Will I Need Co2?

[penguinpimp1990]

im planning ona 55 gallon brackish all bumble bee goby tank and want to very loosely plant it. Maybe 3 or 4 vals and a small amount of java moss. will i need to add co2? and with a tank this very loosly planted should i cut the fertilizer amount in half? (or possibly lower)

thanks

 

[Jen]

Not unless you plan on having a ton of extra light on the tank. With those plants, a trace fertalizer should be all that you need. You may want to use some root tabs for the val.

 

[penguinpimp1990]

maybe 2 watts of light on this tank.... for the roots of the val ill use 55 oz of laterite.

 

[Jen]

Hmmm. With 2 wpg, you will most likely need co2 then, and more ferts. Otherwise you could get some mad algae.

 

[penguinpimp1990]

with 2 watts id get algae hmmmm i think i need to rethink my gameplan

 

[IovaykInD]

Do you have two bulbs in there? If you have two..just take one out. If you have one bulb, you could always buy a bulb that is lower in wattage.

 

[penguinpimp1990]

what wattage would you reccomend?

 

[IovaykInD]

I'd say anything less than 1 wpg would be good. Nothing less than .5wpg. I can grow java moss with only .5wpg, just a bit slower but no algae. For the val, I don't know cause I don't have it. I'd say one bulb is enough, two would need c02.

 

[penguinpimp1990]

great so anything under 54 watts and anything over 28 watts. Any other thoughts on the fertilzers? ill be having 40 watts on this tank then

 

[penguinpimp1990]

wait i have another question(yes i know im annoying)......what if i add co2 to this tank with two watts per gallon, with this few plants will the co2 must remain at 30 ppm? and if i some decent surface agitation will the co2 reach a medium? (ie will the co2 stay at say 17 ppm with the surface agitation or will the co2 be completly dissolved after a few hours?)

 

[penguinpimp1990]

bump