When To Use Co2

I have a 55 gallon planted tank. Right now I'm using an aqueon quietflow 75 hob but I will be getting a canister filter within the year. I've heard of people using co2 and I'm curious to know why and when an aquarist would use it. Thanks all.

 

You do not need CO2 unless you are putting such high light the plants use the CO2 in the water too fast, and then they essientially can't grow, and there's ferts and high light, and algae doesn't need CO2 to grow as much as plants do, so you wquickly become overgrown with algae. You need high light for a lot of plants, but there's plenty of easy plants. I put CO2 into my aquarium but I have a carpet and multiple types of plants that need high light. Also, I am completely heavily planted, no substrate seen anywhere. I would not add CO2 unless you're willing to put more work into it and a lot more money with better lighting, a quality CO2 system, good high flow canister filter, and ferts.

 

CO2 is necessary for the tougher to grow plants. Like culprit said, generally they will also need high light. If you are growing basic, easy to grow plants, you definitely do not need CO2.

 

Thanks everyone. I assumed as much. I'm sticking to a basic set up with easy to moderate plants. Don' want to get too crazy until I have the space, money and time!

 

Next question; are there any easy to grow carpet or carpet-like plants that are not high maintenance?

 

You do not need CO2 unless you are putting such high light the plants use the CO2 in the water too fast, and then they essientially can't grow, and there's ferts and high light, and algae doesn't need CO2 to grow as much as plants do, so you wquickly become overgrown with algae. You need high light for a lot of plants, but there's plenty of easy plants. I put CO2 into my aquarium but I have a carpet and multiple types of plants that need high light. Also, I am completely heavily planted, no substrate seen anywhere. I would not add CO2 unless you're willing to put more work into it and a lot more money with better lighting, a quality CO2 system, good high flow canister filter, and ferts.

I've literally "nuked" a couple of aquariums; I was running TWO Fluval Pro 2.0 on a 90 - trying to grow Pogostemon Helferi... Finally filled one of my SCUBA cylinders with Co2, put on a reg, and started bleeding it into the system... Got a PH of 5 pretty quick; had to back it way off.

Right now I'm bleeding Co2 in with a reactor; I'm using jellybeans as the media and bakers yeast - couldn't find encapsulated sugar any cheaper than $2.50 a pound (the jellybeans), so, that's what I'm using.

 

Next question; are there any easy to grow carpet or carpet-like plants that are not high maintenance?

Not really. Staurogene Repens is "kinda" carpet like; gets about 3 inches tall, but spreads out pretty fast.

 

Monte Carlo, Marsilea Hirsuta, Staurogyne Repens, and Hydrocotyle. Hydrocotyle and S. Repens will be a little taller, Hydrocotyle and S. Repens will be the easiest to grow, close third will be marsilea and monte carlo will be the lowest and smallest leaves but needs decent light.