Co2 System

[DOGGA]

Could anyone recommend what ''brand'' C02 system I should be looking at to use in my
6 x 2 x 2 fish tank?

[GoGuppy]

Could anyone recommend what ''brand'' C02 system I should be looking at to use in my
6 x 2 x 2 fish tank?[/b]


G'day Dogga

I guess a logical response would be "How much do you want to spend?"

Some six months ago I bought a CO2 system comprising mainly Dupla components and this seems to be working well, although at the moment I'm having problems keeping the pH down. I'm using the Dupla CO2 Reactor (diffuser) 400 which is hooked up to the outlet of my Fluval cannister filter and when I increase the CO2 flow to lower the pH, the CO2 just bubbles out of the botton of the diffuser. :(

I have only just today written to Dupla via their Aussie web site about this and asked them to advise how to fix this problem and if you're interested I'll keep you posted on their feedback :wink: .

But coming back to your original query, I guess most Brand Name products are generally good (or else they wouldn't stay in business) but they are all grossly over priced. if you want to save some $$, and have the time to hunt around, it is possible to find non aquarium brand components at welding supplies shops and the like.

Let us know how you go and good luck with the purchase. :)

Cheers

Peter

[DOGGA]

Thanks for the info....

I was asctually looking at spending between $400 -$700. However I could not find a CO2 system that could be used for a 600 litre tank for that price range.

I have been researching a fair bit but I think this has been my downfall as I believe I have had too much information overload...

I did come across the Dupla but I only seem to notice the ''Dupla 400'' as their biggest system.

When you say that you're having difficulties keeping the PH down, how many bubbles per second are you releasing because I thought the more CO2 thats being released the lower the PH will be...quote me if im wrong

[GoGuppy]

Thanks for the info....

I was asctually looking at spending between $400 -$700. However I could not find a CO2 system that could be used for a 600 litre tank for that price range.

I have been researching a fair bit but I think this has been my downfall as I believe I have had too much information overload...

I did come across the Dupla but I only seem to notice the ''Dupla 400'' as their biggest system.

When you say that you're having difficulties keeping the PH down, how many bubbles per second are you releasing because I thought the more CO2 thats being released the lower the PH will be...quote me if im wrong[/b]

<span style="font-family:Times New Roman">Peter

[vrssbt1]

GO GUPPY can you let us know how that ph controller goes as i am shopping round for one and i saw that and thought it was a good price but didnt know what quality it was

Steve

[GoGuppy]

GO GUPPY can you let us know how that ph controller goes as i am shopping round for one and i saw that and thought it was a good price but didnt know what quality it was

Steve[/b]


G&#39;day vrssbt1

Seems to be reasonable quality, it all feels OK, and what I mean with that is that the switches, plugs and power socket (for the magnetic valve) do not have that sloppy feeling you get from some chinese equipment. I guess only time will tell but so far I&#39;m not disappointed :wink: . Delivery was prompt.
Just be aware of a couple of things though if you decide to buy it:
- The instructions are written in "chinglish" but with a bit (a lot :wacko: ?) of imagination you can actually work out what they mean.
- You will need to buy the pH 4 and pH 7 calibration liquids separately as they are not included (the web site doesn&#39;t tell you this). For the pH 7 fluid, you can use plain old demineralised water (available in the laundery section at woolies) and the pH 4 liquid will set you back &#036;14.40 for a 250ml bottle. They have a flat rate for postage, so this does not increase.

Cheers

Peter

[vrssbt1]

G&#39;day vrssbt1

Seems to be reasonable quality, it all feels OK, and what I mean with that is that the switches, plugs and power socket (for the magnetic valve) do not have that sloppy feeling you get from some chinese equipment. I guess only time will tell but so far I&#39;m not disappointed :wink: . Delivery was prompt.
Just be aware of a couple of things though if you decide to buy it:
- The instructions are written in "chinglish" but with a bit (a lot :wacko: ?) of imagination you can actually work out what they mean.
- You will need to buy the pH 4 and pH 7 calibration liquids separately as they are not included (the web site doesn&#39;t tell you this). For the pH 7 fluid, you can use plain old demineralised water (available in the laundery section at woolies) and the pH 4 liquid will set you back &#036;14.40 for a 250ml bottle. They have a flat rate for postage, so this does not increase.

Cheers

Peter[/b]


thanx for that i already got the calibration stuff (got it with digital ph tester).

I will check back in, in a couple of weeks and see how its going. The main thing i want to know is if it keeps the ph at what you want and doesnt over or under dose

[GoGuppy]

thanx for that i already got the calibration stuff (got it with digital ph tester).

