Should I Go Co2?

[Chri$]

I don't know whether or not to buy a simple co2 kit (Nutrafin) for my new tank (20 ukg). The lighting levels will be low (0.8 WPG). Is it worth the effort?

 

[saboy]

No, you should only get co2 really for when the lighting is 2.0 wpg or more, I dont think it will help much then

 

[Themuleous]

If you've only got 0.8WPG then probably not worth it. Save the money for when you upgrade the lighting, you may struggle to grow anything under 0.8WPG anyway with or without CO2. A single nutrafin unit wont do much on a 20g anyway, you'd need two in order to get enough CO2 into the tank.

Sam

 

[Chri$]

Do you think i would have algae problems with that lighting level?

 

[Themuleous]

You can have algae problems in ANY tank so I wont say 'no' but like the plants I think even algae will struggle under 0.8WPG.

 

[Chri$]

You can have algae problems in ANY tank so I wont say 'no' but like the plants I think even algae will struggle under 0.8WPG.

Sorry, worded that badly i sure do know you can have algae problems in any tank

 

[Chri$]

If i added another lamp say 18w or even 15w would i be in with a better chance?
But the problem is fitting the new lamp where would it go?
Below is a picture of the hood and my new arcadia freshwater lamp which arrived today (thanks for the advice sam)

If i added another lamp say 18w or even 15w would i be in with a better chance?
But the problem is fitting the new lamp as there is no space for it.

 

[Themuleous]

First off, I should have picked up on this before, but WPG is always worked out using US gallons, did you do that or is the 0.8WPG worked out using UK gallons?

Yes most defiantly a second light tube would help (there is always somewhere to put one!) that would take you to more like 1.5ish WPG. CO2 would be useful if you had that much light, but again probably not 100% essential. If you can get the 18w bulb and make sure its a plant specific one

If you can post a pic of the hood I expect we can figure a way of adding the second tube

Sam

 

[Chri$]

Here is a picture of the hood and below is my new arcadia freshwater lamp which arrived today

 

[Ginge]

Soory for this but i felt the need for a really crappy drawing. But you could get a reflector=Red and attach it onto your hood using Screws=Black then get a Lighing starter kit and add a bulb=blue??? Just an idea if you did it using T5 bulb you could get even more wpg.

 

[demonmagus]

how long is the tank? 2 foot?

If so use power compacts you can get a 21 inch 55 watt version

 

[Ginge]

At a cost of???

 

[Chri$]

how long is the tank? 2 foot?

If so use power compacts you can get a 21 inch 55 watt version

Its a 32". 20g long.

 

[Chri$]

Soory for this but i felt the need for a really crappy drawing. But you could get a reflector=Red and attach it onto your hood using Screws=Black then get a Lighing starter kit and add a bulb=blue??? Just an idea if you did it using T5 bulb you could get even more wpg.

Good idea Ginge and thanks for the idea
Do you think the screws would hold it? and i suppose it could cause a bit of an access problem.
Also - could i fit a reflector to the the current lamp which is in there? and are the reflectors worth it.

 

[demonmagus]

the power compact would cost £15 for the bulb and £31 for the ballast

here is a link:
http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/Z497159.asp

and reflectors are definetely worth it, they don't double the light, but they do help a lot