CarboPlus - Do they work?

[Snapple]

Having already spent the money on two CarboPlus systems for a new 75gal planted tank is probably a little late to ask this question - but does anyone have any experience with them? This is my first planted tank, 4 weeks old. For technical info on how they are supposed to work see Drs. Foster Smith website.
=== My Quick Help Info ===================

Tank Stats
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Size of Tank : 75 gal
Running for how long: 4 weeks

Water Params
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Temp: 74
pH: 7.8
Ammonia (0 ppm):
NitrIte (0 ppm):
NitrAte (3 ppm):
KH 1 degrees):
GH (6 degrees):
Ferts you are using: Seachem Potassium:
CO2 Carboplus level not measured

Lighting 2.56 watts per gal 6700k
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Fish In Tank: assorted danios 12 -------------------

Plants In Tank: Vallisneria, cryptocoryne cordata, ludwigia, varigated dwarf Japanese rush, rotala rotundalia
-------------------

EcoComplete substrate
===================================

[malkore]

Mary,

I would return them and get a refund if at all possible.

1. they don't work very well, and end up costing more than a pressurized CO2 system because you'll replace the $30 carbon block every couple months.

2. your Kh is 1, which means the carbo plus unit will barely even function. It specifically relies on hard water to create the CO2, and since you have almost no carbonate hardness, it won't hardly generate CO2.

[jake]

Amen, Malkore. That pretty much sums up everything I've ever heard about them.

[Rex Grigg]

Research then buy. Saves time and money.

The Carbo-Plus is an iffy method at best to add CO2 to a tank. With your low kH it's not going to work. So you have two choices. Return the unit or add kH to your water and hope for the best.

[malkore]

[Snapple]

How do you increase Kh without raising Ph which is 7.8 from the tap?

[Steve Hampton]

I have tried the Carbo-Plus unit not once, not twice, but three different times. Each time I started more committed to "make it work" and each time I ended up fully frustrated. Some people find them useful for tanks of 30 gallons or less, personally I found them to be a pain on any size tank. They eat KH at an alarming rate and require weekly maintenance to keep the unit from becoming encrusted with marl. Even so the stainless steel plate needs replacing about every other carbon block. Here's some picture on my last effort.

Here's the stainless steel holder encrusted with marl...about two months of use. Note that the carbon block had completely disentegrated.







Here's a comparison of a new stainless steel holder with carbon block verses the one that was used a couple of months.





There are very few pieces of equipment, methods, or techniques that I have really strong opinions...especially negative opinions...this is one of those rarities.

[Rex Grigg]

[xtech]

When I first bought mine, I didn't do the research on it either...the end result was I went pressurized.

[malkore]

[DaveH]

[Curtis]

DaveH - KH or carbonate hardness is different from General Hardness or GH - it is possible to have a low GH and a high pH ( or the inverse ) - but pH is pretty closely linked with KH at least when getting a baseline measurement. There are other acidic factors that lower the pH temporarily, but the pH usually always stabilizes where the KH dictates when the acid is removed or exhausted

[DaveH]

[jake]

Like Curtis said.... KH and GH are not the same thing.

[Curtis]