I will check back in, in a couple of weeks and see how its going. The main thing i want to know is if it keeps the ph at what you want and doesnt over or under dose[/b]

Hi

Some first impressions, I&#39;ve set the controller at pH = 6.9, this makes the controller switch open the magnetic valve at 7.2 and cut off at 6.6. thus a dead band of +/- 0.3, which I guess is reasonable (I think...., any comments from other controller users??). With the dupla reactor now operating at high efficiency, the pH readings in the tank so far seem to span a range of 6.5 to 7.3, because of a slight &#39;overshooting&#39; effect when the controller cuts out or in.
I&#39;ll let you know more about how I&#39;m going in a couple of weeks, as I still experimenting with the flow rates through my reactor and also I found that the demin water I used did NOT have a pH of 7 (so much for the theory) and this threw out the calibration of the controller initially. I have roughly calibrated the controller using a pH test kit and tap water, but I intend to use Bulls-eye 7.0 (which I already had, but couldn&#39;t find at first) to get a true pH of 7 and recalibrate the controller shortly. I&#39;m also thinking of reducing the efficiency of the reactor again to see how this impacts on the &#39;overshooting&#39; effect.

Cheers

[vrssbt1]

Hi

Some first impressions, I&#39;ve set the controller at pH = 6.9, this makes the controller switch open the magnetic valve at 7.2 and cut off at 6.6. thus a dead band of +/- 0.3, which I guess is reasonable (I think...., any comments from other controller users??). With the dupla reactor now operating at high efficiency, the pH readings in the tank so far seem to span a range of 6.5 to 7.3, because of a slight &#39;overshooting&#39; effect when the controller cuts out or in.
I&#39;ll let you know more about how I&#39;m going in a couple of weeks, as I still experimenting with the flow rates through my reactor and also I found that the demin water I used did NOT have a pH of 7 (so much for the theory) and this threw out the calibration of the controller initially. I have roughly calibrated the controller using a pH test kit and tap water, but I intend to use Bulls-eye 7.0 (which I already had, but couldn&#39;t find at first) to get a true pH of 7 and recalibrate the controller shortly. I&#39;m also thinking of reducing the efficiency of the reactor again to see how this impacts on the &#39;overshooting&#39; effect.

Cheers[/b]


thanx for the update

[mac_man_luke]

demin water I used did NOT have a pH of 7[/b]

I thought de-mineralised water was slightly acidic eg ph5ish

[GoGuppy]

I thought de-mineralised water was slightly acidic eg ph5ish[/b]


Hi, first of all a few corrections below in Bold font (I must&#39;ve been asleep when I wrote the last posting :ohmy: ???) so I&#39;ll repost it again, hopefully it makes more sense now:

[quote]pH = 6.69[/b], this makes the controller switch open the magnetic valve at 6.72 and cut off at 6.66. thus a dead band of +/- 0.03, which I guess is reasonable (I think...., any comments from other controller users??). With the dupla reactor now operating at high efficiency, the pH readings in the tank so far seem to span a range of 6.65 to 6.73, because of a slight &#39;overshooting&#39; effect when the controller cuts out or in.
I&#39;ll let you know more about how I&#39;m going in a couple of weeks, as I still experimenting with the flow rates through my reactor and also I found that the demin water I used did NOT have a pH of 7 (was actually more like 6.5, so much for the theory) and this threw out the calibration of the controller initially. I have roughly calibrated the controller using a pH test kit and tap water, but I intend to use Bulls-eye 7.0 (which I already had, but couldn&#39;t find at first) to get a true pH of 7 and recalibrate the controller shortly. I&#39;m also thinking of reducing the efficiency of the reactor again to see how this impacts on the &#39;overshooting&#39; effect. [UNQUOTE].

So the controller&#39;s not as bad as it first appeared :blush: .
Cheers

[Blonde Kid on Morphine]

Haha @ Go-Guppy, I was gunna say from your original post ph swings like that would be a fishes worst nightmare&#33; especially a few times daily&#33;&#33; haha glad you fixed it all up mate :cool:

[GoGuppy]

Haha @ Go-Guppy, I was gunna say from your original post ph swings like that would be a fishes worst nightmare&#33; especially a few times daily&#33;&#33; haha glad you fixed it all up mate :cool:[/b]

Yeah, sorry about the booboos in the original posting :blush: ...

I&#39;ll provide an update in a couple of weeks once it&#39;s all settled down.

Cheers

[Blonde Kid on Morphine]

Awesome it will be good to see how it all works out,

as one day I will be going down the same path it&#39;ll be good to know what works for others before I get there&#33; :biggrin:

[joz]

Glad to see that the Dupla gear seems good,I myself will most definately be venturing down that road soon.
I&#39;m sick of mixing the O&#39;l sugar and yeast combo :rolleyes: