Carbo Plus CO2 Unit

[Veloth]

I've seen several beautifully planted tanks on this site. I would really like to have a heavily planted tank. I have been lurking about reading on different threads about CO2 units, while I searched I found this unit [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]
Can anyone tell me if it would be worth the price. The other units I have looked at were rather intimidating.
Thanks:19:
Mike

[Incredulous_Ed]

If you have a smaller tank, you can use diy co2, but for larger tanks, that would work well. What size tank is this going on?

[Fishalicious]

I used one in the past before going over to bottled CO2 and was very happy with the results nice lush plants ... the KH dropped to 3 so make sure your fish like soft water.

Fins'n'Fur on here also uses this system so he can probably tell you more about it....you can see his tank in his photo gallery.

[Veloth]

I should have told you that in the first post. It's a 55 gal tank. The size 30" x 18" x 24"

[Veloth]

Fishalicious, what made you switch to a bottle system?

[Fishalicious]

I have 8 tanks all heavily planted and in the long run using a bottle with a splitter over 2 tanks each time worked out cheaper.

With just 1 tank it probably works out at around the same price depening on use.

Nice thing about Carbo is the simplicity of it all.... you can't get much easier and it does what it says...if you turn the sandwich upside down and switch it off at night it goes double the length of time.

[Fishalicious]

Wow... I just checked your link...over here (Europe) the unit costs around 100 bucks and the replacement carbon 20 bucks. It might be worth your while working out financially what is cheaper in the long run.

[Veloth]

I have looked around at the prices of different units. I thought this one was cheap.

[Evil Slimy]

Those get really expensive in the long run. Pressurized co2 is cheaper and more effective.
Here's the archive from thekrib.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[Veloth]

Thanks for the read. Going by that article and other things i've read. I quess i'll just bone up on pressurized systems.

[fins_n_fur]

I feel I need to respond after being called out by the Mermaid :ezpi_wink1: .

Please keep in mind that I've only been in the hobby six months at most, so take what I'm about to say with many grains of salt--I'm still trying to figure some of this stuff out LOL. More experience folks will probably just laugh.

If you are going for a lightly to medium planted tank and you're a bit short on cash and/or time, it's probably not a bad way to start. You don't have to make a huge investment and it gives you the opportunity to see if plants grow for you (green thumb versus black thumb). Definitely get a permanent CO2 tester to check basic levels--I like low tech and low brainer stuff...yellow, not enough, blue just right, green too much, etc. If you are going heavily planted, and have the time and brain power, I'd probably wait and save for the bits and pieces of a proper CO2 all singing-all dancing system (if you have limited time like me). There is a great one I have my eyes on, but it's about 1000 bucks (but includes auto pH measuring device, solinoid shut-off, and more do-your-head-in technology). If you live in the US, you might check out Rex Grigg's site...he offers systems, I believe, that are effective and not as expensive. It is uglier than hell in the tank and I hate seeing bits of kit---really just want to see fish, plants, and wood, but they make "rocks" that you can hide the sandwich in.

The reason why I am not hugely recommending this is that I have been having brown stringy algae issues that I have not been able to resolve. I suspect, but could be wrong, low amounts of CO2. My tank (120 G) might be too large for one sandwich as it's heavily planted. Also, I may need add baking soda or crushed coral to my tank to increase the general KH to allow more CO2 to dissolve. Jess brings up a good point about hardness levels--I need to measure my tap water, as my tank KH is four, which is providing me with about 5-6 ppm of CO2, not nearly enough, I think.

I believe Brad, ILuvMyGoldBarb, can speak better than I on this technology--and he's way more experienced than I.

Not sure if this helped or hurt LOL. Good luck!

[Veloth]

Any information is step. I'v only been at this since father's day. I'v read so much my glasses melted.

[fins_n_fur]

Any information is step. I'v only been at this since father's day. I'v read so much my glasses melted.
LOL, yep...know that feeling...I don't wear glasses, but had brain melt instead :laugh1blue: