Great ideas.

I bought a small 5-15 gallon 50 watt heater last night and a little
container. I filled the container with water, put both of the bottles in
the container, and then have the heater set to about 72-73 degrees. I put
it on the same timer as my lights so it will start warming the water when
the lights come on and stop when the lights go off.

Don't think I can do the idea about putting the bell under a water flow. I
have the hanging filters (two of them on my 55 gallon) and they both push
the water in from the top of the water. There is a lot of water movement at
the top of the water, I just hope that it doesn't take out too much Co2 like
some others say it does. I can always shut one of the filters off and it
won't make too big of a difference. The main reason I put the second filter
is was so that it would circulate the water closer to the bell in hopes of
that working.

I think what the problem was, is the bell was filled with oxygen that was
pushed out of the bottles upon the cycle's start. That is why it sat in
there forever and wouldn't go anywhere.

Brian S.

"kush" wrote in message
m...
"Brian S." wrote in message
news:lmCkd.19327$V41.8327@attbi_s52...
Hey Dave,

Thanks for the info. I currently have a 65 watt compact fluorescent
light
which has a 10,000K and 460nm Actinic side to it.

Since I used this in my 29 gallon, I have it sitting on top of my 55
gallon
right now, but will be getting the 130 watt 48" light tomorrow by UPS.

Regarding fertilizer; I never was much one for wanting to fertilize
plants.
I was hoping I could get away without using fertilizer because it is
already
pretty costly to keep this tank up and running. I haven't used
fertilizer
before and my plants really seem to do good, but only lately they have
really slowed down. That is why I didn't know if it was because I am
using
sand now instead of rock (harder for the plants to get nutrients since
everything stays on top of the sand).

I did go home on my break a little bit ago. When I left, the bell was
about
half-full with Co2. When there on my break, it had reduced to about 1/4
so
it does seem to be taking it in.

I think I found the reason why my Co2 isn't making too much.. and it is
because I keep my house at about 68 degrees (heating is expensive).
Because
it is cool in the house, the yeast isn't producing much at all. I
placed
both bottles in a gallon bucket filled with really hot water, and the
rate
of bubbles went to about two per second. So, I just need to get a big
container (like my 10 gallon tank sitting around), fill it with water,
and
put a cheapo heater on it.

Brian S.

Two ideas.

First, I put my soda bottles on top of or just behind the light hood.
The lights keep the yeasties warm and happy during the daytime and, at
night when the lights are out, and the plants don't need the CO2,
bubble production slows down again.

Second, if you haven't already, position your diffusor near the filter
output or somewhere there is a strong flow of water across the bottom
of the bell.

kush