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Do i need my home made co2 ?

1K views 4 replies 4 participants last post by  DKRST 
#1 ·
Hi guys i have a reasonably newly planted tank (1 month old )although the tank has been going for over 3 years but with 4-5 big fish and no plants....i bought this and took 3 quarters of water with it.
Amonia 0/ nitrite 0 / ph 7 ish paper test so not 100% sure/ temp 25-27 also home made co2 system with diffuser bubble counter (1 bubble per sec) i also feed plants once a week
i have around 30 fish all really small /neons /tetra/guppys etc all are doing fine
i have mixed gravel 2-3mm bottom inch and half then 1 inch 2-3mm slate.
My plants seem to be doing fine apart from a tall grass type where the tips have gone brown?
They all seem to be growing very quick one has grown 5 inches in 2 weeks .
I was told because i have a lot of fish i dont need a co2 system is this true please help .
All advice and tips much appreciated ..thanks.
 

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#3 ·
Hi i use a diffuser to keep the co2 in the tank ,i have taken out air stones ,and use my filter outlet to break the waters surface for the oxygen ,as my co2 is home made it costs a bag of sugar once a fortnight .do u not think its worth it,my plants do seem to be growing quite well...thanx
 
#4 ·
You have probably read my comments elsewhere about balance; the success of a planted tank is simply a case of balance--light and nutrients must be balanced. The level can be low to high, which means the "low" end is minimal light (just sufficient intensity, spectrum and duration for the plants to be able to photosynthesize) with nutrients (including carbon as CO2) in balance; at the "high" end the light is more, and the nutrients are more. Increasing just one aspect (example, just light, or just carbon via CO2, or just iron) is not going to assist the plants (assuming there is a balance to start with).

It is certainly not "necessary" to add CO2 to most tanks for plants to grow. I mean, look at the photos of mine ("Aquariums" below my name on the left); there is no added CO2 in any of these, and the plants are thriving to my satisfaction. Growth may be slower, and there are some plants I would not have much success with, but these tanks are geared for the fish first and foremost so the plants have to be satisfied.

But in order to answer your question whether it would be better/worse to continue/discontinue your CO2, I need to know about the fertilizer you are using. What brand is it, and how much/often are you adding it? Once I know this, I should be able to offer some indication on the CO2 question.

Byron.
 
#5 ·
As nice as the tank looks, I'd say keep doing what you are doing! Additional CO2, with the corresponding change in the balance of nutrients and light as Byron mentioned, may increase plant growth, but it will 1) cost you more $$ for ferts, the CO2 source, increased lighting, etc. and 2) take more tank maintenance. If the plants are growing, the fish are doing well, and you aren't fighting algae, then the plants have what they need. The question is, do you want to put more time and $$ into your tank for an increased plant growth rate?
 
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