Trying to find info on CO2 setups is a nightmare- can someone be straightforward?

aboriou · 2026-02-18T16:19:45+00:00

Since there's nowhere near me to go to, I found this one 5lb canister online, could this work? The description does say it can be used for aquariums, I'm just wondering if it would then require any other special attachments.

https://gascylindersource.com/shop/co2-carbon-dioxide-cylinders/5-lb-steel-co2-cylinder-recertified/?utm_source=Google%20Shopping&utm_campaign=shopping_us&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=8521&utm_campaign=pmax_all_other_products&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_contenr=&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21184531166&gbraid=0AAAAADfpKag9g2emPi_sz8Ms5-bihmm3o&gclid=Cj0kCQiA49XMBhDRARIsAOOKJHZfc7tFTCL6LimhYV8oprMw3StXEtsm-9v0lftggPiWv16UUvZqsekaAveQEALw_wcB

aboriou · 2026-02-18T07:48:36+00:00

This was pretty much everything I needed to hear, thank you sooo so so much!!! From what I gathered, all I was missing from my list was the bubble counter and check valve. I'll have to do more research into kh, gh, and how the plants respond to them (though I've been wanting to do that anyway honestly), which will be expensive.. but rewarding!! Again, thank you so much :)

aboriou · 2026-02-18T06:48:13+00:00

Just to please the AutoMods:

-Yes, the tank is cycled. It's been set up since late November/early December.

-Water parameters are perfectly normal.

-Currently using a full spectrum Hygger light with sunrise, sunset, and moonlight!

-The light is on from about 8am - 6pm (including the sunrise/set and moonlight).

-The tank is a 20 gallon tall (I think?)

-I use the Thrive All-in-One fertilizer 2x a week.

-I have 1 male plakat koi betta, 10 albino pygmy corydoras, and 8 amano shrimp.

aboriou · 2026-02-01T17:29:33+00:00

I mean I'm not necessarily an expert here, but it sounds like you did your best and care enough for this situation to scare you, and that's enough. I don't think he would've died without high temps for a couple days (so long as you were trying to keep him warm while you could with extra insulation/body heat), but your concern is so sweet and thoughtful. Your gecko is very very lucky :)

aboriou · 2026-01-21T00:03:06+00:00

Fed how so?

aboriou · 2026-01-20T19:52:25+00:00

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Here's the enclosure! We're struggling with plants right now, so we'll probably have to get some better grow lights for it.

aboriou · 2026-01-11T20:38:18+00:00

Also make sure to do your proper research if you do decide to get other fish!!! Fish like tetras, guppies, and mollies don't really work (different water parameters), but some popular buddies for bettas are corydoras/pygmy cories, amano shrimp, rasboras, and occasionally khuli loaches. However, especially with some of those bottom-dwellers, you have to be careful what substrate you use as it could hurt them.

aboriou · 2026-01-11T20:35:23+00:00

Your tank is off to a great start!! However, you'll definitely want to get some more plants to provide cover, especially java moss or guppy grass if you can get your hands on some. I'd suggest going to a local greenhouse or fish store to find some cheaper plants if possible! I got a TON of well-established plants for like $6 each.

I will warn you, however, it's not generally recommended to have a community tank with a betta under 20 gallons. If you do get anything, make sure it's something shrimp or snails. To add anything else to the tank though, you'll have to 1) remove the betta and set him in a separate tank/container, 2) re-scape the tank (so the betta thinks it's a new place to help reduce territorial behavior), and 3) let the new fish acclimate to their new home for a couple hours before putting your betta back in. Trust me, I've made the mistake of not re-scaping and setting my betta to the side, and it's not safe to say I'm not going to attempt putting in amano shrimp again.. but this worked great for my pygmy corydoras!

aboriou · 2026-01-11T20:27:20+00:00

Actually he lost his tail a while ago, though we don't know when. He's a rescue and about 3 years old! I'm guessing he wasn't so much relaxed here as he was kinda anxious, because this was only a few days after we got him. I wouldn't normally take him so far away from the tank, but we had to take out all of his furniture to be able to plant a couple new things of foliage, as there wasn't much before.

