co2 fizz tabs

tony · 04-09-2008, 02:37 PM

I started looking into giving my planted tank a little bit of a pick up, and I found Jungle CO2 Fizz factory at petsmart online and was wondering if anybody has used this product and if it is worth a try?

I also read the sticky on co2`s effect on ph (drives it down) and was wondering if i should stay away from extra co2 since I have hard alkaline water here and also african cichlids that are happier in it. ?

Jay · 04-09-2008, 03:38 PM

Hey Tony

IMO CO2 tabs are almost completely worthless and a waste of money.

If you have reasonable surface agitation, fish, and heterotrophic bacteria, which you do, then the CO2 level in your tank is probably in the 5-6 ppm range just from normal gas exchange. If you keep the light at 2 watts per gallon or under, for 6-7 hours a day the plants should be fine without the addition of CO2 or "fizzy tabs". If you feel a carbon boost is needed, you might try Seachem Excel.

Regards,
Jay

tony · 04-09-2008, 06:13 PM

Sweeeeet, then I guess I really dont need anything, I run 2 filters on my tank a penguin 150 and a whisper 10-30 enough for a 60 gallon tank so I have plenty surface agitation and two 20 watt florescent bulbs so I should be good.

Thanks again!

FilteredFun · 04-12-2008, 09:48 PM

If you feel a carbon boost is needed, you might try Seachem Excel.

Hi Jay,

Are you using this product? If so, could you please elaborate on frequency and the overall impact/results.

CO2 Injection-Misting

I saw this listed at the bottom of your post.

Could you please explain what this is/means. Is there a specific product used for this purpose?

I have read quite a bit on CO2, however I feel like I have just barely scratched the surface of understanding.

We're not yet at this point, but I am trying to better understand CO2 so we can plan ahead for items we will need.

Many Thanks!!!
Matt

andysutt · 04-19-2008, 10:58 AM

I also inquired about this.

I went with using Seachem Flourish and alot of people use Seachem Flourish Excel.

My plants have taken off quite a bit since using flourish. Seems to be alot easier to add a capful or so if that (whatever your tank recommendations are) every few days than to mess w/ the fizz tabs that may not work

FilteredFun · 04-19-2008, 05:54 PM

I went with using Seachem Flourish and alot of people use Seachem Flourish Excel.

Great to know. That is my final decision as well. I agree that the inherent simplicity is too convenient to pass up.

:Matt

andysutt · 04-19-2008, 06:52 PM

Don't get my post wrong... you still may need a Co2 supplement, but wouldn't go w/ the fizz tabs.

However, I see absolutely no need to use Co2 in my tank and it is pretty well planted. Ive seen some planted tanks at my LFS and other personal tanks here locally that dont use Co2 and they consider it a non-necessary supplement if you use Flourish products, correct lighting etc

FilteredFun · 04-19-2008, 07:13 PM

I agree that CO2 as a supplement is certainly favorable for fast plant growth and, overall, superb results.

However, I have read enough positive accounts of people enjoying very nice success using just plant food. I therefore expect that plant food and occasional doses of Excel should eliminate the need for CO2 [including its added costs and concerns if it's not done correctly].

We may experiment with a small planted tank to see how well plants can grown with just plant food and lighting: no Excel and no CO2. It will be a shrimp breeding tank for future tanks to follow. If we find the results to be wanting, we'll begin by supplementing the tank with Excel. Hopefully, that will be the winning ticket. If not, then we'd look to CO2 as a last option.

:Matt