Substrate Help!

[FLESHY]

Planted tanks are usually running shoplights...cheap fixtures you can get for almost nothing at lowes etc...

I am currently looking into an LED upgrade as soon I will be running pressurized co2 on my planted tank.

 

[xander702]

Planted tanks are usually running shoplights...cheap fixtures you can get for almost nothing at lowes etc...

I am currently looking into an LED upgrade as soon I will be running pressurized co2 on my planted tank.

I bought my light fixture of a friend of mine. Have you considered a DIY co2? or is that not as effective?

 

[FLESHY]

I am running 2x 2L bottles of co2 on my tank right now

I only change one out about every four weeks. At the end of that, I probably have too little co2, and at the start I am gassing out my fish.

I am going pressurized because I have a paintball canister and I can get a regulator for it for $40. Will basically be ready to go...with LED I will need high consistent levels as well.

 

[xander702]

I see.
Thats sounds risky haha.

I am told that a filter would not be neccessary for a 5 gallon planted tank if constant water changes were done? But wouldnt constant water changes mess with the co2 levels?

 

[xander702]

Also I've been considering ordering a glass co2 diffuser from Aquatic Magic, but I see a year or two ago there were some issues with this site. I was wondering if they were safe now.

 

[FLESHY]

I see.
Thats sounds risky haha.

I am told that a filter would not be neccessary for a 5 gallon planted tank if constant water changes were done? But wouldnt constant water changes mess with the co2 levels?

Probably not...although I should tank. I run the eheim 2213 on my 10g...and my tank is pretty much free of debris.

The co2 levels do fluctuate, but I feel okay with that because with pressurized levels will go right back up, and I dont use RODI water so pH swings are minimal because of how well buffered my tank is.

I think you would be fine...just go around and pick up any debris during your h2o changes...you are the filter haha.

I have never heard of, or used that site...there are lots of places to get glass diffusers, one of the cheapest is Ebay...order a couple though I got a defective one, and you will want some just in case one goes bad etc...they ship from china so it would take awhile to replace.

 

[xander702]

An Eheim would be the best case scenario, but I dont see the need to spend that much on a 5 gallon, especially if I have plans on improving my other larger scale projects.
I think I may attempt to make a canister filter of my own as well, just as an extra in case I get lazy with the water changes.

Unfortunately Ebay is a site I'm very skeptical about using. If perhaps you remember the user you purchased yours from, or if anybody has dealt with the seller "aquahk8"??? This would put me at ease more if I were to indeed order from ebay.

 

[xander702]

So just got my package in from ADA, very excited. I settled for this for use as the top layer, as for the bottom layer I think I may use the Eco-Complete everybody recomended.
Is that a good idea?

 

[FLESHY]

No idea...Im excited about your choice of ADA as well...considered switching recently, but it wasnt worth the money IMO.

Let me know how you like it.

The diffusers are the most commonly sold and cheapest ones on ebay...Im considering getting a cheap reactor to run inline with my eheim though now that I am getting my paintball co2 system up and running.

 

[Adrius]

flourish mixed colors, with sand works great