Need help setting up a low-tech 10g planted tank

SearunSimpson · 11-05-2009, 03:28 AM

the Hagen Elite Mini internal filter ($11) is a good diffuser- you just put the Co2 tubing into the airline intake and you've got a Co2 diffuser/powerhead/internal filter all-in-one.

gsxunv04 · 11-05-2009, 01:55 PM

I was considering those, but I dont have a local petco(does petsmart sell them). I was trying to avoid the excess clutter in this small 10g tank. Im going to give the bamboo trick or wooden airstone and place it in front of my HOB intake and see how that goes, i will keep you posted.

Green024 · 11-06-2009, 11:07 AM

I agree with trying to keep your tank less cluttered with equiptment.
I just snagged two Hagen Elite's from Petco.com, and just like youve all ready read a bunch of times, this item works like a charm, quiet, efficient, and you can also count your Co2 bubbles easily.
Best twenty some odd dollars ive spent on my tanks yet. (well that and flourish)

mumushummus · 11-06-2009, 11:31 AM

the bamboo stick works awesome in a 10G !!! i never had a diffuser, only airstones and i try it with a DIY Co2 set up and it's rocks!!!

gsxunv04 · 11-06-2009, 02:32 PM

Im going to give the bamboo a try, and if it failsI will track down a hagen elite. I am going to the store to buy yeast now, Ill post pics later.
PS Is there need to worry about overdosing co2 with a DIY setup?

gsxunv04 · 11-08-2009, 09:02 PM

Well I am officially injecting cO2, DIY of course....I used brown sugar and 1 tsp. of dry activated yeast in a 2L soda bottle. Installed a check valve and am using a wooden airstone placed under the pre-filter sponge on my HOB filter, it seems to be working well. The sponge gathers the bubbles and does not let them go to the surface, every once in awhile a big bubble collects and gets sucked into the filter, making a noise, so I know its chopping the bubble. All seems good, I will keep you all updated. Extremely easy DIY!

JoePhish · 11-13-2009, 04:05 AM

How is that incandescent hood working out for you? I'm trying to figure out how to get more light into my 10 gallon and that looks like a great idea.

**lauraleellbp** · 11-13-2009, 05:20 AM

The U-shaped CF bulbs (they make those in screw-in, too) would give you much more light than the spirals. Don't do it unless you've got CO2 going pretty strong, though.

gsxunv04 · 11-13-2009, 07:57 PM

the hood is doing great!
My plants are pearling, I added a DIY co2 setup almost a week ago. I am now incurring brown slime algae, any tips? My lfs looked at me like i was crazy when I asked for FW nerites....

**lauraleellbp** · 11-14-2009, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsxunv04

My lfs looked at me like i was crazy when I asked for FW nerites....

www.InvertzFactory.com

JoePhish · 11-14-2009, 04:41 AM

I have Co2 going into the tank now, one of those Hagen DIY systems with the cheap ladder looking diffuser. (works great for me BTW)

But that's cool. I happen to just have one of those cheap old style hoods lying around.
Looks like it's time for a wal-mart run.

11-05-2009, 03:28 AM	#16 (permalink)
SearunSimpson Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tsawwassen, BC, Canada Posts: 960	the Hagen Elite Mini internal filter ($11) is a good diffuser- you just put the Co2 tubing into the airline intake and you've got a Co2 diffuser/powerhead/internal filter all-in-one. __________________ "You think you have tomorrow, but when tomorrow comes it's not tomorrow; it's now- and that's all you have" - Marc Johnson Ehei-Pimpfen 276 yo!

11-06-2009, 11:07 AM	#18 (permalink)
Green024 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Maine Posts: 36	I agree with trying to keep your tank less cluttered with equiptment. I just snagged two Hagen Elite's from Petco.com, and just like youve all ready read a bunch of times, this item works like a charm, quiet, efficient, and you can also count your Co2 bubbles easily. Best twenty some odd dollars ive spent on my tanks yet. (well that and flourish) __________________ ~10 gallon planted~30 gallon planted~125 gallon Cichlid tank

11-13-2009, 04:05 AM	#22 (permalink)
JoePhish Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Auburn, Me Posts: 65	Lighting? How is that incandescent hood working out for you? I'm trying to figure out how to get more light into my 10 gallon and that looks like a great idea. __________________ Do fish know that they are wet?

11-13-2009, 05:20 AM	#23 (permalink)
lauraleellbp Fresh Fish Freak (View User Tanks) PTrader: (53/100%) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 11,728	The U-shaped CF bulbs (they make those in screw-in, too) would give you much more light than the spirals. Don't do it unless you've got CO2 going pretty strong, though. __________________ Laura Lee's tank Journals: At Work-10 gal Shrimpy Crypt Jungle, 29 gal Planted Tetra Tank (in progress), At Home- 46 gal Low Tech Planted (in progress), 90 gal New World Community August 2009 Fishing trip in the Amazon; my Journal of 10 days in Bolivia along the Rio San Martin (in progress)

11-14-2009, 04:41 AM	#26 (permalink)
JoePhish Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Auburn, Me Posts: 65	I have Co2 going into the tank now, one of those Hagen DIY systems with the cheap ladder looking diffuser. (works great for me BTW) But that's cool. I happen to just have one of those cheap old style hoods lying around. Looks like it's time for a wal-mart run. __________________ Do fish know that they are wet?

11-05-2009, 01:55 PM	#17 (permalink)
gsxunv04 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NC, USA Posts: 46	I was considering those, but I dont have a local petco(does petsmart sell them). I was trying to avoid the excess clutter in this small 10g tank. Im going to give the bamboo trick or wooden airstone and place it in front of my HOB intake and see how that goes, i will keep you posted.

11-06-2009, 11:31 AM	#19 (permalink)
mumushummus Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Oradea Romania Posts: 37	the bamboo stick works awesome in a 10G !!! i never had a diffuser, only airstones and i try it with a DIY Co2 set up and it's rocks!!!

11-06-2009, 02:32 PM	#20 (permalink)
gsxunv04 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NC, USA Posts: 46	Im going to give the bamboo a try, and if it failsI will track down a hagen elite. I am going to the store to buy yeast now, Ill post pics later. PS Is there need to worry about overdosing co2 with a DIY setup?

11-08-2009, 09:02 PM	#21 (permalink)
gsxunv04 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NC, USA Posts: 46	Well I am officially injecting cO2, DIY of course....I used brown sugar and 1 tsp. of dry activated yeast in a 2L soda bottle. Installed a check valve and am using a wooden airstone placed under the pre-filter sponge on my HOB filter, it seems to be working well. The sponge gathers the bubbles and does not let them go to the surface, every once in awhile a big bubble collects and gets sucked into the filter, making a noise, so I know its chopping the bubble. All seems good, I will keep you all updated. Extremely easy DIY!

11-13-2009, 07:57 PM	#24 (permalink)
gsxunv04 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NC, USA Posts: 46	the hood is doing great! My plants are pearling, I added a DIY co2 setup almost a week ago. I am now incurring brown slime algae, any tips? My lfs looked at me like i was crazy when I asked for FW nerites....

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