CO2 Systems for Heavily Planted Tank

Ista 80076 Co2 External Reactor

 

The first is wisteria, the second is hydrocotyle (not tripartita, some other species), third is pearlweed. They'll be fine without CO2.

 

because right now my plants are pretty prolific with just the LED and some morning light, wouldnt want to rock the boat like you say,

If you are happy with your plant growth, I wouldn't deal with CO2, especially with the easy plants you have.
Keep in mind that a 10 gal doesn't have a lot of capacity for growth, you'll be soon pruning your plants constantly.
You could Google low tech planted tanks and see if you like what you find. You can have a nicely planted tank without CO2.

 

You could use liquid CO2. I use flourish Excel and grow everything from chain sword to Madagascar lace plants. Some plants do not like Excel though, like the vals and moss balls. I also use a lot of other plant products.


A sample of some of our plants.
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2.



3.

 

And yo, whatever you decide, DO make sure that when it comes to CO2 rigs, kits, refills etc, do NOT allow yourself to be ripped off. If you can, some paintball stores (or Sports Authority as TexasGuppy stated) you can fill up a large tank for only about $3-4, and will last you quite some time. And I agree, diffusers tend to be overrated and largely insufficient for their ideal purpose. And if and if and when you decide to dose Excel, do it slowly at first, as to not shock your plants. Through years of very careful trial and error, ups and downs, I have tried Excel as well, which is essentially an algaecide, and actually semi-alters plants cellular structure. Point and case being, it is NOT a 100% substitute for actual CO2, although it can also be used in conjuction with CO2. But it works pretty good. Also, if you use CO2, floating or not, your Wisteria will go rampant very fast believe me! lol--thus, prepare to do a lot of cutting it up like lettuce! It WILL take over...and fast!

 

The first is wisteria, the second is hydrocotyle (not tripartita, some other species), third is pearlweed. They'll be fine without CO2.

The first is wisteria, the second is hydrocotyle (not tripartita, some other species), third is pearlweed. They'll be fine without CO2.

Thanks yes the second is hydrocotyle verticillata (pennywort) I'm told by the person who provided it. The third, pearlweed, has been called guppy grass.

thanks again

 

And yo, whatever you decide, DO make sure that when it comes to CO2 rigs, kits, refills etc, do NOT allow yourself to be ripped off. If you can, some paintball stores (or Sports Authority as TexasGuppy stated) you can fill up a large tank for only about $3-4, and will last you quite some time. And I agree, diffusers tend to be overrated and largely insufficient for their ideal purpose. And if and if and when you decide to dose Excel, do it slowly at first, as to not shock your plants. Through years of very careful trial and error, ups and downs, I have tried Excel as well, which is essentially an algaecide, and actually semi-alters plants cellular structure. Point and case being, it is NOT a 100% substitute for actual CO2, although it can also be used in conjuction with CO2. But it works pretty good. Also, if you use CO2, floating or not, your Wisteria will go rampant very fast believe me! lol--thus, prepare to do a lot of cutting it up like lettuce! It WILL take over...and fast!

Well, thank you for that alternative. I am fundamentally a fan of algae and tend more toward bio or organic aquariums, but I'm only a few months into it. And learning ad-hoc because things just tumbled on to me from a free guppy to 2 aquariums in a few weeks...it's great fun.

Your comment on wisteria was an eye opener, It is rampant already with nothing just filtered water and water roots. Along with much other advice, the CO2 is not for me yet. And best leave well enough alone is my soundest course of action for now.

cheers

 

Any place that has beer supplies will either be able to fill it or tell you where to fill it.

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argh!!! that's the tank I wanna get so bad!!! XD