How Do You Know When You Need Co2?

[philb]

How do you know when you need CO2?

Im a little new to the planted stuff, and have had quite a few plants go brittle and begin to break up, especially my valis once it gt longer than about 14"?

Also a few of my plants look like they have been attacked by slugs, and ive checked my pleco and its not him!

Tank is 180litres, and is about to be restocked with plants?

Any help?

Would probably prefer the DIY method, if there is a guide somewhere just to test it out?

Cheers

 

[nicklfire]

Hey Man,

Just to get a handle on the whole co2 thing i highly suggest you read the pinned article on the top of the forum or follow this link : http/www.fishforums.net/A-Basic-Guide-To...de-t105266.html . There are also a list of links posted on the bottom of the topic to a list of diy co2 methods etc. There's alot of things that come into effect, lighting, substrate, co2. But remember a plants makeup is carbon which is why we injection co2.

Try that for now

 

[philb]

Cheers just had a look at the links!

The most complicated part looks like the Co2-Water diffuser. As i dont particulaly want a large plastic spiral or staircase in the corner of my tank?

Any ideas, as the reactor made of a python on the one site lookes nice, but i think i would prefer external away in the cupboard and thn pump the co2'd water back into the tank? Is this possible?

Also one question! How dangerous is CO2 come out form you tank, if it isnt diffuse properly in the water! i.e for humans!

 

[cheesy feet]

Cheers just had a look at the links!

The most complicated part looks like the Co2-Water diffuser. As i dont particulaly want a large plastic spiral or staircase in the corner of my tank?

Any ideas, as the reactor made of a python on the one site lookes nice, but i think i would prefer external away in the cupboard and thn pump the co2'd water back into the tank? Is this possible?

Also one question! How dangerous is CO2 come out form you tank, if it isnt diffuse properly in the water! i.e for humans!

Co2 is poisenous to humans in large qauntitys.Even if it does leak out it won't produce anymore co2 then a human would i should think.

 

[nry]

The ceramic diffusers for aquariums are tiny, no more than an inch or so maximum diameter, easily hidden behind plants. You can use external 'reactors' which go inline with the filter inlet which may be what you are thinking about.

The CO2 level coming out of the tank (that which is not diffused) is teeny tiny. You are aiming for 30ppm in the aquarium and I think normal atmospheric CO2 is way higher, towards 400ppm so you're safe!

 

[JamieH]

It's not a question of need.... you can run an algae free tank with good plant growth and moderate light / ferts.

c02 / ei is very fashionable... but we've also had amazing tanks for years before either came along, too.

if you have high light, your plants will need more c02 and ferts to grow... lower light = not so much.

 

[vic]

The following is an in-line diffuser for a cannister filter. It goes in the return line. This diffusewr was designed by Gomer of Aquaticant Central.
Vic
http/www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumap...mp;d=1099597504

 

[philb]

Thats pretty clever! The inline model diffuser!

Thanks for the advice guys, i think im gonna research a bit more before taking the plunge with CO2 and have a look into what EI actually is!

Also have a look if maybe fertilisers are a better idea?

 

[lljdma06]

I actually think that the question to ask is not whether or not you need CO2, but what is your lighting? How many watts do you have and what kind of lighting is it? If this has been answered elsewhere, then by all means, ignore me. You can add all the CO2 in the world and it won't do diddly if there isn't enough light for the plants to use.

llj

 

[plantbrain]

The answer to the question as pointed out by several folks: no, you do not "need CO2".
Aquarist add CO2 for 2 reasons, for marine dissolution of aragonite into Ca and CO3 ions to allow corals and CaCO3 forming critters/plants to make their shells/structures, and to increase the rates of growth in aquatic FW planted tanks.

Think of it as super fertilizer.
It can increase growth rates by about 10-24X, that's just for Val americana, but most other species fall into that same range.

This allows you to prune and garden to your heart's desires.
You can watch the growth change day to day. Many find this very interesting.

Some bemoan the labors of pruning, dosing, keeping up with things.
So you can not use CO2 in that case.

Both have more details obviously, but those are the main trade offs for folks, some want something in between, using low light + CO2 or Excel works well there.

What changes in the rates of growth, however, each method needs the right balance of all 3: light/CO2/nutrients.

If you add more light, then you'll need more CO2, and then more nutrients, adding more light than than that, then you need even more CO2 and more nutrients.

As things grow faster and the rates increase, you need more nutrients, CO2, light => scale everything up.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[philb]

Hi thanks for the advice! very helpful!

My lights a currently quite low with what I have been reading!

The are 2 30watts (T8s) over a 180 litre tank, Juwel 180 size.

So im contemplating whether i need to use CO2 or use the old school method, or fertilisers etc! But im trying to read up on both and are bothe pretty confusing as they inter-mingle!

Would be great if some one could point me in the direction, of a typical old school, low light setup, and a new co2 method?

Is it advisable to use so sort of soil, or peat under the gravel bed for both methods?

Cheers

 

[Dave Spencer]

I work out that you have around 1.3WPG in a largish tank. In my estimation, CO2 is not a necessity, so you could try dosing Flourish Excel as the easy option. You won`t have plant growth that is too rapid, so supplying Carbon via Excel should suffice. With a tank the size of yours, you will find it difficult to keep the CO2 stable using the DIY method and pressurised will be an unnecessary expense.

I`m not sure what substrate you have, but do you have any thoughts on water column fertilisation?

Dave.

 

[philb]

If i knew what water column fertislisation was i might?? What do you mean by Flourish excel?

Also my substate is currently sand, but im in the process of changing over to small pea like gravel! So know is the time for me to alter stuff, or add fertlisers etc?