This My Tank, Do I Need Co2!

[Tonyb111111]

This is my tank , and i would love to know whether people think i should be adding CO2. I intend to add more plants, and I especially want a low level carpet of something to cover half the floor Thanks Ianho for our chat the other day, I have now moved from Easylife Provito to TPN+ and await the results, but with this, and the T5's I am still wandering whether I should be using CO2 instead Flourish Excell. Any advice welcome

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[ian]

just remind us of the tank size and lighting (wattage of the bulbs) again Tony?

 

[Rorie]

I wanted a really nice carpeting plant. It didn't work out too well for me and i had the CO2 on the go. I tried looking for an easy carpeting plant but had little luck finding one which didn't require CO2. That said, i didn't manage even when i had CO2 haha.

My suggestion would be to look at the carpeting plants, find the one you want, then see if it needs CO2 or not.

Very nice looking tank BTW

 

[Tonyb111111]

just remind us of the tank size and lighting (wattage of the bulbs) again Tony?

Hi Ianho, dims are 100 long x 40 deep x 50 high, two 39W reflected T5's, daily dose of excell, weekly dose of TPN &,Esha Minaroll. Use Caribsea sand (wish id used black now) as I get green clumps on the surface

I wanted a really nice carpeting plant. It didn't work out too well for me and i had the CO2 on the go. I tried looking for an easy carpeting plant but had little luck finding one which didn't require CO2. That said, i didn't manage even when i had CO2 haha.

My suggestion would be to look at the carpeting plants, find the one you want, then see if it needs CO2 or not.

Very nice looking tank BTW

I tried Hemianthus Callitrichoides but it didnt grow at all but i dont know if that was down to lack of Nutrients/CO2, or my corys continuously chewing at the rockwool and dislodging them.

 

[ian]

with Cory's it does limit you carpet plants. I wouldn't waste my money on HC or Glosso. You may want to look at Riccia, which would do OK with your conditions as long as you had good flow around the substrate.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/101806-step-by-step-guide-riccia-and-java-moss/

if you read the important update on the top of the thread^^^ i will just mention that i have used this method in the past (the pic is a while ago!) with Cory's without any problems

 

[m_attt]

hairgrass carpets nice and think with just easycarbo, so does pogostomon helferi and s.repens

 

[Tonyb111111]

Great advice and link on the carpeting plants, thanks people. Any ideas on the original question of whether or not to use CO2 based on my tank set up??

 

[FishFanatic04]

Your tank is lovely already Can't wait to see what you do!

 

[Biulu]

In your current set-up you don't need to go pressurised. And as other people already said; it will depend upon the carpeting plant you want to use. Riccia and mosses have been successfully used as carpets without CO2. I personally think that E. tenellus is also an option without CO2 but I am not sure how the cories will take this plant.

 

[Tonyb111111]

Your tank is lovely already Can't wait to see what you do!

Thanks, still work in progress though. I would really want a balance between fish and plants that maintains a natural look, not to cluttered but not to architectural if you know i mean

 

[Tonyb111111]

In your current set-up you don't need to go pressurised. And as other people already said; it will depend upon the carpeting plant you want to use. Riccia and mosses have been successfully used as carpets without CO2. I personally think that E. tenellus is also an option without CO2 but I am not sure how the cories will take this plant.

Thanks for the carpeting tip, but my main reason for the CO2 question is to do with the how lush and healthy the plants look. They are kind of ok at the moment but I feel they lack vibrancy and wonder if CO2 is the missing key. Will give TPN+ a couple weeks and see what difference that makes, but I don't think there are any other options if I'm not happy after this?

 

[Tonyb111111]

with Cory's it does limit you carpet plants. I wouldn't waste my money on HC or Glosso. You may want to look at Riccia, which would do OK with your conditions as long as you had good flow around the substrate.

http/www.fishforum...-and-java-moss/

if you read the important update on the top of the thread^^^ i will just mention that i have used this method in the past (the pic is a while ago!) with Cory's without any problems

Done my research now and am going with your suggestion of the riccia. Just can't my mind up whether to attach to stones or plastic mesh. Which looks better and is easier, Fluitians or dwarf?

 

[pablothebetta]

Thought I'd say that I really like your tank - what's that large plant in the middle, to the right of the echinodoras and left of the wood? I think a carpet plant would do nicely there if you got one growing well - perhaps some pygmy chain sword in the far left front corner in front of that piece of wood?

Just noticed your question about riccia - I'm sure I've seen a thread somewhere on here which had info on attaching it. Stones or plastic mesh, fluitians or dwarf - depends on the look you want. If you want more of a carpet, I would imagine plastic mesh would be the way to go, and fluitians or dwarf depending on how you want it to look. If you want a 'bumpy carpet' (perhaps put some stones close together with riccia on them for this effect? Not actually tried it myself, just an idea I had) or just rounder areas or riccia, I imagine that the stones would probably be the way forward.

 

[Tonyb111111]

Thought I'd say that I really like your tank - what's that large plant in the middle, to the right of the echinodoras and left of the wood? I think a carpet plant would do nicely there if you got one growing well - perhaps some pygmy chain sword in the far left front corner in front of that piece of wood?

Just noticed your question about riccia - I'm sure I've seen a thread somewhere on here which had info on attaching it. Stones or plastic mesh, fluitians or dwarf - depends on the look you want. If you want more of a carpet, I would imagine plastic mesh would be the way to go, and fluitians or dwarf depending on how you want it to look. If you want a 'bumpy carpet' (perhaps put some stones close together with riccia on them for this effect? Not actually tried it myself, just an idea I had) or just rounder areas or riccia, I imagine that the stones would probably be the way forward.

Thanks for the compliment, it goes a long way to helping a beginners confidence. The plant you mention is Hygrophilia angustifolia, my favourite at the moment as it is so bushy and green, the fish love it. I am edging towards using smallish slates to attach the riccia as it appears easier to attach, move about and clean under. I looked at the Pygmy chain sword but I am put off planting a carpet because my corys keep up rooting them, tried HC already

 

[Biulu]

I agree with the slates. It is easy to attach and you don't have the problem it gets all messy with substrate flown around by your cories.