CO2 pointless in low light?

NewObsession

NewObsession

AC Members
Aug 27, 2007
575
0
16
56
So, I upgraded my 10 gallon to a 20 gallon Tall. When I was doing the switch I added more and finer gravel and got rid of the UGF. I have been toying with trying planted tanks and this one had Hortwort and 5 or 6 water sprite. I hadn't bothered with any CO2 because with the 2 uptubes from the UGF bubbling away it seemed pointless. Now that they are gone I am considering it. However, I have also gone from 2.5wpg to 1.5 wpg. With the lighting that low, is there any point/advantage to diy CO2? Will it help if I wish to add a few more plants?
Also, what was a nice centre piece of pagoda stone in the 10g looks like an afterthought in a 20T but the 10 gallon footprint doesn't exactly allow for stacking stone 2 ft high. The Hornwort and and the sprites give it some height, but I was thinking about maybe adding a piece of drift wood. However my g/f tells me that it will lower my Ph. Yes? Why? (Not that I think it would be a big issue since Ph is high anyways)
 
Driftwood does tend to lower pH a bit, but it's gradual and not severe, so I wouldn't worry about it - just monitor it. Besides, a pH a bit lower than 7 means lower NH3/NH4+ ratio (is a good thing).

At 15W, you probably need not worry about CO2. If you add more light and don't see faster growth, then it's time to figure out if it's ferts or CO2 that's limiting your growth. If you have ferts, then it's almost certainly CO2 that is limiting growth. Ina planted tank w/o injected CO2, you want to have some surface agitation so that you don't go below the 3ppm CO2 levels typically found in aquarium water.
 
Sooo much to learn lol. NOW I find lut I nned agitation. Shouldn't be a problem. The UGF is out but I have a bubble cylinder I can put in the back of the tank that should do the trick. I have though tabout ferts, but not sure I am ready to deal with the chemisrty calculations. For now than Maybe I will just see what I can do about lighting.
Another question, the light level obviously isn't affected by the number of plants, but is it CO2 and nutrients that limt you from simply putting in a ton of low light plants?
 
I should add that I have only added the plants in the last week or so, so its not really that I think they aren't growing, just thought that CO2 couldn't hurt. however with the light level being lower now I didn't want to bother if it won't have any effect anyways
 
A ton of low light plants can limit the view and the swimming room. IMO lots of low light plants make a very nice tank. Have never noticed that there was a limit but I do leave enough space for the light to reach all the plants.
 
Even in low light tanks CO2 is usually the limiting factor to increased growth, so adding CO2 will help either improve the existing growth or allow plants which are usually not considered low light plants to grow. There's basically no reason not to add CO2 if you have the means.

The reason why driftwood may lower pH is because it contains tannic acid, and since pH is the measure of how acidic your water is the weak acid will lower it.
 
That makes sense, although since the standrd Ph in my tank hovers around 8 even a gradual lowering won't hurt. If anything, the Tetras will Like it. So addining CO2 can't hurt....
 
The CO2 will also lower your pH. CO2 dissolved in water is H2CO3, that's carbonic acid, a very weak acid. Its not exactly dangerous stuff in low concentrations, its the bubbles in soda. Expect it to lower pH a few tenths if you are adding enough to actually change the CO2 levels in the water.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom