Co2 Or Not Co2 That Is The Question

[dazdubz]

hi all
right then i have a rio 240 with the standard tubes wich are 2X38 watt and i was thinking of adding co2 because i have gathered quite a few plants now and want them to grow well.
When i bought the tank(sec/hand) it came with a DUPLA CO2-Set Omega (http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/Z079192.asp about half way down)could i use this.
They are growing but are getting quite yellowish and some have a little algae on them.
now then there is a 3/4 of the mixture left in the bottle could i use this or would i have to change it?
do i have to upgrade the lights wich are warm sun and a sorta light blue one ?
also could i put the pump into my sump or would the co2 not get into the tank this way?
and if i have to change the mixture could i use the diy mixture to put in the bottle?
oh and my water stats are,
p.h 8.0
amm 0
nitrIte 0
kh 6d
gh 16
nitrAte 20
co2 1.8 from chart
all help will be gr8

 

[Incitic]

Your ph is really high and from the chart you can see it is either very hard or impossible to achieve a co2 level which would benefit your plants.

I'd try lowering your ph a bit first, but get a second opinion (a pro one).

 

[dazdubz]

thanks for the reply do you mean add chems to drop the ph or should i add the co2 as that should drop the ph i think

 

[Incitic]

I really recommend a 2nd opinion, but most of the time chems are frowned upon as ph solutions. If you want to lower the ph then try adding some driftwood. Not too sure about the co2 though, that may alter the hardness as well.

 

[zig]

Read the pinned article on lighting at the top of this section of the forum, this will give you a better idea of what you need for a planted tank, atm you have approx 1.2 WPG which would be considered low lighting, but the main problem you probably have is that the Juwel light tubes are not suitable for growing plants, again you will find good suggestions in the pinned article as to what is suitable, also the plants you grow must suit the lighting over the tank, some plants will need a lot of light and will do poorly without it.

ATM you do not need co2 with the lighting you have, if you upgrade your lighting to 2+WPG you will need co2 it will then not be an option, i would also suggest you would struggle with DIY co2 on a tank this size a pressurised system would be more suitable.

Your ph is fine, fish can adapt quite easily to higher or lower than ideal ph values, if you do end up useing co2 this will lower the ph for you, as you inject co2 it will lower the ph of your tankwater, as allready suggested the addition of bogwood or driftwood will also lower your ph over time.

 

[dazdubz]

thanks for the reply so should i upgrade my lighting or would the plants survive with my lights atm, what about fertelizer would that help, the thing is i dont want them to fade away because they look good in my tank also i sorted out the high level lighted plants and the low level ones like it says in the pinned article anymore info will be gr8 thanks

 

[zig]

thanks for the reply so should i upgrade my lighting or would the plants survive with my lights atm, what about fertelizer would that help, the thing is i dont want them to fade away because they look good in my tank also i sorted out the high level lighted plants and the low level ones like it says in the pinned article anymore info will be gr8 thanks

As far as i am aware the lights that come with Juwel tanks are not suitable for growing plants, so once you swop out the tubes even with the low light you have your plants should do ok, once you have a reasonable fishload in the tank this will provide the main nutrients the plants will need between fish and food waste, you could supplement it occeasionally with some general purpose fertiliser Seachem flourish or Tropica Master Grow would be good choices.

The plants will survive as long as they are plants that are suitable for low light levels, plants that are suitable for low light levels would include Java moss, Java fern, Anubia species plants and some Cryptocoryne (crypts) species, Amazon swords also seem to do ok as well at low light levels.

If you are worried about the ph being to high you could inject co2, even at low light levels plants will benifit from co2 but with the level of light you have this is optional and not a nescessity.