54 Litre Tank With 1+ Wpg

[dave_m13]

Hi All

Just another quick question I have purchased a small tank 54 Litres, the tank has just over 1 WPG. I will be trying plant quite heavily with easy plants.

My question is it worth adding some CO2 to the tank. I have 3 spare Nutrafin CO2 sets and 1 could be utilised, would it cause more problems or not?

Thanks
Dave

 

[d3tained]

No need for C02 as 1 WPG not gonna make the plants grow above normal rate.

Only start to add c02 at about 2.8 WPG

 

[JamesC]

I'd say that CO2 is recommended at 1.5 to 2 wpg and required at above 2wpg. So at 1wpg you'll find it'll make very little difference.

 

[dave_m13]

Thanks, would it be worth maybe adding Excel?

 

[Graeme Edwards]

All excel is, is liquid carbon, so i ask you this.
Do you pay say £5 or more ( on a regular basis ) for dosing excel or make your own Co2 mix for next to nothing??

The reason why Co2 is added is for a carbon sorce. Plants and all other living things need carbon for cell structure etc, some plants need more than others.

Me!!! i would add one DIY Co2 unit to your tank. I will cost next to nothing. It wont have any bad affect on your fish and will only help your plants grow even better!!
Dont buy excell, you dont need it!

Regards,
Graeme.

 

[dave_m13]

All excel is, is liquid carbon, so i ask you this.
Do you pay say £5 or more ( on a regular basis ) for dosing excel or make your own Co2 mix for next to nothing??

The reason why Co2 is added is for a carbon sorce. Plants and all other living things need carbon for cell structure etc, some plants need more than others.

Me!!! i would add one DIY Co2 unit to your tank. I will cost next to nothing. It wont have any bad affect on your fish and will only help your plants grow even better!!
Dont buy excell, you dont need it!

Regards,
Graeme.

Thanks, I have both a big bottle of Excel (Little Used) and 3 Nutrafin CO2 sets (Use Sugar and Yeast) at the moment. These were being used on the 400 litre tank.

So if I started adding CO2 with just over 1 WPG would this not cause issues with algae?

Thanksd
Dave

 

[Graeme Edwards]

No WAY
Algea shouldnt be to much of an isue in your tank. Over stocking lack of regular water changes and a poor filter will give your algea NOT the addition of Co2. Its been proven that lack of sufficiant Co2 in a planted aquarium is one of, if not THE biggest cause of algea.Also ammonia has been proven to be the biggest algea trigger.

So with your DIY Co2 a good filter ( ie clean and with a good bio load ) and regular water changes, algea shouldnt be an isue.

 

[Themuleous]

Yeh I would agree, add the CO2 you've got the equipment so might as well make use of it, and it wont hurt if it doesn't do any harm, and I suspect that it will help if only a little CO2 is also supposed to have anti algae properties in itself so a good idea in my book.

Sam

 

[Graeme Edwards]

I dont think its the special proporties of Co2 that stop algea.
Its more that Co2 gives better plant growth which inturn drives the plants to use any avilable ammonia ( known algea trigger!!!!!!) and nitrites that algea use as a food sorce.

Thats how Co2 help with algea isues! from what i understand.

R,
G.

 

[Themuleous]

You're right Moody, but as I understood it the CO2 itself hinders algae growth or something like that away, so it actually may help stop algae growing in the tank.

But Im know expert on it!

 

[dave_m13]

Thanks everyone, I will add the DIY CO2 set next week as I am in Belgium at the moment and its located back in the UK. I have to wait anyway as the tank has only been cycling for just over a week, so have plenty of time to add plants and make the tank look nice before adding fish.

Dave