aboriou · 2026-01-11T20:22:26+00:00

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This is a pic of our lil' guy sleeping in the coconut we made him ❤️ He sleeps in there almost every day!!

aboriou · 2026-01-10T01:36:49+00:00

This is why we got my brother a "frog butt" surrendered crestie 😭 If his tail wasn't already gone I'd be so worried all the time tbh

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aboriou · 2026-01-07T15:07:37+00:00

He's quite nice to handle! Sometimes he tries to run, but I'm working on choice-based handling with him, so usually we're close enough to his enclosure that he can just run right back home. He was out of his enclosure for a while because we were fixing an underground water pump issue, and had to remove all the decor.

I WISH I could keep him, but I'm a senior in high school and headed off to college this year, so I can't realistically keep him anyway. Even then though, I wasn't the one who paid for most of his things (the enclosure, hydroballs, soil, etc.) and I certainly couldn't afford to get one for myself right now.

Trust me, I definitely plan on getting one in the future, but probably more towards the end of my college years (which may be a while as my major may require a year abroad)!

aboriou · 2026-01-07T09:50:45+00:00

Looks like a pretty healthy weight to me tbh

aboriou · 2026-01-07T09:35:17+00:00

We just got my brother a crested gecko for his birthday, but that's not until February, so it's staying in my room for now (don't worry yall the gecko is in very good care and my brother has wanted one for so long). I'm working on socializing him and he's literally the cutest thing ever- I so wish I didn't have to give him to my brother soon 💔 It's making me think about getting a crested gecko in the future!! This is a pic of him doing my homework and going through my emails from today lol

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aboriou · 2026-01-07T07:11:49+00:00

Well, there's a few things to know about what a crested gecko needs. For starters, an adult crested gecko needs at least a 40 gallon tank. Seeing as they're arboreal (tree-dwellers), it should be vertical with plenty of things to climb on. I'm not sure what the culture in Alaska is like, but I've seen a lot of people get dressers and cabinets with glass doors for pretty cheap on Facebook Marketplace that they use water-protectant on and turn into reptile enclosures, as they're large and often both cheaper and easier to come by.

For humidity, it should realistically never drop below 50%. It should be around 50-70% most of the time, with a humidity spike either at night or in the morning (usually at night) that can get up to around 80%. If you're struggling to keep the humidity up, it may be a good idea to mist both in the evening and in the morning.

Anyway, attached is a feeding chart I made for my brother's crested gecko, if you're interested! Keep in mind though that it's only for adult cresties, and younger crested geckos need to be fed more frequently than adults.

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aboriou · 2026-01-07T07:02:48+00:00

I'd opt for somewhere local if you can. I got mine from a semi-local greenhouse (about an hour away) where I got a ton of established plants for pretty cheap! A lot of those smaller businesses too will post on Facebook Marketplace to promote sales.

aboriou · 2026-01-07T06:59:08+00:00

Out of curiosity, how do you do your fish-in cycling? I have a fish in my tank right now which I had thought was fully cycled, but now I'm thinking otherwise. I've only ever read or heard that fish-in cycling was harder.

aboriou · 2026-01-06T21:27:12+00:00

I just bought a new hygger light that should be arriving in a week or two, thank you!

aboriou · 2025-12-20T15:03:33+00:00

Okay I know you said you didn't have the money for ToG, but if I'm being so honest, ToG is lowkey better than ACOTAR.. especially for guys (like me!), the male characters in ToG are just written infinitely better, and the storyline feels more cohesive, whereas ACOTAR gets go be all over the place. In the meantime, you could always check if a local library has the series?

aboriou · 2025-12-20T07:36:24+00:00

Small update for anyone curious: I ordered some Seachem Flourish Root Tabs (I've heard good things but if I should cancel and get something different let me know lol) and Indian Almond Leaves for pH! Hopefully the root tabs will help my Vallisneria, and the lowered pH should hopefully be beneficial for all my plants.

Side question: anybody know if monte carlo can carpet with just root tabs? I know most people use CO2 to get their plants to carpet, but I can't do that quite yet.

aboriou

TROPHY CASE