Plants Question

[DarkShadow435]

Ok, so I'm about to set up my 50 gallon tank. I'm doing an all-natural theme: rocks, live plants, etc. I have a question though. If I use all live plants, do i need one of those CO2 things? Can someone explain that to me?

 

[afroturf]

When using live plants any form of co2 will improve them, CO2 is one of the essential factor in keeping aquatic plants happy and healthy.

 

[Squid]

Ok, so I'm about to set up my 50 gallon tank. I'm doing an all-natural theme: rocks, live plants, etc. I have a question though. If I use all live plants, do i need one of those CO2 things? Can someone explain that to me?

You need a trip to the pinned topics section. It will depend on your levels of lighting and the requirements of the plants you wish to put in there. Without CO2 and good lighting you can still have a great looking tank, but your a bit more limited as to what can go into it..

Cheers
Squid..

 

[DarkShadow435]

what would be the easiest, and least expensive way to use CO2. I dont want to put any type of moss or grass, just some leafy plants. i have a regular one tube florecent light. I looked at the pinned topics section. I'm fairly new to fish keeping, but i'm quite obsessed in themeing this tank to be all natural. I'd like to put a bamboo plant, and some other leafy plants.

 

[Squid]

I addes some hygrophila polysperma into my tank recently along side one of the Hagen co2 kits with the DIY mixture as mentioned in the pinned topics. This stuff grows like a weed. There are several types, mine is the rosanerveg which has red leaves at the top, although in low low light they are less red. I keep trimming it just below some roots which form higher up and planting it again, and it grows in front of your eyes

The CO2 kit was £14.99 from maidenhead aquatics, and with just sugar and a tub of yeast from tesco, its quick, cheap and easy to keep going in the tank..

Not sure on bamboo type plants though...

Good luck
Squid

 

[DarkShadow435]

it said the yeast type setup wasnt ideal for larger tanks. my tank is 50 gal. is that too big?

 

[Squid]

My mistake.. forgot the size of the tank. My tank is 48 gallon, and i use two co2 kits. One hagen and one carbonator. Whilst it doesn't get me up to the magic 30ppm, it all helps. With just one tube (not sure how many watts, but im guessing your not going to have many watts per gallon. I have 2 t8 tubes giving me just 1.3wpg), the co2 will not be an urgent requirement. If you were to go pressurised to get the higher levels of CO2, you may have to consider upgrading the lighting too so that you can make the most out of the co2 and grow some more tricky plants.

An alternative is to not bother with additional co2 and lighting, stick to low light plants and think about adding Seachem Excel, which adds a level of carbon into the water to help the plants..

Perhaps others with more experience of more high-tech tanks might be able to add more than me, as im just a low light diy co2 chap

good luck.

Squid