Quick Question

[weejen]

i have just got a 3 and a half foot tank 144l 38usg and it has a 39watt t5 bulb and i was wondering if i would need co2 as i only have a couple of plants. i will post a pic of my tank as i am not sure of the names of the plants. i was just wondering because i have ricca and i was wondering if it would pearl?

 

[Colin_T]

no you don't need CO2 for only a couple of plants in a low light tank. The plants will get enough CO2 from the fish, filter bacteria and through the surface of the water if the tank is aerated or has some surface turbulence.

 

[weejen]

will it be enoght for my ricca to pearl?

 

[Gav935]

I'm pretty sure Riccia requires CO2 to give the pearling you're after, though I think it will survive without it.

Also, are you running 2x39w t5's? Thats quite a lot of light without CO2 injection is it not?

 

[weejen]

no just 1 39w t5 bulb

 

[Gav935]

Ah right, ignore my deluded rambling then...

 

[Colin_T]

will it be enough for my ricca to pearl?

No.
You need really bright light to get aquatic plants to pearl. And if they have really bright light then they need CO2 and lots of fertiliser to grow well and prevent nutrient deficiencies.