New to co2

[Dieboldly]

Hey guys and gals. So I'm new to co2 and have a question. Am I suppose to be running a air stone with it? I woke up this morning and found 3 fish dead and I just set up the co2 maybe 2 days ago. I haven't ran any air to it from a bubbler besides my foam filter that is inside the tank. Any advice on this will be helpful please. I don't want to loose more fish.

 

[fisheatfish]

I really think you need to do a bit more research on setting up a planted tank.

For starters, I see you have a spongefilter which does a fine job filtering oxygenating the water but your co2 will simply gas out...meaning, the co2 will simply be wasted and is not the cause of the dead fish. Sorry btw. I'd recommend a canister filter or hob will work. Air stone for your co2?...you'll need a diffuser, which is very much like an air stone but produces finer bubbles. Better yet, look into a co2 reactor...can be expensive but easy & cheap to make.

Post your co2 setup if you can.

 

[Dieboldly]

I really think you need to do a bit more research on setting up a planted tank.

For starters, I see you have a spongefilter which does a fine job filtering oxygenating the water but your co2 will simply gas out...meaning, the co2 will simply be wasted and is not the cause of the dead fish. Sorry btw. I'd recommend a canister filter or hob will work. Air stone for your co2?...you'll need a diffuser, which is very much like an air stone but produces finer bubbles. Better yet, look into a co2 reactor...can be expensive but easy & cheap to make.

Post your co2 setup if you can.

I dont know if you couldnt see it but i have a canister rated for a 100 gallon tank on this 40 gallon already. That sponge filter was just a extra filter i set up a while back when I didnt have the CO2 injector. As for the co2, i have a $50 set up I got from petco for $25. I didnt want to spend over $100 just yet do to being out of work for the last month. Do to knee surgery. There is a diffuser in the tank and a bubble counter going with 1 bubble a second. I was asking about if I needed to introduce the oxygen by a airstone like a normal non planted tank. I was worried that was the cause of the dead fish. Maybe its my PH. I need to test it today. What I want to do is eventually buy a INLINE CO2 reactor for the canister filter.

I have discus in this tank and will be buying the DISCUS BUFFER that will keep the PH in a 5.8-6.8 range. Can I use that to keep the PH levels down?

 

[fisheatfish]

I see...I failed miserably my first go at a planted tank. I highly recommend you focus on getting those plants to grow out...then the fish. That's a challenge in itself. I've had discus too and that's another challenge.

To answer your question, discus buffers will definitely help reduce your ph. You probably also know co2 will fluctuate the ph as well. My suggestion would be to acclimate your discus & fishes to tap water and focus on the plants. Once your plants are thriving, it'll create an ideal environment for the fishes.

Sorry about your knee.

 

[Dieboldly]

Can I use a portable air tank for a CO2 system? I have this 11 gallon portable air tank just sitting around in my garage and wanted to see if it can be filled for co2

 

[Dieboldly]

I see...I failed miserably my first go at a planted tank. I highly recommend you focus on getting those plants to grow out...then the fish. That's a challenge in itself. I've had discus too and that's another challenge.

To answer your question, discus buffers will definitely help reduce your ph. You probably also know co2 will fluctuate the ph as well. My suggestion would be to acclimate your discus & fishes to tap water and focus on the plants. Once your plants are thriving, it'll create an ideal environment for the fishes.

Sorry about your knee.

I'm going to reply in a few from the computer.

 

[Dieboldly]

Here's something customer I made

 

[Dieboldly]

Painted the back of the tank

 

[Dieboldly]

I see...I failed miserably my first go at a planted tank. I highly recommend you focus on getting those plants to grow out...then the fish. That's a challenge in itself. I've had discus too and that's another challenge.

To answer your question, discus buffers will definitely help reduce your ph. You probably also know co2 will fluctuate the ph as well. My suggestion would be to acclimate your discus & fishes to tap water and focus on the plants. Once your plants are thriving, it'll create an ideal environment for the fishes.

Sorry about your knee.

I have failed horribly my first set up also but after reading articles and talking to you guys, i feel like I understand a bit more.

I did buy the buffer for Discus. All my fish are use to tap water with Prime. I havent ever used the water from lfs.

knee is much better now but thank you

 

[fisheatfish]

If that pipe is the output from your filter, it's producing too much surface agitation, which results in co2 loss...same with the air stone and spongefilter pump. That is an airstone right? Where is your co2 diffuser?