*Update: Over the course of the past few years I have gone from having one aquarium to six. Each are planted five of which are heavily so and make use of injected CO2.
As such, and as much as I like the Fluval 88G system, it would have cost anywhere from about $700 $1200 a year (depending on where I purchased the 88g refill cartridges which can range from about $12 $20 each) to utilize pressurized injected CO2 for all of these aquariums.
So I decided to try the fermentation method of producing CO2 again. I now use a different yeast (SAF) which at .23 an ounce vs $3.50 an ounce for the Fleishmann's that I was using) is very affordable.
The DIY CO2 mixture that I use is: 2 cups of sugar, a heaping teaspoon of SAF yeast, a 2 liter plastic soda bottle filled 3/4 of the way with warm tap water.
This mixture provides a consistent flow of CO2 (1 bubble every 3 seconds after the initial few days of a few bubbles a second) for three weeks (three times longer than the same mixture with Fleishmann's yeast lasted).
The annual cost for five planted tanks, including yeast and sugar is about $100. When compared to the $700 $1200 figure for the small CO2 canisters, going to the trouble of making this CO2 mixture is certainly worth it.
The fact that it is also consistent means that the PH fluctuations that I had when using the Fleishmann's is no longer an issue.
If I only had one aquarium, I'd probably still be using the Fluval 88G setup, since it's both aesthically pleasing and convenient to use. It also does an excellent job of growing your plants.
However, with 5 high-tech planted tanks, a reliable DIY CO2 system just makes a lot more sense for me.
Earlier review:
Ever since I became familiar with Takashi Amano's contributions to the fishkeeping/aquascaping hobby, I have been a greater admirer of this talented man.
However, his product line, while excellent, is very expensive, and out of the reach of many newby fishkeepers who are learning the ropes of what can be both a very enjoyable, yet expensive hobby.
Fluval's CO2 88 kit does a very good job at what it's designed to do get people who want to successfully grow plants in their aquariums to invest in a pressurized CO2 injection system.
Here, the Fluval CO2 88 kit does not disappoint. It is well designed, comes with a CO2 regulator, a diffuser, an 88 gram disposable canister of CO2, a bubble counter, and enough tubing to set this system up in your aquarium.
Depending on the size of your aquarium and turning the system off at night, you can expect to get anywhere from one to two months from a single CO2 canister, which works out to about $5 $10 a month; depending on where you purchase your three pack of CO2 88 replacements.
Don't even bother buying the single CO2 88 canister since it is a complete ripoff at the price most retailers charge for it.
As for the 88 gram CO2 cylinders, while they are more expensive per ounce of CO2 than purchasing a larger CO2 canister (even though the initial cost of the larger canister is much more expensive), it is still cost effective for many aquarists.
Especially when Fluval's CO2 88 system is on sale, as it was when this author purchased mine a few months ago, for $36 at Doctors Foster & Smith.
When considering that the Amano top line CO2 kit sells for $249 for what is essentially a slightly better quality CO2 regulator, the Fluval CO2 88 represents a significant value.
At the $36 price, the Fluval CO2 88 kit also represents excellent value against competitors like Pierce's own CO2 kit, as well as Green Leaf Aquarium's similar CO2 setup.
Other companies have seen the sense in marketing a small CO2 canister system as well, including newcomer ISTA, which sells a few different CO2 systems; ISTA's entry level CO2 system is almost identical to that of Fluval's CO2 88, and its Pierce and GLA rivals all of which are priced similarly.
Even at $75, Fluval's CO2 88 system is competitive, and a lot easier to use than having to recharge a yeast based system every week or so; not to mention that the yeast based system is extremely unstable, causing large swings in the ph in your aquarium, which can be harmful to your fish and other fauna.
The Fluval CO2 88 is simple to setup, and the bubble counter makes adjusting the flow of CO2 a breeze. It adjusts the bubble count as well if not better than my Milwaukee MA 957 regulator, and at less than half the price.
Just make sure that when you screw the CO2 canister onto the CO2 88's regulator, that you don't over tighten it. Simply screw it on until you hear the CO2 canister pierce, and then just another half a turn or so.
Also, remember not to remove the CO2 canister until all of the CO2 has been used, otherwise the regulator may blow off the canister causing injury.
The best way to ensure the CO2 canister is empty is to open the regulator valve all the way when the gauge reads empty, just to make certain that if there is any remaining CO2 in the canister, it is expelled into your aquarium.
This way you avoid any chance of injury.
This is a well thought out product that offers a viable alternative to more expensive CO2 systems, as well as the erratic and time consuming fermentation method for creating CO2.
This author enthusiastically recommends the Fluval CO2 88
kit for the fishkeeper on a budget, who seeks to successfully grow plants in their aquarium.
Keep in mind that these smaller canister kits should be used on small aquariums (ranging in size from nano aquariums up to about 20 gallons), since you will be using up canisters on a weekly basis if you use these systems on larger aquariums, and thus spending a lot more money each month to maintain them.
