could be a reading in PSI instead of Bar. 50 psi is gonna be around 3.somethingorother, which should be ok...

Re: nothing coming out of my FE? The solenoid must be plugged in :p Solenoid on = co2 on Solenoid off = co2 off Get yourself a timer and set the co2 to turn on two hours before lights on, and turn off two hours before lights out :)

Re: nothing coming out of my FE? Is the solenoid plugged in?

http://www.google.co.uk/language_tools?hl=en

A reactor would be your best option... viewtopic.php?f=37&t=2451

No, please hijack it, others want to know too :D

I'm thinking of getting a reactor too, but as I'm a tight-ar*e, do these cheapo gadgets work? http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.p ... cts_id=678 Ta!

Read the drop checker article in my sig... you shouldn't use tank water in the drop checker.

Argos.co.uk - number 982/1352. 2 for £2.99. Takes us style flat pins and euro round pins. No voltage difference on these as Malaysia uses 220-240v too.

It'll fit a shaver adaptor :)

Experience tells me that from this point in the year, Christmas has a nasty way of pouncing on me :lol: I've got one of the boys in the pub working on getting a pub co2 bottle, which he'll hopefully be able to fill. His boss is a *beeping beep beep* though, so we shall see... There's not even...

£15 each + postage from Dan. And yup, I had to scrap plans for the 4ft tank going high tech because of the co2 usage. I have all the kit too :( [edit to add] I'm going to try the other reg and solenoid this weekend to see if that one is any better on usage... if it is I'll replace the faulty...

I don't :( I've got to get a new bottle every time :(

I wish I was mate :( It took him a week to find out if he could even fill an FE, as he thought I was messing him around :?

My local MA want £80 to fill a 2kg bottle :lol:

I'd like to see a range of glassware that is colour coated on the inside, only on areas outside the tank though.

Yup, its basically only online. They will sell over the counter, but usually don't like visitors. Years ago they had what could have been a nice shop, but it was a disgrace. Fish were a mess, live foods crawling out of boxes, rabbits stuffed in sweat boxes, etc. Their prices are good on some...

Professionally. If you're happy to buy from a place covered in cat and rat faeces, run by owners who turn up in pyjamas, carry on :) Just don't ask for a refund or you might get threatened.

They are neighbours of mine, and yes they are idiots. I've known them for nearly 20 years.

http://www.aquatics-online.co.uk/catalo ... plings.asp They're run by a bunch of idiots though. Have you tried your local MA? Have a look in the pond section...

Coolies, I might have to invest in one of these soon...

That's what I'm thinking mate. I've got another reg and solenoid I'll try on the next bottle due to be changed any day now. I can't find any leaks anywhere though :?

How big is that bottle LD? I'm only getting a 2kg to last 7 weeks in an 18gal :(

Really? I thought these reactors weren't gravity ones, so water and co2 go in at the base, travel through the reaction chamber and out the top together... :?

Out I'd imagine mate.

Put it under the filters output?