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Thread: Viagra for planted tank

  1. #1
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    Viagra for planted tank

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    Hi guys,

    I just came back from a neighbouring country and found this miracle powder for planted tank. It's called CO2 powder. No contents written on the bottle but there's a few lines of instructions on the dosage:

    1. Spread over 1 teaspoon of CO2 powder to 20 litres of water for 6 hours.

    2. Turno n the light before applying the CO2 powder or apply small amount at several time but should not use too much.

    3. Keep it dry.

    4. Keep away from children and pets.

    Here's a picture of it



    Anybody has any idea what it is?

    Cheers,
    Yi Hong

  2. #2
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    It might just be some carbonate of some form. A soluble form.

    For all you might know it could also be sodium bicarbonate, aka Baking Soda.
    Fish.. Simply Irresistable
    Back to Killies... slowly.

  3. #3
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    That was my best guess.

    If you have really soft water or use a lot of RO, watch it kill fish and plants quickly.

    Wright
    01 760 872-3995
    805 Valley West Circle
    Bishop, CA 93514 USA

  4. #4
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    That would be a major disaster indeed.

    Yi Hong, try this. Get some white vinegar and take a small sample of the "CO2 power" thing and mix them in a small cup. If the resulting mixture actually bubbles and start to rise then its baking soda alright.
    Fish.. Simply Irresistable
    Back to Killies... slowly.

  5. #5
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    There is no shortcut

    Guess what I got?

    Here's a picture of the miracle powder.



    And this is what happens when I add vinegar


    So much for CO2 powder. I didn't believe that 'CO2' powder would exist but not sold on our shores.

    In any case, how disastrous would adding Baking Soda to my tanks? I rather have not-so healthy plants than dead fishes. I use baking soda to buffer some of my tanks, but haven't thought of adding it to my planted tank as a source of CO2.

    Do plants take in dissolved carbonate easily?

    Cheers,
    Yi Hong

  6. #6
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    No, plants can't handle carbonate, they can only get the CO2 out of bicarbonate.

    It is not sodium bicarb alone. That will not fizz as you show unless your water is acid. Can you repeat the experiment but this time have a thermometer in the water. Potassium salts will cause a drop in temperature as they dissolve. It most likely some or other effervescent salts mix like used for Eno's or something... A mix of sodium carbonate or bicarbonate and citric acid or the like. If it is sodium then it is probably not a good idea... you could accomplish the same trick (without the side effects) by adding a little sugar solution to your tank each day. The bacteria, yeast and fungi will quickly break it down to CO2.

    Regards

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