Reddit mentions of Aquarium Carbon Dioxide CO2 Monitor Kit pH Indicator for Planted Tank

most expensive stuff was actually the stupid aquasoil.. no one locally was carrying the fluval stratum anymore, so i got stuck dropping 20 bucks per 4 lb bag. I refuse to use eco complete ever again. Most expensive stuff will be the light and the regulator, going LED and larger tank is more expensive at first, but you save money in the long run

• regulator - 119 + 15 shipping i believe (found a coupon code - platned20 i believe) http://www.co2art.co.uk/products/professional-aquarium-co2-dual-stage-regulator-with-advance-swiss-solenoid-and-smc-valve
  
  
• 5lb co2 tank - 90 Filled, 15 dollars per fill (every6-8 months at 2 bubbles per second) - local gas supplier (oxygen supply co. - check welding supply, resturant supply stores, medical supplies)
  
  
• co2 tubing - 10 bucks (not crucial) https://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-CO2-Proof-Tubing-16-Feet/dp/B008UCOFJW/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1473970795&sr=1-2&keywords=co2+tubing
  
  
• finnex planted+ 24/7: https://www.amazon.com/Finnex-Planted-Automated-Aquarium-Controller/dp/B00U0HMWLI/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1473970617&sr=1-2&keywords=finnex%2Bplanted%2Bplus&th=1 You can find alternate lights, i just was torn between this and the fluval aquasky / plant light
  
  
• glass diffuser - 6.00 https://www.amazon.com/S-T-International-Aquarium-Glass-Diffuser/dp/B00I47YVVU/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1473970285&sr=8-10&keywords=co2+diffuser
  
  
• bubble counter 4.00 https://www.amazon.com/Fluval-88g-CO2-Bubble-Counter-Ounces/dp/B004GCPM6K/ref=pd_bxgy_199_2?ie=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B004GCPM6K&pd_rd_r=K54X5Q0VQ1P3FTY6E8KV&pd_rd_w=dv9SA&pd_rd_wg=Ef6cf&psc=1&refRID=K54X5Q0VQ1P3FTY6E8KV
  
  
• drop checker - 10
  not convinced at these being accurate at all https://www.amazon.com/Aquarium-Dioxide-Monitor-Solution-Indicator/dp/B01C9DGXV0/ref=sr_1_6?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1473971368&sr=1-6&keywords=co2+drop+checker
  
  
• drop checker solution - 8 https://www.amazon.com/Fluval-CO2-Indicator-Solution-0-34/dp/B0052UAL7U/ref=sr_1_9?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1473971368&sr=1-9&keywords=co2+drop+checker
  
  
• canister filter (personal pref) ~100 - https://www.bigalspets.com/eheim-classic-series-canister-filters.html (I got one on sale at petco for 90 bucks - national geographic cf70 uv - discontinued)
  
  
• seachem/ aqua vitro aquasolum - 1lb per gallon roughly @ 19 bucks a 4lb bag
  
  
• decent check valve for co2 - 3 bucks
  
  not going to go into the various other crap i bought so totaling it all up ... (preparing to wince)
  
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  About $575 after tax/shipping/lube.
  
  with the stuff i got that is now in a bin for being crap... tack on about another 150-200 bucks (aquatek regulator/ paintball sytem)

I’d strongly recommend a drop checker. I have used them before this situation on all my smaller nano tanks (2.5 gal - 5gal) and it works perfectly. They are also relatively inexpensive

I actually ordered everything individually from Amazon. I’m sure you could probably find everything locally as well but it was easier for a newbie like me to get it all from the same place.

Aluminum CO2 Paintball Tank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0008G2WAW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_J3vBDbY97P8E0 - $22 ( + $5 to fill with CO2)

Aquarium CO2 Regulator with... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F7P8TL3?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share - $53

AQUATEK CO2 Paintball Tank CGA... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004M49QDC?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share - $12

aFe Power Magnum FORCE 54-11473... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N36MAO4?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share - $18

AQUATEK CO2-Proof Tubing 16 Feet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008UCOFJW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_z6vBDbMW07193 - $8

Century 24 Hour Plug-in... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MVFF59S?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share - $9

Aquarium Carbon Dioxide CO2... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C9DGXV0?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share - $11

Total: $148

Again, total newbie and this is the bare minimum of quality and price I was comfortable with. I plan on upgrading to a bigger tank and a better regulator in a few months. Do your own research too.

I run the following. I spent countless hours researching and decided I didn't want a $100+ regulator. I went with 5 lb over a paintball setup because paintball tanks only hold 20 or 24 oz. If you're also taking cost into consideration a 5 lb tank also holds 5 x 16 oz = 80 oz = 4x the amount of CO2 capacity for 3x the price. In addition you don't need the adapter and it's easier to fill 5 lb tanks (at least in the bay area).

• Diffuser - $17
  
• Regulator + Bubble Counter - $56
  
• CO2 Airline Tubing - $10
  
• Drop Checker - $12
  
• 5 lb CO2 Tank or Paintball Tank - $65 or $20
  
• Adaptor (Only if you want to use paintball) - $14
  
  Total cost under $200.