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Re: Aquatic Plants Digest V1 #14

Subject: Addendum: (Strange water values)

Matt,
 
> I'm also interested in hearing about people's CO2 reactor design
> trying to decide whether to construct something which would be
> hideable in my aquarium cabinet, or whether to bubble small amou
> CO2 into my filter intake. Given the very soft water here, I'd f
> safer being able to see the bubbling occur; I realize that's a l
> irrational, since one gets much better information from
> hardness/pH. Call me crazy.

I have very simple yet very effective reactors placed on the 
_outflow_ of my canister filters.  In one tank it's a gravel vac, 
in the other tank it's a small size Evian water bottle with the 
bottom cut off.  I use rigid tubing to make a "J" which feeds the 
CO2 into the bottom of reactor, as the water flows in from the 
top.

                   | | Water in from filter
                  |   |
                 /     \
                |       |
                |       |
                |       |
                |       |
               ||       |
          CO2  ||       |
         Line  ||       |
               ||_|_____|
               \__/
               
These mix the water and CO2 well enough that the CO2 dissolves 
completely.  The other advantage is that you can see the bubbles 
to count them.  While you are right that you need to check the 
pH/KH, the visual check of bubble count is a fast easy back up.

These are slim enough that they are completely hidden in the 
foliage in my tanks and cannot be seen.

------------------------------------------------------ 

> From: "Dan Resler" <resler at liberty_mas.vcu.edu>
> Date: Sat, 16 Sep 1995 11:24:27 -0400 (EDT)
> Subject: DuplaGan

> I use Duplaplant and Duplaplant24 but draw the line at using Dup
> It is bloody expensive, even if you buy it by the tank-car load 
> does. I did use it for the first 3 months in my 90 but then stop
> noticed no differences at all except in my bank balance. TOA say
> adds "protective colloids" for the fishes skin and gills which
> supposedly makes them "less sensitive to germs, fungi, and vario
> parasites". In other words, it's irrelevant. <grin>
> 
> dan "Just Say No to Duplagan" resler

I just received a reply from Kaspar Horst on a couple of questions 
I had for him.  According to him, if you use Duplaplant 24 and the 
Duplaplant tablets together, you are providing all necessary plant 
nutrients.  I did not ask him what Duplagan was for, but he didn't 
tell me it was a necessity either.<g>

Karen