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My most brightly lighted low tech planted tank is a 20 tall with two 14 watt daylight CFLs. From posts here on the site, I gather that I'm a little on the bright side. Nevertheless, I can't get stem plants such as wisteria and water sprite to thrive. I'm planting them in the substrate. They stay alive but, that's all. The tank has a sand substrate and is given a touch of an overdose of Flourish Comp once a week. It is fully but, not overly stocked with fish.
On the other hand, I have a little 10 gallon experiment tank that has a lighting level of probably 5000K from a single tube and receives a low level of DIY yeast / sugar recipe CO2. It also has a sand substrate and receives somewhat of an overdose of Flourish Comp once a week. The only occupants are a male betta and many snails. The stem plants all but leap out of the water in that tank.
The obvious answer is I need more CO2 in the 20; however, I'm kind of confused as to the balance issue. Why would plants receiving lower light do better in a CO2 charged tank ? My water is in the low hard range and has a high PH of 8.6.
Just looking for some ideas.
On the other hand, I have a little 10 gallon experiment tank that has a lighting level of probably 5000K from a single tube and receives a low level of DIY yeast / sugar recipe CO2. It also has a sand substrate and receives somewhat of an overdose of Flourish Comp once a week. The only occupants are a male betta and many snails. The stem plants all but leap out of the water in that tank.
The obvious answer is I need more CO2 in the 20; however, I'm kind of confused as to the balance issue. Why would plants receiving lower light do better in a CO2 charged tank ? My water is in the low hard range and has a high PH of 8.6.
Just looking for some ideas.