zeone03

I'm getting ready to start a 20g tank which will be my first planted tank. I don't have the money to spend on a pressurized CO2 system right now.Would one of these CO2 system work for right now? I'll have a total of 56w of light(2Coralife Freshwater T-5 lights 28w each).
Red Sea Turbo CO2 Bio-System
Hagen CO2 Natural Plant System.

If one of these would work is one better than the other. Should I use Seachem Excel with one of them also.

Rex Grigg

Get the Hagen ladder. Use your own juice bottle.

zeone03

Thanks for the response. For the DIY CO2, I found these links.

DIY CO2 System for Planted Aquarium, and http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...tures-and.html.
The DIY systems don't look too difficult. I'll give it a try. Is the gas seperator recommended to have also. Are there any suggestions or tips you would recommend. With the DIY CO2 would I still need to use Seachem Excel also?

Thanks
Jason

epicfish

Yes, you should get the gas separator in case any of the yeast bottles explode". It'll prevent yeast from getting into your tank.

You could dose Excel too, but if you have a good amount of CO2, you could skip out on the Excel.

zeone03

How common are the explossions with the DIY systems? Is there a good/easy way to prevent them.

Thanks

DJKronik57

I've never had a bottle explode, not even close. I don't understand how people can get their bottles to explode unless they do something stupid like try to turn it off or clog it up with something. These bottles are designed to take high pressure (if you're using a soda bottle). Just don't try to turn off or slow the flow of CO2 and make sure they can't get clogged (I've never had yeast mixture get up into the tube, I think this may just be people overfilling their mixture or using far too much yeast).

zeone03

I'm assuming them it's not bad running it in the tank 24/7 even when the lights are off. I thought it was bad running co2 when the lights are off. With a diy system though I guess you don't have a choice.

epicfish

Nope, it's not bad. With pressurized, you can have a solenoid to control the flow of CO2 and have it turn off at night. Plants don't use CO2 at night, so any CO2 is wasted. It's not bad, it's just not used.

xcooperx

Im using those 2 co2 system on my 20 Gallon long right now

mrbelvedere138

Use something with thick plastic, like a juice bottle or a half-gallon Gatorade bottle, to minimize risk of explosion.