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RE: Red Sea CO2 Bio System....Questions

FattFishy — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:26:30 GMT

Leave the CO2 on for the night. The CO2 will leave overnight and needs a continual source. I don't think plants will appreciate a fluctuating pH and CO2 levels.

RE: Red Sea CO2 Bio System....Questions

Nikita — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:06:39 GMT

I'm using fermentation CO2 and never experience problems with pH crashes. Check your buffering capacity (alkalinity, kH) to see if it's high enough to keep your pH stable. A low alkalinity can make your water more prone to crashes when the lights go out.

With an adequate kH and CO2 production that isn't excessive, your tank inhabitants should be just fine.

RE: Red Sea CO2 Bio System....Questions

filipem — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 21:07:33 GMT

If you are really woried about CO2 levels rising at night you could set an airstone on a timer to run when the lights go out.

RE: Red Sea CO2 Bio System....Questions

James_NYC — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:55:28 GMT

Yeah I spoke with a different guy at my fish store, he said these types of systems should never go on a timer, the system is designed to stay on all the time. I was a bit worried so i've been testing the CO2 twice a day, morning and night and its been much more consistent and never too high. But leaving it on, fixed all my problems. I only wish the customer service with Red Sea was better. They make good products but don't seem to help very much on their end.

RE: Red Sea CO2 Bio System....Questions

David Lass — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:42:02 GMT

I tested the complete Red Sea planted tank system -- their substrate, the yeast reactor for CO2, etc. I had the same problem with the little pump that injects the CO2 into the tank. I turned it upside-down from the way they tell you to install it, and that worked pretty well. The other thing is to have the little pump on all the time -- the system doesn't make too much CO2 that it would be a problem at night.

RE: Red Sea CO2 Bio System....Questions

James_NYC — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:51:25 GMT

So is it fairly common for a "smell" to develop as the tank begins to cycle? The tank definitely has its first bacteria bloom going on, which I assume is creating kind of a pond smell.

RE: Red Sea CO2 Bio System....Questions

James_NYC — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:03:10 GMT

I'm running 4 watts/gallon as well, I have two 24watt bulbs, which is part of the reason I purchased this self enclosed tank.

I've been keeping a very close eye on my chemicals, and have yet to see much change at all. But I am starting to see the beginnings of my first bacteria bloom, which I'm told is good.

This should be an adventure, and can't wait to change things up a bit.

RE: Red Sea CO2 Bio System....Questions

jsmith11618 — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 15:51:28 GMT

Dont be surprised if you get more tetras and they dont school, I have all schooling fish with 6 of each and they are all over, not one actually schools anymore now that they are comfortable in the tank.

RE: Red Sea CO2 Bio System....Questions

Nikita — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 15:27:21 GMT

Well, I'd definitely wait for the tank to cycle before adding any more fish. Also, keep an eye on the fish in the tank as cycling completes to make sure that having those six isn't creating excess ammonia, which is highly toxic to fish.

What species are the danios? Some grow larger than others. I would not be keen on keeping them in a 12g simply because they're extremely active fish and like a surprisingly large amount of space to stretch their fins in. ;) Also, at their adult size the smaller danios will still grow to two inches or a bit more, so adding more would overstretch your bioload since you have the tetras in there too.

Black phantom tetras aren't large fish, but they aren't the smallest tetras out there either. Expect two inches for adult females; the males will be slightly smaller and skinnier.

So just by keeping the six fish you have, your tank is basically maxed out as far as bioload goes - and that's notwithstanding the schooling needs of the fish.

However, 12 gallons would be an excellent size tank to maintain a school of small tetras and a shoal of corydoras catfish. You could keep 6 or so neon tetras, black neon tetras, glowlight tetras, or cardinal tetras, or even some of the smaller barb species in that tank along with three small corydoras. Panda and pygmy corydoras are good choices. These fish should be maintained in groups of at least three.

