Co2 to 02 ratio for an 80 gallon tank

[astacasta]

Hi everyone, I've had an 80 gallon tank set up for about a year now, I have a beautiful aquascape with live plants, rocks and several Platys, guppies, mollies, pleckos,ect ect... just wanting to know what ratio my C02 to oxygen needs to be, I want to keep my plants healthy but at the same time looking after my fish. I've lost a few plants over the time and know C02 will help but need to get the balance right. Any advice will be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[StevenF]

Quite often if a plant dies it is not due to CO2. most of the time a plant dies because it cannot get the elements it needs to grow or there is not enough light. I have put plants in a container of water with fertilizer but without air pump or water flow. The plant will grow even though there is very little CO2 in the water. If I seal the container so no fresh air can get in the plant will grow until CO2 is depleted and then it just goes dormant. Only after weeks in a sealed container will the plant start to die.

You might want to try a plant fertilizer. Two good ones are Sachem Flourish Comprehensive or Brightwell Aquatic Florinmulti. These are the most complete fertilizers available for an aquariums. Sachem is missing nickel and is a little weak in macro nutrients. Sachem assumes fish waist will provide most of the nitrogen, phosphate, potassium, and sulfur plants need. Bright well has everything except nitrogen and phosphate. Most other fertilizers are 4 or more nutrients plants need and success or failure with them will depend on what is in or missing from your tap water.

if most of your plants are doing ok your light may be oK. You could tray adjusting how long the lights are on. Most leave there lights on for about 7 hours a day. There is always some variation between plants on how much light and nutrients are need. The nutrient and lighting levels in your aquarium is probably good for most of your plants but not so good for others.