So CO2 diffusers Work?

[ElJefe]

I've been wanting to do a planted tank and my GF knew and she went out and bought me a co2 diffuser from petsmart. it was almost $60. so i went ahead and bought my substrate and plants and fish for the planted tank.
I've got a 10K light on a 20gal tall ( it's like two 10gal stacked on top of each other) i use leaf zone pro series 2+ co2 (diffuser), i put ecocomplete as bottom substrate and a top layer of ADA amazonia. will this be enough to make them grow good? i'm not sure of all the plants names i know i have one anubis, 4 dwarf anubis, a type of grass tha will sperad pretty fast and cover the bottom of the tank, another is a has kinda stringy lookin leaves and a redish purple tint, and the last one looks kinda like a mini illegal plant alot of people like. do the root tabs help? I have alot of questions i'm a noob to planted tanks. i hope i did at least one thing right!!
3- amano shrimp
2- DP's
2- Tetra's of some sort.

 

[evercl92]

Personally, I've found that these diffusers work just as well as expensive ones. The main issue with CO2 is getting it dissolved into the water. I used to run mine from the diffuser and then into a powerhead. Now I go through the diffuser and then into my canister filter.
3 things make plants grow - light, CO2, nutrients
The eco/amazonia should have plenty of nutrients for your root feeders, thus you prob won't benefit from root tabs.

Are you getting your plants from petsmart as well? They are notorious for selling non-aquatic plants that will not survive long term in your tank. If you can get pics, that would be helpful.

What method of CO2? Pressurized or DIY?

What type of lighting? Compact fluorescent, fluorescent?

 

[Lonewolfblue]

How many watts is the lights? Also, the substrate is good. I only use Eco myself and nothing else. As for the diffuser, the Coralife Limewood is excellent. I run mine directly under my canister filter intakes. The mist is so fine that you have no canister issues with it. Mine's going on 3 years now, and have replaced the limewood a couple times to ensure the fine bubbles. Can also run it into a powerhead as well, and spray the mist through the tank, another great way of doing it.

As for the powered reactors, I find them to be good, but can require a lot of cleaning and maintenance. Not sure exactly what your diffuser is, haven't seen it.

 

[WyldFya]

I'm tired, so I'm not going to read LWB's or Evercl's posts, I'll just assume they are telling you the right stuff, cause they are great guys, and they know their planted tanks.

Few questions I have...

1) What type of lighting do you have, and what is the wattage?

2) Was the 'diffuser' $60 or the co2 unit?

3) Can you get pictures of each plant?

4) Do you know what your levels of nutrients from your tap water is?

5) Do you use RO water?

6) Do you have a test kit that can do all the essential nutrients?

7) Are the plants from Petsmart??

I think that is everything for questions...

Now for some reading material for you to start with. It's a lot of info, and it takes a while to read, but just do it...

Planted Aquariums for Beginners

The end of WPG? How is this?

Equipment for planted tanks, Pros and Cons

List of Noxious and Invasive Plants by State

Plant Profiles

Plant Profile Requests

 

[ElJefe]

What method of CO2? Pressurized or DIY?

i'm just letting the diffuser do what it does.

What type of lighting? Compact fluorescent, fluorescent?

florescent bulb i believe it's made by caoral life.
No plant's from petsmart!!!not completely a tard i saw a couple of non-aquatic plants that i knkow for sure so i didn't even look.

 

[ElJefe]

WYLDFYA

1) florescent, 15watt, corallife 10K
2) the whole unit
3) yes possibly tomorrow
4) Not really sure the nutrients in the tap water i know i don't have hard water.
5) So what is RO water
6) never knew there was a kit to test for nutrients!!
7) No pets mart plants. only form the LFS guy know's what he was selling

 

[evercl92]

i'm just letting the diffuser do what it does.

Well, the CO2 has to be delivered somehow. It has to be produced from some source, the diffuser can't produce the CO2. Either you purchased a metal/aluminum CO2 cylinder or you're mixing together some recipe of yeast and sugar.

 

[ElJefe]

Well, the CO2 has to be delivered somehow. It has to be produced from some source, the diffuser can't produce the CO2. Either you purchased a metal/aluminum CO2 cylinder or you're mixing together some recipe of yeast and sugar.

yeast and sugar!! i'm a little

 

[WyldFya]

Reaction co2 is using one of many different reactions to get co2 to be produced. Generally yeast and sugar is used. Since you paid $60 for your co2 unit (not the diffuser) I'm guessing you got the Red Sea unit, which is overprice IMO.

 

[WyldFya]

WYLDFYA

1) florescent, 15watt, corallife 10K
2) the whole unit
3) yes possibly tomorrow
4) Not really sure the nutrients in the tap water i know i don't have hard water.
5) So what is RO water
6) never knew there was a kit to test for nutrients!!
7) No pets mart plants. only form the LFS guy know's what he was selling

The lighting is a little low if you ask me, due to the description of the plants you gave. The water not being hard, doesn't mean much at all. The specific level, and how much it drop will be part of how you tell how much co2 is in the water. There are many more nutrients that are more important to know. RO water is Reverse osmosis water, DI water is Dionized water. The combo is RO/DI water. Red Seas Fresh master lab has many of the tests that you will need.