i'm gearing myself up to add CO2 to my tank.
I'm looking for some advise about things to be aware of so that i don't end up with a tank full of algae or dead fish.
I am thinking of getting the Hagen CO2 reactor for up to 20 gallons w/ the hagen CO2 ladder.
i'm wondering if you have to use thier activator/stabalizer tablets or if i might be able to use one of the DIY yeast mixtures to save $
I'm also wondering if you recomend this system or if you think there would be a better one for my particular tank.
Tank Stats
-------------------
Size of Tank (Gallons / Litres): 20 gallon long
Running for how long: 3 months
Water Params
-------------------
Temp: 78 F
pH: 7.2
Ammonia (ppm): 0
NitrIte (ppm): 0
NitrAte (ppm): 5
KH (degrees): ?
GH (degrees): ?
Ferts you are using (what and how often): flourish root tabs 2 weeks ago the first time, this morning i added some trace elements
CO2 (Type & Level): none
Lighting (Wattage & type of bulbs): 36 watts t-5
-------------------
Fish In Tank: 1 pair juvinile sword tails, 6 neon tetras, 5 aneus corys, 1 rubberlip pleco, 9 amano shrimp,
-------------------
Plants In Tank:red lugwigia
wisteria
wedtii crypt
rotala rotundifolia
some kind of cryptocoryne
dwarf sagittaria
moneywort
mystery plant(suspected peace lily

)
i bought an aquarium pharmisuticals GH/KH test last night and don't know exactly how to interpret my results but the GH took 9 drops to turn colors (1drop=17.9) the KH was suposed to turn yellow ont he 4th drop it turned chamagne color and by 7 drops it was much brighter (1 drop=17.9)
does this mean i have 161 degrees of GH?
THANK YOU for even reading this far! i hope you have some pointers for me!
-Kyle