Reddit mentions of Fluval CO2 Indicator Kit

What size tank do you have?

If you are set on the paintball set up, you can't go wrong with the Aquatek mini regulator. It is the regulator I have set up on my 15 gallon and it has been fantastic. Basically, the parts you will need are:

• Regulator (Aquatek mini or if you have the $$, the GLA model is likely very nice.
  
• CO2 tubing (Aquatek has good stuff).
  
• Some kind of diffuser. These can be had for cheap on Ebay or Amazon. I bought a cheap one on Amazon and was disappointed with it, so I ended up buying this one and I love it.
  
• A bubble counter. There is a bubble counter included with the Aquatek mini regulator, but it is a cheapo unit. If you want to spend a little more money for a good one, check here for some good examples.
  
• Paintball tanks, obviously. I would recommend getting the largest one you can find and maybe getting two of them. That way you can have one on the tank at all times, when it gets low, swap them out and you will have a couple months to get the backup filled.
  
• A drop checker. This is used to estimate the levels of CO2 diffused in the water. It is filled with a pH indicator solution that changes color as the pH of the solution changes as the CO2 levels in the water change. It is a handy little device which will prove it's worth quickly. I use this one and have been very happy with it, but there are nicer ones here if you want that classy glassy look.
  
  Obviously, CO2 setups aren't cheap, but with the paintball route you can do it relatively inexpensively compared to the full scale regulator route. Good luck! I'd be happy to clear anything else up for you if you have questions.
  
  Edit: Make sure you have a check valve in the system somewhere. This will keep aquarium water from flowing up the line into the regulator. Some of those items I listed (like the GLA diffuser) have them built in, which will solve that problem. However, if you choose products without a check valve built in you will need to add one. Here are some (also more tubing there to choose from).

I wasn't getting very good plant growth and had lots of algae problems until I got a drop checker. I guess i suck at counting bubbles in the bubble counter. Life in my tank has been great since I got one.

This is the one I picked up. The suction cup on it sucks balls tho. I have to push it back in every couple of days. This one may be a better option.

Fully agree co2 is great for any level. You can dial back the output via the regulator for your current tank and dial it up if/when you go bigger.

This was my shopping list to get pressurized co2 going:

Empire Paintball 24oz CO2 Tank - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007XKFQCM

AQUATEK CO2 Regulator Mini - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008TJCPSY

Fluval Ceramic 88g-CO2 Diffuser - 3.1 Ounces https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GCO35G (Note you can choose a different diffuser if you want)

AQUATEK CO2-Proof Tubing 16 Feet - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008UCOFJW

Fluval CO2 Indicator Kit - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052M9886

The 24 oz tank lasts for 3-4 months on my 29g at ~3bps

yeah excel would melt the java fern as well. If you want a good carpet you should go with more light, and a walstad tank or a co2 system. co2 can be daunting at first, but I have this regulator and it works very well for me. depending on what type of filter you have you need to pick a diffusor, and with a tank you are technically ready to go. I upgraded my bubble counter to a JBJ style and got a drop checker for safety but those are optional.

I have one of those drop checker things. I also have PH and KH test kit. Once you know the PH and KH you can get the CO2.

I do trust my bubble counter, but it took several purchases to find it. All the cheap ones on amazon would leak bubble counter fluid both into the diffuser and worse back into the CO2 regulator (all the checkvalues Amazon sells seem to suck too). Finally splurged a bit and bought one from here and haven't had any problems so far.

Then again, I run my CO2 system at 40PSI, which could be the source of all the problems I have with my bubble counters & check valves. Now that I'm typing all this, I am thinking about running it at 30PSI instead. The reason I run it so high is my inline diffuser requires a high pressure system.

