To add or not to add C02?

This is my current setup. been up and running for 4 months.

90 Gallon tank. substrate - 2 inches of dirt capped with gravel. API C02 booster added daily.

2x Aquaclear 110's (no Carbon)

2x fluval E300

2x 54w T5HO 6hrs per day

1 circ Pump

Plants: Amazon swords, Rotala indica, Anubias , Ludwigia repens, Ludwigia Peruensis, Jungle val, Dwarf sag, Java fern, Java moss.

Fish: 4 - Columbian Tetras

3 - Black Skirt Tertas

3 - Pristella Tertas

2 - Marigold Swordtails

3 - Solar flare Swoardails

3 - Albino Corys

2 - Emerald Green Corys

3 - Clown loaches

1 - Half Moon Betta

I've been battling BBA and some GSA. My plants aren't as well as I think they should,

So here's the big question. I have the option to buy a 20lb C02 tank and Reg/solenoid. inline diffuser for 120$ on Wednesday, Should I go for it? Good Deal? Do I need it? I have not fully researched Pressurized C02.

0 members like this

Next Post >

Comment by Peter on February 25, 2013 at 10:59pm: Do it get it that's a good deal It will help all ur plant grow faster especially the stem plants

Comment by LED on February 26, 2013 at 4:03am: understand co2 addition will also give the plants a fighting chance at balancing the tanks nutrients.

the relation usually is with added co2 you have less algae. do understand there is a max u should put in if you have aquatic fauna. The max is 35 to 40ppm of CO2. To check if you're in the correct range of co2 saturation, use a drop checker. Google " co2 drop checker" if you dont know what that is. Of you can use a pH to water hardness chart which i can provide if people ask for it to roughtly measure their co2 saturation.

also with added co2, the plants will grow faster. with this added growth, it can out grow the nutrient supply, and then start to become deficient in nutrients and then eventually die if nutrients are not added.

co2 can be great, just make sure not to gas your fish lol

Comment by Robert Jango on February 26, 2013 at 6:43am: $5 worth of floating plants will do the same thing as Co2. And LED is right about gassing your fish - too much can kill them or, at the very least, make them uncomfortable. Its better to suck up the nutrients naturally. In one of his videos, I remember Dustin advising against the use of Co2 injection.

Comment by Luke Newcomb on February 26, 2013 at 9:22pm: thanks for your advise, I think im gonna get it but not set it up right away. 120$ is a good deal. It's an option down the road. If i decide to set it up ill post some pics, so you can see before/after.

Comment by Luke Newcomb on February 26, 2013 at 9:26pm: My Amazon Sword plant has shriveled leaves and some holes in the leaves. I've got dirt substrate. What could be the cause?

Comment by Peter on February 26, 2013 at 9:41pm: How long ago did u plant it? How long ago did u dirt ur tank? Do u have snails? Is it just the older leaves that have holes or all of them?

Comment by Luke Newcomb on February 26, 2013 at 9:48pm: It's Fairly new only been in the tank for about a month. No more snails, the Clown Loaches took care of them. looks like the holes are in just the older leaves. But the new leaves are shriveled.

Comment by Luke Newcomb on February 27, 2013 at 10:49pm: Got the setup today. It looks good. Came with an extra Regulator and timer, but the guy I bought it from was using an inline diffuser to the outlet of his Ehiem canister. So I will have to get a Diffuser. Any recommendations?