CO2 Suggestions

[Get Tanked!]

Hey guys, I just got done registering here. I've looked up several forums, and this seems to be the best one I've seen. You guys do a great job!! My question is about the CO2 levels for my paludarium. I am currently doing research to construct a 125 gallon paludarium with a 30 gal aquarium, and a 95 gallon vivarium. My plan is to have a 30 gallon sump to support the filtration system, pumps, heaters, etc..... I would like to put a CO2 system in the sump in order to give the plants in the paludarium the proper level of CO2. This is where i hit a snag. the water will flow from the sump to a double waterfall that flows into the main body of water. Will there be too much water agitation to maintain proper CO2 levels? If so, should i try to hide a CO2 system in the paludarium instead of putting it in the sump? Any help on this would be awesome. Thanks and GET TANKED!

[beckdg]

yeah, between the sump and the waterfalls all co2 will do is constantly fluctuate, creating a BBA issue the likes of which have never been seen this side of the mississippi.

i would suggest maricide 14 day, gluteraldehyde, flourish excel, florin axis, api co2 booster, etc. ... a liquid substitute that's added once daily. most of these not only break down into co2 as an end product slowly to provide a 24 hour supply to the plants, but also are effective algaecides and/or biostats depending on application and concentration of each aqueous solution.

between planted tank, plant geek, barr report, ukaps, APC, aquaria central, etc. ... you should be able to figure out how to use most of these products for several purposes. however... the most straight-forward way is just to get the original (seachem's excel) and the least likely to be dangerous AFAIK is florin-axis.

HTH

[Get Tanked!]

Excellent. Thank you for the elegant solution to my stupidity. Should have thought of that first. haha one more question though (thought you would get off easy? haha) the ventilation for my system is giving me some trouble. I cant decide what type, or brand of ventilation to use. The tank dimensions are going to be 33.5 long x 18 in deep x 48 in high. Humidity will be controlled with the double waterfall, a rain system, and a fogger. I'm planning on keep 2-3 Red-eyed Tree Frogs in addition to the aquarium. My past experience with these guys has taught me how brilliant they are at escaping. Any suggestions on ventilation? I'm not planning on starting the build til I move to Charleston in six months. So ordering the custom tank pre-drilled won't be an issue. Thanks!

[beckdg]

as for specifics, i won't go into that right now. IMO, that would just narrow your options.

for ventilation... i'd say keep it easily removable for maintenance purposes. then you could cut up some thin filter pads, floor buffing pads, window screening, etc. and insert/attach into your vents and be able to get back to them to replace your filters or clean and/or replace your screen whenever you feel necessary. there are also inserts sold just for terrariums that already have a nice, tight grid on them that should work.

[Trustthapo]

I would buy some type of diffuser for the CO2 and put it in the tank near the sump's outcurrent. A bell diffuser or the likes could work, and they're pretty simple to make. If that doesn't work, you can always bump it up a notch and go for a different type of diffuser. I myself made a bell diffuser out of the bottom of a soda bottle, and my plants are loving it.

[Gold3nku5h]

my question is why do you want to have CO2 infused water? you want CO2 in the air, and oxygen in the water. For that you can just use an air pump, which is much cheaper than a 100+ CO2 tank.

Orrr, if your talking about hidding the CO2 tank where the sump is simply placed, then you need a regulator like one of these regulators. If your talking about CO2 injection into the water for your aquatic plants i think its this kind of regulator that hooks up to some water

[beckdg]

ku5h:

some good regulators... Some Popular Two Stage Regulators - Aquaria Central

also... combined threads... should help to eliminate some confusion, hopefully.

how ya been?

[ElliotGood13]

Register at Planted Tank.net. I'm a member on here and the other users never hezitate to tell you what you'll need. Tell them TPT (The Planted Tank) user Elliot sent you.