How much light do you have over your tank (how many watts is the bulb)? The species of plants you can support depends on how much light you have - some species require a large amount of light and others, such as the anubias, are happy with much less.

If you go into the Invertebrates section of this forum and find the post entitled "My Shrimp Setup", you can see the plants I'm currently keeping. I have four watts per gallon (high light), CO2 fermentation, and addition of fertilizer.

Some good plants for beginners are java fern, java moss, anubias, hornwort, and cryptocoryne. All these are low-light plants and will grow in virtually any setup, so I'll mention them before you state what type of light you have. Search them on the internet for pictures and more information.

Java fern is a low-light, hardy plant. In fact, it tends to do better in low light tanks than in higher-light ones. Some varieties grow quite large, but most stay within four inches in height.

Java moss is, simply, an aquatic moss. It also thrives in low-light settings and is slow-growing. It can be trained to grow on driftwood, rocks, and even as a carpet on the bottom of your tank.

You have an anubias already, but there are many species available. They come in many shapes, sizes, and even colors, and most are easy to keep.

Cryptocorynes can be difficult, but you seem well-informed and dedicated. Crypts are beautiful plants that come in several leaf forms and colors; my Cryptocoryne wendtii is a small plant with gorgeous brown undertones that highlight the color of the substrate. It dislikes being uprooted and repositioned, however, so save this plant for an tank that's got its planting plan established. Too much stress on this plant can induce "crypt rot" - sounds like something out of a horror movie, and to plant enthusiasts, it is. ;) The plant lets its leaves simply rot away. If left alone, however, it usually regenerates.

That's a starting point of easy-keeping plants. :)

RE: Red Sea CO2 Bio System....Questions

James_NYC — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 15:01:41 GMT

I will definitely take all your points into consideration, thank you for taking the time to write such a lengthy post.

Tell me of some good plants, nothing weedy looking, but something that is per se fun to have in the tank.

Any thoughts? Idea's?

Also, I think if i were to add three more of each fish, that might be a bit much for the tank at this point, and maybe all together, that would be 12 fish in a 12 gallon tank. Although they are small, that seems like a lot for a tank that has not cycled yet.

RE: Red Sea CO2 Bio System....Questions

Nikita — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:45:11 GMT

It sounds like the issue might just be a bad culture; it happens.

You can make your own comparable CO2 system for a fraction of the cost using household materials, though, if you decide eventually that a commercial brand isn't your thing.

There is an article under the topic "Only 2 Neon Tetra" on these forums that explains in-depth why schooling fish need schools. Yes, they are hardy fish and look good, and are good fish for new fishkeepers to start off with. However, they are not at their best with only three of their kind and are experiencing significant stress, which is a major contributing factor in illness and overall decline in health.

Aquarium stores can have knowledgeable, helpful staff that are wonderful assets in setting up a first tank, but it's always important to do your own research. Getting second opinions and reading materials about fishkeeping should always be undertaken before setting up a tank or purchasing any fish.

You are currently running four watts per gallon, which is in the "high light" range. Anubias species will be happy in much less, however, you'll get lovely growth from the plant under higher light as well. However, anubias are slow-growing plants; do not expect a rapid amount of growth out of the plant like you would get with certain stem plants. With the amount of light in your tank right now, you will be able to grow basically any species you desire. However, algae also enjoys higher lighting, so be on the lookout and be prepared to remove it. Use a simple scrubbing tool (I use washcloths and a toothbrush) to get rid of algae; you don't need chemicals. Be careful not to overfeed with fertilizer either - algae loves spare nutrients that your plants don't use up.

There's really no need to wait to plant your tank further; if the conditions are right - they will be ideal once you get the CO2 system working properly - plants will flourish even if the tank is new. There are a myriad of species available to you.

I would seriously consider changing the stocking plan in your tank; others will give you more info that will probably reflect this opinion. However, it is your setup and your decision.

