Manufacture and candid reviews of the Natural plant system

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Manufacturer's write up

Hagen

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	Plants need CO₂
	Plants require CO₂ to grow and remain in optimal condition. In a standard planted aquarium, there is a limited supply of CO₂. Simple and safe, the CO₂ Natural Plant System is by far the most reliable and natural method to supplement CO₂.

	How Plants Benefit the Aquarium
	Live aquatic plants offer an attractive, dynamic element that changes with their growth and reproduction. Plants filter the water by absorbing metals, ammonium, nitrate, and phosphate. They also provide oxygen. While the aquarium is illuminated, plants photosynthesize, taking in carbon dioxide (CO₂) and giving off oxygen. Plants improve water quality and fish demonstrate natural behavior, rewarding the aquarium keeper with intense coloration. A planted aquarium provides fish and their young with shelter and hiding places. There is no doubt that an aquarium supported by healthy, lush plant growth will benefit from superior water quality.
A beautifully planted aquarium creates a stunning focal point for any setting. Live aquatic plants bring a living, breathing, exquisite part of nature into your own home.
	It's easy
	The CO₂ Natural Plant System helps you achieve beautiful, thriving live aquatic plants, and ultimately, a healthier aquarium.
	Visible results in just 15 days!
	When comparing plant systems using CO₂ versus those that don’t, the differences are very apparent. Most rapid growth plants obtaining CO₂ injection, are more lush, colorful and grow faster.
	How it works
	This system is designed to supply any aquarium with a safe, economical, and efficient method of providing nature’s most powerful carbon source for plants. Employing a natural fermentation process for CO₂ eliminates the need for inconvenient pressurized cylinders. It allows quick, easy, and affordable refills of ingredients to provide continuous CO₂ for a 3-4 week period. Our special fermentation canister was developed to support consistent carbon dioxide output.

The System

	A Natural Process	3.	There, the bubbles encounter the CO₂ Bubble Counter/Diffuser, the key to efficient CO₂ diffusion into the water. The CO₂ bubble follows a patented 3-dimensional, extended path. As it travels within the unique matrix, the bubble becomes smaller and smaller, finally disappearing almost entirely. This indicates that CO₂ has fully dissipated into the water.
1.	All-natural Activator and Stabilizer ingredients are added to sugar and water in the Fermentation Canister.
2.	Once sealed, fermentation commences. As CO₂ forms, pressure builds, creating CO₂ bubbles that travel through CO₂-resistant tubing into the aquarium.

Fermentation Canister

Once the contents are sealed in the canister, fermentation takes place. This causes the creation and expulsion of CO₂. The fermentation canister has a Thermo-Regulation System that prevents abrupt changes in temperature inside the canister caused by external temperature variations.

CO2 Bubble Counter/ Diffuser

CO₂ bubbles move from the fermentation canister to the Bubble Counter/Diffuser. There, the bubbles follow a three dimensional route. This patented system has an extended diffusion path within a smaller area, providing longer contact time to ensure efficient diffusion (absorption) of CO₂ into the aquarium.

3 Activator and
3 Stabilizer packets

The Activator and Stabilizer packets have been tested, refined and proven. They are manufactured under exacting Quality Control standards to ensure proper operation of the unit and support performance.

	CO₂-Resistant Tubing Not affected by CO₂ contact		Suction Cups Reliable adhesion for vertical placement

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From: Dario
Date:09/25/2007

I purchased this two months ago to use in my 29g as a cheaper method of injecting co2 without having to make my own fermentation canister with a 2-liter Soda Bottle.

While the refill packets are obviously overpriced and are just Yeast(Activator) and Baking Soda(Stabilizer), the actually equipment is solid and very neat. So far I have filled it twice. The first time lasted 24 days, which may have been due to myself not using the proper water temperature at first.

The second time I filled it, I made sure to activate the yeast separately outside of the canister. I found that if they are able to perform their aerobic cycle for 15-20 minutes before being put into the canister(Which they then go into an anaerobic cycle), the process can last much longer, as more yeast will survive a longer period of time, effectively extending the usage of the system. When I filled it the second time, I activated the yeast in lukewarm water for 20 minutes before putting it inside of the canister, then added the baking soda(It slows down the reaction, so that the co2 is released slower, but more steadily). This batch has lasted over 5 weeks, and has finally started slowing down at day 37(But still not stopping, only slowing). The canister is very compact and very air tight when sealed properly, but there is not much space within. Be sure not to tip it over or shake it too much or overfill it, or else the liquid itself will be siphoned up the tube. Also, be sure not to open it while it is lower than the tank's water level and hooked up, or else you will siphon water back through the hose, removing tank water from the tank, while also spraying it out the canister end(This is only if you open it below the water surface).

As stated, the equipment that does come with this is fantastic. The canister is durable and small, and the variable clip that comes with it is easily adjusted to fit tiny 10 gallon tanks, or even monster 125 gallon tanks and beyond. The tubing doesn't exchange gas, which is good, and the plastic co2 maze to go inside of the tank is small, compact and does its job. Just be sure to move it a little each month to clean behind it, as the tank wall behind it will develop algae sometimes(As well as some of the ramps on it). I moved it when I saw one of my Otocinclus Catfish somehow sneaked behind it and was 'stuck' (But eating the brown algae very happily), but I am sure it only went there because the brown algae was abundant there, and not in the rest of the tank. Small fish can get stuck inside of the ramps if they are curious enough, so be sure to look and see if any are stuck if you have fish smaller than 1" or fry in the tank. I've also had to clean algae growths around the outflow of the co2 tube since it interfered with the co2 pathing.

The only negative problem is that if you medicate the tank, the tube WILL stain. I medicated my tank with an anti-ich medicine that contained Malachite Green a month back, and the tube was stained blue-green because of it. This won't effect the product and how it works, but it is a problem if you care about visuals. Other than that, the price for the equipment is fair, the equipment functions very well, and one system can easily produce enough co2 for a tank up to 30 gallons, and even be fair with tanks up to 50 gallons.

From: Marty
Date:04/18/2005

This system looks nice and works well, as long as you don't pay too much for it. It would seem the 'Activator' packet contains yeast, the stabilizer packet could be Sodium Bicarbonate, but that's just a guess. Something to slow down the fermentation process. The mfg's refills are a total rip-off, I bought the system never planning to buy them and just using purchased yeast. Besides this obvious attempt at a consumer rip-off, the hardware components of the product are solid and have worked well. Recommended but disappointed in Nutrafin at the deception.. They should have just told you what ingredients to buy instead of the deceptive labeling.

From: Frederick Kennedy-Hippchen
Date:03/27/2005

About 2 years ago I decided to try my hand at a planted tank after about 38 years of fishkeeping. I started with a 20G long, and not wanting to dump a lot of money into a pressurized CO2 system, bought (after researching it) the Hagen system. Well the results were remarkable. The unit has settings for 10, 15 and 20 gallon tanks. Over 20 gallons, it is recommended that additional units be used. At some point I think this may be counterproductive and one should consider pressurized CO2. The packets/refills are easy to use and do last about 20-30 days depending on ambient temperature. I have experimented with my own "mixture" and found that adding sugar and water to the levels within the canister, add 1/2 tsp. of activated yeast and shaking it like hell, I can produce more CO2 cheaper than buying the mfr.'s refills. I do recommend this unit for those considering a CO2 system that works well and looks nice.

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