I'm new to the hobby and brand new to the forum. My question is this:
Is Co2 needed for a planted tank? I'm not sure how to upload my tank profiles that I completed so if you know how I can tell you my set up, thanks!
Technically yes, plants need CO2 to live. Ambient CO2 from the air is not enough for aquatic plants. You need to either inject CO2 or let a soil substrate (bacteria) produce CO2 naturally (not as much as injecting CO2).. It depends on your goal; to produce fast growing high light plants or slow growing low light plants.
Thanks for the info, i'm overstock on fish, I have sand substrate & I do use Flourish Excel. My goal is to have my back of tank plants reach the water line (Some already have) but hopfully they fill outwards to have the tank more of a dense look vs. continually buying new plants.
Am I on the right track?
If I do a Co2 system, what costs/maintainance is required?
CO2 is not mandatory. But if you want your tank to be lucius and for the plants to grow quickly you'll want it. CO2 also keeps algae growth under control. I'm about $200 deep on my CO2 setup. Maintenance is just refilling the tank when it runs out - $20 for a 5lbs.
I'd like to expand this discussion different kinds of co2 systems and benefits and drawbacks
I run a diy co2 system consisting of a 1L mason jar, a one way valve, co2 tubing and a diffuser. I mix 1 cup sugar with 1/2 teaspoon champagne yeast in the jar the full with room temp water to just over 1 inch from the top of the jar. I drilled a hole in the lid and hot glued the one way valve, the tubing goes from the valve to the diffuser. The jar needs to be sealed tight. This set up gives good co2 for 3 weeks to a month.
Not sure how to post pics but I have pics of the setup
It works for me but many prefer the co2 tank and the regulator
If you only want to grow low-med light plants, and you are either very careful about bio load, or religious about water changes and other maintenance. then going without CO2 may work for you.
I will say this, I am a TRUE BELIEVER in pressurized CO2 now, after having run it in my tanks. People mistakenly equate "high-tech" with fuss and bother. CO2, along with good light and EI ferting are the magic bullets, imho.
Sure, these things require an up front investment, but they take a lot of the stress and heartache out of this hobby. Dread of the next algae outbreak or melting batch of plants is replaced with confidence and enjoyment. And the expense down the road is greatly reduced when you're no longer needing to buy new plants to replace dead ones, etc. You may even start selling trimmings. :smile:
Totally worth it if you ask me. Just do it right if you're going to do it. Don't half-arse it, or you will likely be disappointed.
I have dirt tanks and a co2 injected tank and like them both. Although if given a chance, I'd get rid of my co2 setup but co2 levels in a large tank just doesn't work out naturally. It definitely needs co2 injections for the 75 g tank and it's a waste of money to dump excel into a large tank.
Start slow and get a feel for growing plants first, especially if you have no experience growing anything. Using lower light levels in the beginning will be more forgiving until you get a feel for things. Theres a lot of plants in the hobby that will grow like weeds in just about any situation, start with them.
Having said that i couldnt agree more with nofearengineer. Once you find yourself getting bored with the lower light plants you can always add a CO2 system. Then you'll find yourself cursing the plants that were barely surviving because now your pulling out handfuls a week!
Check out the low-tech form; running C02 is NOT necessary for a successful planted tank:
Medium light, no introduced C02 either pressurized or in liquid form. 3x weekly liquid fertilization.
Also, there aren't just "low light" and "high light" plants. Many traditionally "high light" plants will grow well under lower light conditions, though they will not achieve the same bright colors or the same growth patterns, just as many more traditionally "low light" plants will grow happily in high light tanks. And, of course, it's a false dichotomy--light levels and tech levels are not an either/or; they're a continuum.
If you want to do a dense carpet Iwagumi style or have intense red/pink/purple plants in your tank, yes, injected C02 is going to be an important tool in your box, but it's just that: a tool. One you can choose to use or not depending on what you want to accomplish.
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