Considering Using Co2

So, my plants are not doing too good, and I am heading to my LFS soon, I am getting new substrate, plants, decor etc. for my 22 gallon tank and I a, considering setting up a DIY CO2 diffuser. I have a few questions, do I just keep running my regular air stone as normal throughout the day? Do I need to "turn off" the CO2 at night? Will CO2 affect my fish? What size bottle should I use, and how many?

 

What type of plants do you have? What light are you using? What is your bioload? In my case, using separate timers...I always turn off my CO2 about an hour before the lights turn off because fish and plants use oxygen at night. If you are heavily stocked with fish, then the plants and fish will compete for oxygen: in that case you should aerate at night. I would not aerate during the daylight photoperiod: that defeats the purpose of dosing CO2. NOTE: I use compressed CO2 and have no knowledge of DIY reactors.

 

I only have 3 fish soon to be 5, (1 male betta, 2 guppies, and I am getting 2 peppered Cories, I will eventually have 4 or 6 Cories) how would you use a timer on a DIYco2 reactor? I have 1 amazon sword, 1 Anubis nana, multiple water wisteria, and several baccopa monnierri. I am getting more soon.

 

how would you use a timer on a DIYco2 reactor?

You don't. I have compressed CO2 with an electronic shut off. But, you may try this:

Still, I do not know what type of lighting that you have. You may not have enough PAR for CO2 and end up just wasting your money. CO2 is used for medium to High light.

 

I have LED plant lighting, and I can't see the video as it is blocked on my device.

 

What brand of LED? How long is the fixture? And what is the depth from the light to the substrate?

If you have access to YouTube search for "DIY MOD to shut off CO2 Injection at Night".

 

I'm not sure what brand, the light is 18 inches it is 14.75 inches from the light to the substrate.

 

Or, you could just use a diy setup and unscrew the bottle cap everynight. It takes about 10 minutes for the pressure to rebuild the next day, but it's not a big deal.

 

Okay, thank you that sounds like a good idea.

 

It's what I've been doing, and I've been feeding it through my HoB. No noticeable issues yet.

 

OK. Since we do not know the brand, I am going to guess LOW LIGHT. Here is an LED Lighting Guide: With an 18 inch fixture at roughly 15" from the substrate, I'll guess maybe 30 PAR at the substrate. (It is hard to tell without knowing the brand.) here is a chart describing LOW, MED, and HIGH PAR vs distance: from the information that you have given me, I would say you probably do not need CO2.

 

OK. Since we do not know the brand, I am going to guess LOW LIGHT. Here is an LED Lighting Guide: LED Lighting Compendium - The Planted Tank Forum With an 18 inch fixture at roughly 15" from the substrate, I'll guess maybe 30 PAR at the substrate. (It is hard to tell without knowing the brand.) here is a chart describing LOW, MED, and HIGH PAR vs distance: PAR vs Distance, T5, T12, PC - New Chart - The Planted Tank Forum from the information that you have given me, I would say you probably do not need CO2.

That is a good point. If you have low light/low nutrients there's no point in using Co2.

 

I found it. It is an aqua-glow T8 florecent 15 watt bulb

 

You do not need CO2. I have had HIGH light for years and I am considering going Low Tech. It is too expensive, too much hassle to fertilize, and change massive amounts of water, etc. Low tech tanks are more enjoyable and a lot less work.

 

We need the bulb temperature to know if it'll work well.

And dcult002, just because you find them to be too expensive, too much work and less enjoyable doesn't mean that other people will. If they wanna try a high tech tank, let them go for it. They can decide for themselves. This thread was posted about Co2, so I'm assuming that they came here to learn about Co2/planted tanks. If you'd like to tell them about how you feel about high tech tanks, I think it may be a bit more helpful to do so in an informative way. Let them know why they don't need Co2. Explain why they're so much work, share your experiences, etc.

 

Oh wow. Thank you for "squaring me away".

 

No aggression was meant. This site is about helping and teaching people to care for their pets. While it's great to share your opinions sometimes it's best to elaborate on them as well.

 

I wanted CO2 because my amazon sword is dying and I've tried root tabs and fertilizer but nothing works. I'm not sure about the temperature, I would like to at least try using liquid CO2 from PetSmart.....

 

Check the bulb, somewhere on it it should have a number followed by "k" or "kelvin".

 

3100k

 

That's your problem right there. dcutl was right - your lighting is not sufficient. The only fix is to buy a fluorescent bulb with a rating of 6700k, or daylight. Without it, most plants will struggle, and you'll most likely only grow algae due to extra nutrients and no usable light.

 

My other plants are doing fine, and my tank is in front of a window

 

That's most likely because your other plants aren't as needy as swords are. They will probably wither away in time with that bulb.

At the very least, I'd move my tank away from the window and get the 6700k bulb, because not only will it get rid of a lot of algae, but it'll make the tank look better. Plants and fish don't always look great in warm light like a 3100k bulb. A 6700k bulb will give you true color, as well as being brighter in general.

 

I wanted CO2 because my amazon sword is dying and I've tried root tabs and fertilizer but nothing works. I'm not sure about the temperature, I would like to at least try using liquid CO2 from PetSmart.....

I try to get bulbs between 6500K - 6700K, but the usable range can be wider:

 

One tiny problem, I'm under 18 and my mom is the one that got the light I use now and I told her a while back that I needed a better one, but I can not get her to listen.... and also my tank does not have any algae.

 

Is it possible for you to earn your own money? Bulbs aren't all that expensive.

And I'm surprised you don't have any algae, but it's good that you don't. Still, I doubt there's much that can be done for your sword with that bulb. You may just have to stick with the plants that are doing well till you can get a better light

 

I have money but she still tells me what I can and can't buy. I saved up all last summer to set up this tank. I guess I will keep the sword alive for as long as possible, I am most likely going to PetSmart tomorrow, I will try to get her to let me get a new light. Thank you so much for the help.

 

Good luck with your tank!

 

Thank you

 

I have money but she still tells me what I can and can't buy. I saved up all last summer to set up this tank. I guess I will keep the sword alive for as long as possible, I am most likely going to PetSmart tomorrow, I will try to get her to let me get a new light. Thank you so much for the help.

I have a possible solution for you. A glass top, clamp lamp, and a CFL bulb is all that you need.

 

How did you get on?
This is the bulb you need

 

I am going to my LFS soon, I will try to pick up a better light there. I am completely remodeling my tank.

22 Gallon Redecorating

 

How did you get on?
This is the bulb you need

That bulb is only 15 Watts.

 

That bulb is only 15 Watts.

Correct, his T8 fitting is 15 watts. The only way to up the power would be new lights, but a cheaper non aquarium specific daylight bulb is the cheapest option if you don't.

 

Okay. What are you going to grow with that?

 

It's she, and I am growing plenty of plants with my light I currently have. I do not have enough money to buy a completely different hood, I will try to get a better light for the fitting that I have now, but I'm not getting a new fixture.

 

Okay. What are you going to grow with that?

None of her plants are light hungry and the more usable wavelengths will help her sword, hopefully enough to sustain itself.

 

It's she, and I am growing plenty of plants with my light I currently have. I do not have enough money to buy a completely different hood, I will try to get a better light for the fitting that I have now, but I'm not getting a new fixture.

Apologies, bare my link in mind when you go as aquarium specific light tubes tend to be a rip off

 

Her sword will survive, not thrive. But hey, best of luck!

 

Her sword will survive, not thrive. But hey, best of luck!

Without new/extra lighting that's the best we can hope for.