For the larger aquarium owner, while it may be expensive short term, it is far more cost effective to invest in a larger CO2 canister in the long run (2.5 lbs. 5 lbs. 10 lbs. or 20 lbs.), at which point it makes sense to put your own system together.
This system is comprised of a CO2 canister, regulator, solenoid, bubble counter, CO2 checker, check valve and tubing.
If you leave your CO2 on at night, a PH checker like the one offered by Milwaukee for about $100, can be incorporated into your regulator, to shut the regulator off when the PH gets to a preset number.
However, if you turn your CO2 off at night, the PH checker is unnecessary, so you can save yourself $100 here.
As for CO2 systems, it is a good idea to purchase a CO2 checker for your aquarium, just so you can determine if your CO2 levels are adequate.
Again, we have a significant disparity in the price of these items, with companies like Azoo and Red Sea offering them for about $10, while Cal Aqua Labs and Aqua Design Amano (ADA) offer better quality CO2 checkers for about $50 each.
The latter are aesthetically more pleasing to the eye, however, probably don't do any better job than the Azoo and Red Sea CO2 drop checkers.
The key in obtaining good results here is in using water that is 4DKH. Before you spend any money purchasing a bottle of 4DKH solution, if you own a water hardness test
kit, test you water to determine its DKH level.
If it is 4 DKH you can use some of your tank's water in your drop checker, than add the reagent solution to establish how many PPM's of CO2 are in your tank.
This way you save yourself about $7 by not having to purchase a bottle of 4DKH solution.
This author has noticed that when I turn the CO2 system in my 20 gallon long tank off at night, the drop checker turns blue, however, turns green in the morning after the CO2 has been turned back on for awhile.
Hats off to Red Sea for manufacturing an inexpensive drop checker that does its job well, and to Fluval, for making it easy to buy a well thought out and affordable pressurized CO2 system for one's aquarium.
awesome product. had no problem assembling everything. I've never had a true co2 setup with a large co2 bottle and expensive regulators and i don't think I'll ever need one with this setup. you do have to manually turn it off and adjust the flow rate every time u turn it on but all it takes is to turn one knob, very simple! one flaw I've found with this kit however is the diffuser. it easily gets clogged somehow and will blow your line right out. toss it and get a glass diffuser. that's why i give product 4 stars instead of 5. my system have been up and running for just over a month now and the gauge is still halfway. my plants definitely appreciate it and are growing out of control now.
Buy Fluval Pressurized 88g-CO2 Kit - 3.1 Ounces Now
Originally I had stated "It is sad to see someone selling something on amazon like this at almost twice the price of other retailers."
The price is not what it was when I originally posted the review. The price is now in line with other pricing.
Good product with decent construction, CO2 canisters last a little more than a month at 1 bps and shutting it off at night.
Read Best Reviews of Fluval Pressurized 88g-CO2 Kit - 3.1 Ounces Here
This product has the Ability to perform well, but it also is not the most user friendly equipment.
The diffuser is very bad, but most folks end up buying the glass ones, at least the ones i've seen, and seem happy with it. So despite it's meant to be an essential part of the kit, it can be easily and readily replaced.
The bubble counter feels sturdy, but I end up not using it very much because it was a pain to set up and couldn't be placed anywhere on the tank without it just flipping off due to the tension of the tubings. I suppose it can be useful if you trimmed all the tubing to the exact needed lengths.
The regulator works very well when it's working, and can drive a sane man mad when it's not. As it turned out, for me, it was a slow pressure meter that made me think the cartridge was not punctured when it actually was. But when I figured out that the cartridge pierces fairly easily. I simply ignored the meter and things seems to work fine.
The dial take some getting use to, but I just parked my favoriate spot (out flow) with a marker and used that as a guideline.
The cartridges are pricy, but for a 15gallon tank, and used conservatively, I made last a month. But when I dialed it up a bit, it quickly ran out in two weeks.
Since this, I've actually bought myself a co2 regulator for a 5lb tank. And so I will be retiring this system. But over all, if used correctly, I works very well.
A side note to those who are having problems with piercing the cartridge, I'm not a strong person by any means, but I can pierce it with my bare hands. So if you find yourself using a clamp and wrenches, you are trying too hard.
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We've ordered and use two of these now for our planted aquariums. Easy to assemble, easy to operate. Canisters last quite some time.
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I have the 302 and 303B, both running for months. They are quiet and efficient. My tanks have never looked better or been healthier. The 302 was my first canister filter, so it did take me some time to figure it out. Instructions could definitely be improved. I had read other reviews that advised to prefill the canister with water to simplify priming, and it worked like a charm. The first cleaning was an adventure trying to figure out how to get the media baskets out and back in correctly, but again, once learned its no big deal. Bottom line, you can't beat these filters for the price.
