Electronic CO2 generators and stuff at low prices

[peterkoh]

Hi Folks,

Popped into a shop at AMK near my inlaws place over the weekend and surprised to see equipments like electronic CO2 generators selling at $65 and $118. Anyone has a clue how it works exactly and if it's reliable ? It seems to involves 2 electrolyte plates - one stainless steel and the other carbon.


Also, I saw Nutrafin DIY CO2 kit with reactor selling for abt $25 only. I remember seeing a discussion about it going for $30-40+. That shop also carries quality fish food, canisters filters, tanks and internal filters and selling at prices which are the lowest around I noticed. I get my filter refill, fish food and internal filter there.

If you want to check it out, it's at Blk 408, Ang Mo Kio Ave 10. Corner shop facing the carpark. It has many custom-made fish tanks (by the old man) outside so you wouldn't miss it but it is not a typical LFS.

Hope this helps.

Peter

[PohSan]

Actually own the stuff before. Brought it from Aquarama few year back. It is called Carbo plus from Germary. It used electronlysis on the carbo bar to convert it to Co2. After the carbo bar is wet, you can't remove it from the water anymore until the carbo is been used up.
You will need to replace the carbo bar every 2 to 3 month for 4 ft tank, depending on usage.
The bars is connected to a controller and you can control the amount of co2 with the controller. Once the system is turns on, can see lot of tiny bubble appears from the metal plate.

It is a nice piece of equipment. Only drawbacks are it will lower your KH and once KH drops to 0, no more co2 will be generated. So recommend to do water change every week. I sold it away because still prefer to bubble moving zipzap in the flipper.

[peterkoh]

Thanks Poh San. So can the carbon bar be easily acquired ?

[PohSan]

Try the shop that sell Carbo plus. Petmart also selling.

[neon]

I saw this German brand in QiHu Chua Chu Kang at Sungei Tengah road. It is selling > $200. The CO2 plate is selling $ 48. With that price if it last only 3-4 months, CO2 tank still worth it in long run. I think one issue also is to control bubble count.

[neon]

Sorry typo. It should Qian Hu.

[peterkoh]

i wonder if charcoal will work

$40+ for a carbon replacement is way too ex. Maybe becoz it's branded. The 2 devices I saw were selling at $60+ and $110+ and I didn't ask the shop if they sell the carbon replacement as well.

The good thing is you can hook it up to your light timer easily without using expensive solenoid and lug the tank to refill.

Anyway, the shop has some interesting stuff. I drop by once a while even with nothing to buy in mind. If you live around there, maybe it's worth a visit.

[PohSan]

You don't really able to control the co2 output with carbo plus because the co2 bubble is very very fine. But there is indicator light on the controller and you can adjust the output from 10% to 100% (Don't ask me 100% is how many bubble). To play safe, set at the lowest output and adjust gradually

[bttay]

I also think that the eletronic CO2 is a bit more expensive.
A pressurized CO2 set nowadays is only $100 with cylinder, bubble counter, diffuser, regulator. Some even come with fert sticks. Topping up COS is only $15-$20 every 3,4 months[:]

[weileong]

my CO2 cylinder can last for 14months before I need to top up and my tank is 4ft @ rate of 2 bubbles/sec.

However my 2nd last refill only last for 2 months because there is a leak at the needle valve side. Got that fixed so probably you like to check if yours got leak.

[PohSan]

You are right. Both type of CO2 have their pros and cons. Carbo plus taking up less space and you don't need to carry heavy cylinder to LFS to topup. Cylinder type is cheaper but bulky.

[Vican]

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On 10/30/2003 1:10:23 PM

my CO2 cylinder can last for 14months before I need to top up and my tank is 4ft @ rate of 2 bubbles/sec.

However my 2nd last refill only last for 2 months because there is a leak at the needle valve side. Got that fixed so probably you like to check if yours got leak.
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Hey Weileong,

My CO2 regulator/solenoid combi is probably leaking. My tank is only lasting 1 mth. Can I ask where you got yours fixed?
If not, I'll probably buy a new set from Petmart (taiwan regulator with German solenoida)
Thx

[Alfa Low]

I suspect the CO2 generator you saw in AMK is P.M.L(Made in China) instead of Zoo Zajac's Carbon Plus.