??Zac Carbo Plus Aquarium Plant CO2 Generator System??

[Ltrepeter2000]

I just recently purchased one of these from a guy on Ebay and I am not exactly sure how to set this thing up(of course he didnt send the manual which of course has been conveniently thrown away after he realized he forgot to mail it.) I just want to make sure I am doing this right before I attempt to use this thing. I am pretty sure I need a new carbon block for it and it appears that everything else is there. My basic internet search skills have turned up more vitamin hits because of the Carbo Plus than anything else.

thanks
Rob

[Aaron]

Rob,

None of us use this system that I know of. It's not as effective as pressurized CO2 and the carbon blocks only last about 6 months. The replacement blocks themselves cost about $40 each so it's not cost effective in the long run either.

My advice is to sell it off on ebay to someone else and go pressurized.

[Ltrepeter2000]

Aaron

I was going to use this on a smaller tank while setting up my pressurized on a 65 gallon and 75 gallon tank. Thanks for the advice.

Rob

[Aaron]

I hope that didn't sound too snobbish. I'm just trying to save you the same headaches that many before you have expressed with this system. Apparently it clogs after a few months and becomes less and less effective. I just have a hard time paying so much for a system that you have to spend $80 on every year to recharge.

As far as I know it's pretty much plug n' play. You set the dial to whatever level you want (the highest level runs out in about 3 months) and forget about it until you notice that it needs replacement.

[RTRJR]

I used these on the office tank for several years (pressured gas cylinders were not allowed) . They are simple and easy, but expensive to operate. They will not provide high levels of CO2 other than in smallish tanks. I ran two in a 55, staring the power settings at ~30%, racheting up every few weeks. A 6-month life for the carbon block is average, varied from under 5 months to ~8 months max. Being very lazy, I replaced the metal jacket and block together (PITA to clean the minerals off the metal. The water there was low KH, so I had to supplement to avoid crashing. Maintaining at KH 4-6 degrees is minimal IME. When I tested the units at home (KH 7) I had no problems at all with alkalinity burn-out.

I'm sure I have the instructions and the boxes downstairs in storage, if you are coming to the meeting next weekend I'll give you copies. If not, PM me a mailing address and I'll snailmail them to you (I do not have a scanner).