CO2 Reactor/Diffuser

Studdlygoof · #1 (**permalink**) 02-22-2007, 05:53 PM

The more and more I get to looking at more current setup i'm starting to think that all my added stuff to my viv is going to not leave enough room for my turtles that i wanted to house in there...i've got another tank that i could set up for them and i've been thinking about incorperating a planted aquarium into my vivarium instead since I have approx 30 gal of water in my viv pond...not too up to date with aquatic plants but after doing some research I see that a CO2 Reactor/Diffuser puts added CO2 into the water which helps with plant growth...wondering if anyone had any experience with this type of setup and if its really needed...also would the diffuser have to be inside the tank itself or could it be in my sump underneath the tank...any help would be appreciated...

Tindomul1of9 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-23-2007, 09:56 PM

Wont turtles destroy all your plants? You should ventilate your vivarium if you are going to pump in CO2. Otherwise, I have no experience with this. Good luck. I was never able to grow aquatics unless they grew emersed.

Studdlygoof · #3 (**permalink**) 02-26-2007, 06:44 AM

Yeah i'm thinking about not putting the turtles in it anymore thats the only reason i have recently made the turn to the aquatic plants

Finnbar · #4 (**permalink**) 03-10-2007, 04:31 AM

Hi,
sorry for the late reply. if your plants are supplied with proper amounts of nutrients and light adding co2 sounds like a great idea. if not, then it doesn't really make a difference as their growth would anyway be limited by other factors.
One word of warning though, if you're using R/O water or any water with very low/no alkalinity, adding co2 will most likely cause a ph crash.
Also, i don't know how your system works but if the water returns trickling, runs down a waterfall etc. adding co2 into the sump is basically useless because c02 will all have evaporated by the time it will reach aquarium part.
Antti

Studdlygoof · #5 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 07:39 AM

thanks finnbar...yeah i joined a planted aquarium forum and been asking a lot of quesitons with them and found out the sump idea wouldnt work...think im going to go with just lights (2.5w per gal) and ferts to start off with and if i want even more growth after that ill add a CO2 system with diffuser into the actual tank...thanks for the help