larch's low tech setup

Discussion in 'Aquascaping and Member's Setups' started by larch, Oct 12, 2017.

  1. larch
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    larch Green fingers

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    On a side note my Nerite snails arrived today, if they do well in my setup I am thinking of buying more for breeding purposes:

    [​IMG]
     
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  2. TheGrissom
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    TheGrissom Green fingers

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    Those are nice little guys. Very cool
     
  3. larch
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    larch Green fingers

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    Yeah they all have survived the travel so I am happy will make a great addition to my cleanup crew.
     
  4. Norio De Sousa
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    Norio De Sousa Green fingers

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    I had an identical CO2 setup and just sold mine. In my 180l tank a single mixture was lasting about 10 days. Maybe I had leaks.

    How many BPS are you running yours?
     
  5. larch
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    larch Green fingers

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    70 days give or take so two months and a bit running at 1bps per second. I am trying a new mixture each time to see if I can extend it for longer. But at two months I am extremely happy so far.
     
  6. Norio De Sousa
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    Norio De Sousa Green fingers

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    That's really interesting! I'd love to know what mixtures you're using. I'll pass it on to the buyer of mine. Hopefully he'll have better luck than me, then.
     
  7. larch
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    larch Green fingers

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    Bottle A
    200g Citric Acid Powder.
    Mix with 600ml Water until dissolved.

    Bottle B
    200g Baking Soda
    Mix with 200ml Water until dissolved.

    But I am guessing you had a leak somewhere, also I switched mine off during the evenings.
     
  8. Norio De Sousa
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    Norio De Sousa Green fingers

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    Seems identical to mine so I must have had a leak. Thanks :)
     
  9. TheGrissom
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    TheGrissom Green fingers

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    When you say you switch it off how do you ensure that there isnt a build up of pressure in the bottles? Or do you stop the chemical reaction?
     
  10. larch
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    larch Green fingers

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    When you close off the valve the banking soda stops mixing with the citric acid so the reaction stops producing CO2. Once you open it the reaction starts again. The highest pressure I got on the bottles was 3 bar. But it never ever got past that point.
     
  11. TheGrissom
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    TheGrissom Green fingers

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    Thanks. Seems interesting. I have a paintball canister but have never tried to hook it up to a tank. Maybe I will add it to my "to do" list.
     
  12. larch
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    larch Green fingers

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    CO2 makes a big difference, even a small DIY setup like mine. Once I have enough money I might go a proper setup. But currently its a bit much for someone on a shoestring budget.
     
  13. larch
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    larch Green fingers

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    Bought some Zebra Nerites over the weekend:

    [​IMG]
     
  14. AmithS
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    AmithS Noob

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    Looks awesome
     
  15. larch
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    larch Green fingers

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  16. Hendre
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    Hendre Plant menace

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    Lots of colour in the tank! I'm particularly jelly of the crinums :)
     
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  17. TheGrissom
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    TheGrissom Green fingers

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    Looking really great. That crinums really is stunning
     
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  18. larch
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    larch Green fingers

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    Had a rough week so did not do a lot of maintenance:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  19. TheGrissom
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    TheGrissom Green fingers

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    Still looking really good. The butterfly pleco camos well in that substrate
     
  20. Hendre
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    Hendre Plant menace

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    Still looking great. You must tell me if your crinum has babies :D
     

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