The issue with it is if I leave it on 1 bps it always slows down and stops eventually but it will keep up on 4 or 5 bps so I normally just do that for a few hours. I ended up leaving it on 1 bps and I expect it to be off by now anyway. But I use the solution that came with this [Fluval CO2 Indicator] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0052M9886/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0052M9886/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1). Do you know if that solution works? It was green for a few days but hasn't turned back from yellow actually now that I think about it. Thanks for your input.

this video pretty much explains it I bought everything I needed from Amazon & big Al's

[diy system](ZJchao DIY CO2 Aquarium Plant System https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B008CUZJF6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_4JwzybTHT4HK9)

Citric acid I bought from Amazon and baking soda was from grocery store

[3 in 1 diffuser, bubble counter, check valve. I live in Canada I bought it from Big Al's](Tropica CO2 Diffuser (3-in-1) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017EHHWKC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_SMwzybE3D2YMT)

[co2 drop checker](Fluval CO2 Indicator Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052M9886/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_sQwzyb6Z9EGKE)

I've read about ppl saying to be careful not to tip over the bottles so I just cut 2 holes in a box to make sure the bottles didn't fall

I have a drop checker Bubble Counter at roughly 2 BPS. I also just got one of the Fluval CO2 indicators seen here, http://www.amazon.com/Fluval-A7551-CO2-Indicator-Kit/dp/B0052M9886. I need fluid for it though. I'm wondering how I know if the CO2 is actually being absorbed in the water for the plants.

You can go about this in one of two ways for a 20g, and that budget.

You could DiY the system with yeast, which come in kits, or you can roll your own with little difficulty (There is still an investment). There are a number of helpful videos on youtube that go into depth on DiY systems. The one caveat to remember is they tend to require a bit more maintenance.

Alternatively, what I did, was go with a paintball setup. A (filled) 20oz tank would run you about $35 total (you can't buy filled tanks online...fyi, but they can be filled in any paintball shop/sporting goods store), You will need a regulator

http://www.amazon.com/AQUATEK-OF-CALIFORNIA-Regulator-Mini/dp/B008TJCPSY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1417545781&sr=8-4&keywords=Co2+aquarium+regulator

specifically for C02 tanks, C02 hose, a diffuser (all of which are shown on the "also bought with" in that link, (the bubble counter is included with that regulator) and a CO2 monitoring kit.

http://www.amazon.com/Fluval-A7551-CO2-Indicator-Kit/dp/B0052M9886/ref=pd_sim_petsupplies_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=1VV65A9WW5SXZ0GGAF06

The indicator will be crucial, the fastest way to killing your fish is to overdose CO2 (happened to me almost).

Oh....and a 3-prong outlet electric timer, preferably one with the ability to set multiple on/off periods.

A 20oz system on a 20g tank would probably last 5-6 months.

And lots of reading here, and lots of youtube videos.

No. That's how their "Buffer" line of products work work. Their "Regulator" line (+ Discus Buffer) are phosphate based. If you use those and then crank up your Co2 until pH drops, you are going to kill your fish. http://www.seachem.com/support/FAQs/DiscusBuffer.html

Why not just use a drop checker? This one is $12 and even comes with the solution (not just pH drops) so you don't need to worry about the KH ans phosphate values of the solution mixture. http://www.amazon.com/Fluval-A7551-CO2-Indicator-Kit/dp/B0052M9886/ref=pd_sxp_grid_i_0_0

One thing I've seen over and over is that Dwarf Hairgrass needs pressurized CO2 in order to get an established carpet so you really might want to consider that. Our set-up consists of an AQUATEK CO2 Mini Regulator, 2 Empire 20oz CO2 Tanks (which are the same as what they use for paintball and very cheap to fill - and they last for months), a Reactor 100 diffuser (our Fluval broke...sucks), a Fluval 88g Bubble Counter, and a Fluval CO2 Indicator Kit. You'll need airline tubing too and a drop checker. It very simple to set up and use, if you'd ever consider it and your hairgrass would love you for it...but it really looks like everything in there is thriving so nicely!



Hairgrass also needs light so maybe cut back on whatever is blocking light from getting down to the hairgrass. If you do go with CO2, make sure you shut it off when your lights aren't on, since the plants can't use it without light and watch the indicator so you don't gas your tank and fauna. CO2 would also help regulate your pH, which your shrimp would love. Mine holds at a steady 6.8.



Maybe you could cut back your sword a bit and plant some of the runners in another tank, or if you don't have one, maybe you have a friend that would like some?



I think your tank looks great, a little jungly, but I bet the shrimp love that! Love your variety of Fauna!



Good luck!

Yep I just got my co2 setup about a month ago, so I feel you. A drop checker is a thing you put in your aquarium that holds a liquid that will change color to let you know if you have a good amount of co2 in your water.

Something like this is perfect but you can get fancier looking glass ones too. This one is nice cause it comes with liquid and the drop checker. Otherwise you may have to buy the liquid separately.