Question on CO2

[Jay]

Originally Posted by Dergoma

Hey, ive been reading the stickies and your previous Posts, there was 1 that said that you DID NOT NEED to have Co2 to have a nice Planted tank, i just got a 20 G tank that i would like to have Both Live plants/Fish, but after reading the Co2 injection and such, would i be OK with just the Regular Co2 from the water+ the fish or would the plants wither and Die? some the post counteract 1 and other and i got totally confused.. Thanks.

CO2 has become a marketing cash cow. Come ere kid take a look at this cool brass regulator,and shiny tank,and bubbles,and wow gee wizzz,it is only going to cost you 400, worth it at twice the price if you want to grow plants...ya ta da da da

The answer is yes...you can have a nice planted tank without injecting CO2. CO2 for us plant junkies is lush, vigorous, explosive growth, and large plant mass, constant pruning and rearranging meticulous nutrient dosing and monitoring, water chemistry monitoring etc.

All plants need Nitrogen - Phosphate - Potassium in constant supply, plus micro nutrients provided by products like Seachem flourish and iron. They also need a source of carbon as they are, after all, 60% made up of the stuff.

Now days there are some very realistic plastic & fabric plants available if you do not want to futz with this part of the hobby.

Success with plants means meeting their needs which implies knowing their needs. There is a wealth of information in the planted aquarium forum...dig around.

Let me give you a scenario for a low tech planted tank.

20 gallon tank...

30 watts of CF Light..this will give you moderate light

You need a test kit for NO3 PO4 K GH KH pH

Nitrates will accumulate from fish waste.
Phosphates will accumulate from flake food (read the label)
Potassium will need to be supplemented.

A good plant friendly substrate should supply iron and minerals

CO2 is available from gas exchange at about 4 - 5 ppm, that's not very much...I would supplement with Seachem Excel.

GH should be a mix of 70% calcium and 20% magnesium plus other trace minerals.
using a GH booster is useful

KH in the neighborhood of 5-6

All this requires is understanding the basics and then experimenting in your tank until you see and understand the effects on your plants.

Jay

[Dergoma]

Thanks Jay, I understand better what im trying to work with now, Glad your back, will Post Pics as Soon as Tank IS established and Rdy to show here.