Discus tank conversion, bare bottom to planted
- Thread starter Yanbbrox
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Superb tank 
Dunno why I couldn't see the pictures before though... when I did "quote" I could see the links but no pictures... weird...
Dunno why I couldn't see the pictures before though... when I did "quote" I could see the links but no pictures... weird...
Ok dude here is what I know on your side of the pond as you put it, they may use a different standard for the Canister that holds the C02 Gas.
What I do know is your greatest cost will be for: regulator, solenoid, bubble counter, needle valve which in most but not all cases comes as many parts but referred to as one unit. I have seen this unit go for between $75~ $140, you will also need what is referred to as a "Reactor" which helps to actively force the C02 gas to mix or dissolve into the water. I have seen these stupid little thingy sell for $50~$75
. I was however able to find a site that tells you how to make one for about half that.
As far as the tank goes you can then get a 5~10 pound cylinder which could last you a year or better depending on your use. Over here run around $90 new.
Yeah I looked at DIY C02 systems and frankly there interesting to say the least but you can't just shut them off at night when the plants don't need them and there is a small chance of them exploding/bursting from a pressure build up. Plus they can send materials into your tank if you try to cut corners. Bet your Discus would just love some fermented yeast for a treat, yum.
So I would say around $250 for the whole system including shipping, The gas is extra.
4:05am now that I stayed up all night doing your home work for you. Yeah I'm crazy I know it.
What I do know is your greatest cost will be for: regulator, solenoid, bubble counter, needle valve which in most but not all cases comes as many parts but referred to as one unit. I have seen this unit go for between $75~ $140, you will also need what is referred to as a "Reactor" which helps to actively force the C02 gas to mix or dissolve into the water. I have seen these stupid little thingy sell for $50~$75
. I was however able to find a site that tells you how to make one for about half that.As far as the tank goes you can then get a 5~10 pound cylinder which could last you a year or better depending on your use. Over here run around $90 new.
Yeah I looked at DIY C02 systems and frankly there interesting to say the least but you can't just shut them off at night when the plants don't need them and there is a small chance of them exploding/bursting from a pressure build up. Plus they can send materials into your tank if you try to cut corners. Bet your Discus would just love some fermented yeast for a treat, yum.
So I would say around $250 for the whole system including shipping, The gas is extra.
4:05am now that I stayed up all night doing your home work for you. Yeah I'm crazy I know it.
Tequila;1671945; said:Ok dude here is what I know on your side of the pond as you put it, they may use a different standard for the Canister that holds the C02 Gas.
What I do know is your greatest cost will be for: regulator, solenoid, bubble counter, needle valve which in most but not all cases comes as many parts but referred to as one unit. I have seen this unit go for between $75~ $140, you will also need what is referred to as a "Reactor" which helps to actively force the C02 gas to mix or dissolve into the water. I have seen these stupid little thingy sell for $50~$75
As far as the tank goes you can then get a 5~10 pound cylinder which could last you a year or better depending on your use. Over here run around $90 new.
Yeah I looked at DIY C02 systems and frankly there interesting to say the least but you can't just shut them off at night when the plants don't need them and there is a small chance of them exploding/bursting from a pressure build up. Plus they can send materials into your tank if you try to cut corners. Bet your Discus would just love some fermented yeast for a treat, yum.
So I would say around $250 for the whole system including shipping, The gas is extra.
4:05am now that I stayed up all night doing your home work for you. Yeah I'm crazy I know it.
I'm sure you spent a fair amount of that time reading about the diy co2 explosions, horror stories and disasters, they distracted me for ages
They like you put it are interesting but as you said your can't turn them off, I suppose technically you could take them out everyday and put them back in again but seriously who would go to that much trouble and sooner or later you'd forget to take it out or leave or forget to put it back in again. That's ignoring the cat factor and the love of all things new and shiny to play with until the dam thing explodes.
I've read about people who use them with one way valves to prevent the whole home brew ending up in the tank but that increases the explosive possibilities, but some folk swear by this sort of thing. Personally it would be far too much of a headache too even consider this way of doing it. Entertaining to read about it though
Thanks for the info dude
Yanbbrox;1673158; said:I'm sure you spent a fair amount of that time reading about the diy co2 explosions, horror stories and disasters, they distracted me for ages
They like you put it are interesting but as you said your can't turn them off, I suppose technically you could take them out everyday and put them back in again but seriously who would go to that much trouble and sooner or later you'd forget to take it out or leave or forget to put it back in again. That's ignoring the cat factor and the love of all things new and shiny to play with until the dam thing explodes.
I've read about people who use them with one way valves to prevent the whole home brew ending up in the tank but that increases the explosive possibilities, but some folk swear by this sort of thing. Personally it would be far too much of a headache too even consider this way of doing it. Entertaining to read about it though
Thanks for the info dude
I hope you know that lite blue type is killing my eyes thank you very much! The thanx I get for doing your research for you.
I'm not saying go with the DIY C02 thingy, I'm telling you you should be able to purchase most of the hardware for the Canister C02 for about $250 USD and build the reactor thingy yourself. It's just that I can't really refer you anywhere for the hardware because everywhere I checked they state ONLY to be used in NORTH AMERICA, either because of fitting standards or because you people use some strange form of electrical power or plug.
Or you could go the way of Carbo-plus but I think that isn't the best way for you to go, though Carbo-plus is made on that side of the moon. It maybe be cheaper.
Ok, here is the good and the bad:
The java moss has gone completely brown and seems to be acting like a natural filter, so much crap seems to gets into it. The Echinodorus Tennellus seems fine with no signs of wither or for that matter growth, the same can be said for the Cryptocoryne Wendtii :
The other wood moss also brown just after a fish had brushed past it with the resulting cloud of debris coming off it. The Vallinseria Spirallis seems ok in the foreground, but the Aponogetum Crispus is turning brown and dieing off:
Another shot off the Aponogetum Crispus and moss but the fish wanted feeding and to get in on the action as well so I fed them just after so I could take the other shots:
General:
I've changed the water changing schedule due the flourish. I used to do a 8 gallon change every other day, this has been cut dramitcally to about a 4 gallon change every 5 days or so, everything is still in params for the fish. I just add a top up of flourish into the new tank water. I see no point adding the course of flourish just to take it out with too much water change, as long as the fish(and eventually the plants) are happy then so am I.
When doing the change I lightly vac the gravel over the place where the fish are fed, by lightly I mean no longer than a couple of second at most, hose goes in and is taken straight out again, just to clean up the excess food waste that builds up there.
The java moss has gone completely brown and seems to be acting like a natural filter, so much crap seems to gets into it. The Echinodorus Tennellus seems fine with no signs of wither or for that matter growth, the same can be said for the Cryptocoryne Wendtii :
The other wood moss also brown just after a fish had brushed past it with the resulting cloud of debris coming off it. The Vallinseria Spirallis seems ok in the foreground, but the Aponogetum Crispus is turning brown and dieing off:
Another shot off the Aponogetum Crispus and moss but the fish wanted feeding and to get in on the action as well so I fed them just after so I could take the other shots:
General:
I've changed the water changing schedule due the flourish. I used to do a 8 gallon change every other day, this has been cut dramitcally to about a 4 gallon change every 5 days or so, everything is still in params for the fish. I just add a top up of flourish into the new tank water. I see no point adding the course of flourish just to take it out with too much water change, as long as the fish(and eventually the plants) are happy then so am I.
When doing the change I lightly vac the gravel over the place where the fish are fed, by lightly I mean no longer than a couple of second at most, hose goes in and is taken straight out again, just to clean up the excess food waste that builds up there.
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