RE: Red Sea CO2 Bio System....Questions

James_NYC — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:39:52 GMT

[quote]Nikita (9/7/2008)

I haven't used this product. Is it a yeast fermentation system or pressurized canister system?

While waiting for that answer, let me also mention that although your tank isn't overstocked, which is something many newcomers to the hobby do, your tank dynamics should be looked at. Tetras are schooling fish and need to be in groups of at least six fish. Danios are the same, and in addition to this requirement they need a great deal of swimming space. 20 gallons is an appropriate size for these highly active fish.

Well, let me edit a bit. Just wanted to say good job on acquiring live plants - they're attractive and very beneficial to your water chemistry. However, anubias is a low-needs plant; it gets by with very little light and thus, fewer nutrients than other plants. CO2 shouldn't be necessary at all with this species - it's not something you need for all planted tanks. Also, what type of lighting do you have? How many watts is the bulb(s)?

If you're planning on purchasing higher-needs plants that require more light and will benefit from CO2, the system will be more worthwhile. If you're interested in setting up a more heavily planted tank, the section "Plant Particulars" is a great place to ask questions and get more information on how planted aquaria work.

Good luck![/quote]

The system is a fermentation system. I opened up the canister, and it doesn't seem to active, my guess is its dead. I've read elsewhere that a lot of times the bio materials in the kits can be expired, before I get too stressed out I'm going to get a bio refill and see what happens.

As far as my choice of fish goes, it was recommended by my aquarium store. The guys at New World Aquariums here in NYC are amazing! They said although they are schoolers, they are good starter fish and they look good too. They pretty much told me to check in with them every week for the first month with all my chemistry readings and so on so they could guide me for the first month.

As far as the plant choice goes, again, that was their recommendation for a starter tank. The tank I have has two 24watt bulbs in it which apparently is a lot of watts, and it makes for a great planted aquarium. I do plan on adding more plants, but only after the tank has been active for a month, at least that is what they are guiding me to do.

Thank you for your response.

RE: Red Sea CO2 Bio System....Questions

Nikita — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:18:04 GMT

I haven't used this product. Is it a yeast fermentation system or pressurized canister system?

While waiting for that answer, let me also mention that although your tank isn't overstocked, which is something many newcomers to the hobby do, your tank dynamics should be looked at. Tetras are schooling fish and need to be in groups of at least six fish. Danios are the same, and in addition to this requirement they need a great deal of swimming space. 20 gallons is an appropriate size for these highly active fish.

Well, let me edit a bit. Just wanted to say good job on acquiring live plants - they're attractive and very beneficial to your water chemistry. However, anubias is a low-needs plant; it gets by with very little light and thus, fewer nutrients than other plants. CO2 shouldn't be necessary at all with this species - it's not something you need for all planted tanks. Also, what type of lighting do you have? How many watts is the bulb(s)?

If you're planning on purchasing higher-needs plants that require more light and will benefit from CO2, the system will be more worthwhile. If you're interested in setting up a more heavily planted tank, the section "Plant Particulars" is a great place to ask questions and get more information on how planted aquaria work.

Good luck!

Red Sea CO2 Bio System....Questions

James_NYC — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 11:17:15 GMT

I just purchased this Red Sea Bio system last weekend and I've seemingly been having nothing but problems. When it works, it works great. But the problem I've been encountering continuously is getting the diffuser to work everyday. I have the diffuser and my lights on a timer, and every morning when the timer turns the diffuser on, it gets airlocked and no diffusion happens. I have to disconnect the tube, watch the air release, then reconnect. After reconnecting sometimes CO2 will begin to release, other times it won't. If I shake the bottle a bit, I'll see a good release of CO2, but then that's it, nothing more. I have a suspicion that maybe the CO2 mix was old and its just not creating enough to push through the tubing and diffuser, is that possible? Any help would be appreciated. I've posted to two other forums and no one has given me any responses yet.

Thank you!