Quote:
Originally Posted by paronaram
Thanks for reply.
Do you use compressed tank CO2 or DIY
And what type of gravel is that? Do you use layers of garden soil?
Also UV sterilizer, what is it kills (sterilize)?
Sorry for so many questions I just want to understand what I will need, when I am ready to switch to the new 55Gal tank.
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I use 20Oz paintball tanks for CO2. They are pumped into the tank with a needle wheel pump. DIY are great for smaller tanks (~30g), but if you try to put them lower into the water, the pressure slows down the bubbling. For substrate I use flourite and flourite black from Seachem. If I had to do it again, I would mix it with some larger gravel so that it stays aerated better. Here is a picture of my paintball setup now:
...and here is a simplier setup when it was in my 29g. This setup should be ok for a 55g. You see the tank, the regulator, the bubble counter, the needle valve (to control speed), and in the tank is the reactor, to diffuse the gas into the water.
Here was my over-planted 29g with CO2. Look how small my angel fish was!!
UV sterilizers are used to get rid of green water. This is the floating algae that makes your water green but does not grow on stuff. This can also be removed with micron filters. UV sterilizers can also kill certain bacteria and parasites that can harm fish. The key to both is that you need a high wattage UV bulb and a relatively low speed water flow through it so that it has enough time to kill.