conversion to low-tech???

[dprais1]

my question is...

What happens when I go low tech?

My tank is not high tech now. It is a 75 gal w/sump
I run 2 T5no bulbs and 3 20watt CFL bulbs for 8-10hrs a day.
I have a layer of MTS, then a layer of MGOPM (I know overkill but had my reasons) then a layer of blasting grit.
I dose micros 1x a week and potassium 1x a week, and change 50% of the water 1x aweek.

right now I have (3) 2 liter bottles pumping in co2 through my return pump. I have lots of tiny bubbles all over then tank. I know most say that diy co2 can't be effective on a tabk bigger than 40 gal, but all the tiny co2 bubbles seem to imply otherwise (although I may just have lots of bubbles and little saturation??)

Growth has been pretty good in my tank, I'm happy with it.

In a couple weeks I think everything will be where I want it to be.


So what happens If I just turn off the co2 and reducing my light period to say 6-8hrs?
(I have zero interest in glut or ecxel)

Will plants stay healthy just grow more slowly or will I have melt and die off??

Any advice experience would be most helpfull

[Hoppy]

The major problem with DIY CO2 isn't having too little CO2, but having a fluctuating concentration of CO2 in the water, which signals algae to start growing. With low light, which you probably have, algae grow slowly, giving you plenty of time to get rid of it before it becomes a problem.

If you stop the CO2, all plants will grow slower, some will grow much slower. Crypts may melt entirely. Some plants that are borderline on light, now growing because CO2 enables them to grow with less light, will just die off.

[dprais1]

Thanks

what if I kill the co2 but up the lighting
--keep the t5no all the way to the front of the tank
--add maybe a fugeray towards the back and ditch the cfls

???

my main issue with my co2 is that I have tiny bubbles all over the tank. It doesn't look cloudy per se but it sure doesn't look clear.
if I 'turn off' the co2 and wait 15-20 min the water looks clean and clear.

[thebuddha]

Originally Posted by dprais1

what if I kill the co2 but up the lighting
--keep the t5no all the way to the front of the tank
--add maybe a fugeray towards the back and ditch the cfls

get ready to fight some algae

[HybridHerp]

yah, personally, if its working I wouldn't touch anything. If the bubbles really bother you though, the only thing I know of is to go full pressurized system and use a reactor to fully dissolve all the co2....but I think the very nature of having any co2 in a tank at all is going to make things a little cloudy-ish looking.

getting rid of co2 and upping the light is a bad idea btw, just don't do it lol